Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy. Recipients will offer words of encouragement, motivation and congratulations to graduands.

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured.

Flavio Volpe: Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. – Glendon College; Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change; Faculty of Education; ; and Faculty of Science

Volpe is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, representing one of Canada’s largest manufacturing sectors. A leading voice on industrial policy, trade and economic competitiveness, he has played a prominent role in advancing Canadian manufacturing interests and strengthening the country’s automotive supply chain.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Volpe helped mobilize automotive suppliers to produce ventilators and personal protective equipment. He also launched Project Arrow, Canada’s first all-Canadian zero-emission concept vehicle, showcasing domestic innovation on the global stage. Appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023, he serves on both the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and the Ontario Premier’s Council on U.S. Trade and Investment.

Bruce Kidd: Oct. 14, 3:30 p.m. – Faculty of Health

Kidd is a scholar, educator and Olympic athlete whose career has shaped sport and physical education in Canada. A professor emeritus and founding dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, he has written extensively on the history and social impact of sport, authoring or editing 14 books and hundreds of articles over a career spanning more than five decades.

A member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and an Officer of the Order of Canada, Kidd has been a lifelong advocate for human rights and athletes' rights. He helped advance national sport initiatives including Sport Canada's Athlete Assistance Program and the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada and played a key role in establishing the Toronto Track and Field Centre at 91��ɫ.

Kristian Alexander: Oct. 15, 10:30 a.m. – ; Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

Alexander is an internationally recognized conductor, music director and cultural entrepreneur whose career has taken him to major concert halls across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. He serves as music director of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, the Orion Symphony Orchestra and the International Music Academy, and has built a reputation for championing both classical masterworks and contemporary music.

As artistic director of the Markham International Music Festival and the International Music Festival and Competition, Alexander has helped create opportunities for professional and emerging musicians while fostering cultural exchange through music. Over more than three decades, he has collaborated with leading artists and ensembles in Canada and around the world, combining artistic excellence with a commitment to mentorship, community engagement and institution-building.

Bill Graham: Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m. – ;

Graham is a business leader whose career has spanned more than five decades across the financial services, technology and automotive sectors. He was the founding chief executive officer of Proponix Inc., a global financial technology company, and previously held senior leadership positions with Citibank in Canada and Asia, including serving as head of institutional banking operations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Beyond his corporate career, Graham has been a dedicated supporter of business education and alumni engagement at 91��ɫ's Schulich School of Business. He served as president of the Schulich Global Alumni Network for 21 years and as an executive-in-residence for the school's International MBA program. A recipient of both the Schulich Alumni Recognition Award for Outstanding Contribution and 91��ɫ's Bryden Alumni Award, he continues to serve on Schulich's Dean's Global Council.

The post Industry leaders to earn honorary degrees at Fall Convocation appeared first on YFile.

“A lot surprised me,” she says of her findings published in the . “I think this paper is actually very shocking.”

The idea for the study – part of a five-paper series – grew out of Granek's previous research on career satisfaction among pediatric surgeons. During that work, she noticed that women described experiences that differed significantly from their male colleagues. It inspired her to pursue a study focused exclusively on female surgeons, concentrating on two of the most male-dominated specialties: neurosurgery and cardiothoracic surgery.

“There’s just no information on this whatsoever,” says Granek, noting there is little research on the topic. “It’s not just filling a gap. It’s filling a chasm.”

Granek wanted to understand how women navigate pregnancy, parenthood and surgical careers in specialties where years of training often overlap with prime childbearing years. While previous research has documented higher rates of infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy complications among female surgeons, she wanted to explore the experiences behind those statistics and the role workplace culture may play in shaping them.

To do this, Granek adopted a qualitative approach centred on hearing directly from surgeons about their experiences.

“With qualitative, you’re really trying to understand people’s experiences from their own perspective,” she says. “It was very important to me.”

Through professional networks across North America, Granek recruited female neurosurgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons. Participants were required to be fully trained doctors rather than residents, making the study notable given the limited research focused on women surgeons after training.

Interviewees were asked about pregnancy, maternity leave, balancing family life and surgery, as well as experiences of discrimination and harassment connected to motherhood.

Similar themes surfaced across both specialties in Granek's findings, and she says many of the experiences reported were shocking.

What emerged was a common experience of a workplace culture that many participants found difficult to navigate while pregnant or raising children. One woman described feeling so concerned about how a pregnancy would be perceived that she hid it from colleagues for months, wearing oversized clothing and leaving patient rounds to vomit in private. Another recalled going into labour unexpectedly and being yelled at by a colleague when she called to arrange coverage for an emergency case. Even as contractions began, she still completed rounds before checking herself into hospital.

Other stories were equally troubling. One surgeon returned from leave to discover colleagues had voted to reduce her salary by five per cent. When she asked whether anyone else’s pay had been cut, she was told no. Another participant recalled learning that while she was away on leave, her department Chair had replaced her in a leadership role. When she objected, she recalled being told she needed to decide whether she wanted to be a neurosurgeon or a mom.

That sentiment surfaced repeatedly throughout the interviews, says Granek. Several participants reported feeling there was never a “right” time to have children, while others delayed pregnancy because they worried it would be perceived as less committed to their careers. Some said they felt pressure to hide pregnancies from colleagues or supervisors, fearing they would be treated differently if they disclosed them.

The consequences of these experiences affected more than their careers. Participants described infertility, miscarriage and complications, including preeclampsia, placental abruption and premature birth. Some believed long hours, overnight call schedules, physically demanding work and a lack of opportunities to rest during pregnancy contributed to those outcomes.

The interviews also revealed a less visible but recurring challenge: many women were expected to arrange their own coverage before taking maternity leave. Rather than being treated as an institutional responsibility, participants described the task as something they had to organize themselves, often while preparing for childbirth.

“There’s no kind of understanding within the job that a woman is going to go off to have a baby and that somebody needs to cover,” says Granek. “That’s very different than every other workplace.

“They just really don’t have any policies or procedures or any thought whatsoever to surgeons who become pregnant,” she says.

Instead, several women shared they felt responsible for ensuring their work was covered before they left. Granek says some described maternity leave as though it were viewed within their departments as a personal absence rather than an expected part of professional life.

Women also frequently described receiving few accommodations while pregnant, even as they continued working in highly demanding specialties. Some reported taking on extra on-call shifts before giving birth in anticipation of the time they would later spend away from work. Others recalled a lack of basic accommodations, such as opportunities to rest, eat, drink water or reduce physically demanding responsibilities late in pregnancy.

“This is probably part of the reason why there’s so many worse outcomes, because they’re just exhausted,” says Granek. “They don’t have any accommodations in the workplace to eat, to drink, to take breaks, to put their feet up, to cut down on-call [shifts].”

The stories of these women point to a need for both cultural and policy change, Granek argues. One of the study’s central recommendations is stronger support for pregnant surgeons and new mothers, beginning with formal accommodations during pregnancy and more consistent maternity leave policies.

It further argues that pregnant surgeons should not have to navigate accommodations on an ad hoc basis. Among other measures, the study recommends reducing physically demanding workloads in later stages of pregnancy, limiting overnight on-call responsibilities and ensuring access to basic supports such as breaks, parking and lactation facilities.

Granek and the study's collaborators call for stronger leave protections, including extended paid leave, phased return-to-work options and protections against professional penalties associated with having children. The authors also argue that responsibility for arranging leave coverage should rest with institutions rather than individual surgeons.

Granek believes many of the challenges participants described stem from a workplace culture that has not fully adapt to the realities of pregnancy and parenthood. She argues these experiences should be recognized as a normal part of a surgeon’s career.

The researchers call on institutions to better educate staff about pregnancy discrimination, hold leaders accountable for discriminatory behaviour and create mentorship networks that support surgeons throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

“When we have policies in place without a cultural change, people don’t adhere to them or feel comfortable taking those policies,” she says. “Culture and policy have to come hand-in-hand. They can’t be just one or the other.”

The issue is also tied to who enters, remains and advances within these specialties. Although more women are entering surgical training than in the past, they remain significantly underrepresented in many surgical fields and leadership roles.

“We see more women in residency than we did in the past for some of these surgical specialties, but it’s still very low,” she says. “The main reason for that is that the culture is so inhospitable to women.”

That is why Granek says the goal is not simply to improve maternity leave policies, but to create a surgical culture where having a child is viewed as compatible with a successful career. For her, supporting pregnancy and parenthood is not only a matter of physician well-being, but also an important step toward improving gender equity and ensuring women remain and advance within some of medicine’s most demanding specialties.

The post 91��ɫ researcher exposes pregnancy barriers facing women surgeons appeared first on YFile.

Established with a $200 million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies students.

More than 700 Canadian students applied for the opportunity this year with the top 150 selected for first-round interviews. Interviews for the resulting 91 finalists took place in Montreal in March.

“I received the news during a call and in that moment, it felt like everything I had worked toward over the years had led to this,” says Timotewos of being one of 20 recipients. “It was overwhelming in the best way, filled with deep gratitude. It inspired me to keep pushing forward and continue giving back.”

The scholarship covers tuition, a living stipend and relocation as well as mentorship, coaching and leadership program activities.

Timotewos, a student at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, will graduate this spring with an honours bachelor of arts in global political studies as well as a certificate in public administration and law.

Inspired by his experiences growing up in Ethiopia and Yemen, Timotewos founded and leads three non-profit initiatives that mentor young men, provide essential resources to youth in need and share community-driven stories. He also serves on the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board, where he reviews grant applications for charities.

In addition, Timotewos sits on the Global Youth Impact Council representing young Canadian voices. He also serves as a 91��ɫ president ambassador and student senator, is a mentor to fellow students and is a past recipient of 91��ɫ’s Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award.

“This recognition means everything to me and it makes me feel seen,” he says. “Where I come from, education at this level can feel out of reach but someone chose to invest in my journey and believe in it. It doesn’t just open doors that wouldn’t otherwise be open; it also gives me the opportunity to grow. More importantly, it will enable me to keep giving back and create opportunities for others.”

Recipients were chosen based on exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

Timotewos will be pursuing a master of management in analytics at McGill University, where he will study management, finance and economics to understand how institutions and markets shape real-world outcomes.

Attending McGill, he says, fulfils a longtime dream and he hopes to use its strong network to advance his learning and turn economic insight into responsible leadership and social impact. 91��ɫ, he adds, has been part of that journey.

“My experience at 91��ɫ has shaped me both intellectually and personally. Through the many leadership roles I’ve been entrusted with, as well as the community work and rigorous academic study, I’ve learned how to think critically, lead with intention and serve others with purpose,” he says.

Additionally, 91��ɫ students Ann Kwarteng and Neh Shah were both selected for a $5,000 Regional Award from McCall MacBain.

“These scholarships go beyond financial support,” says Marcy McCall MacBain, chair of the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill. “They’re about investing in the leadership potential of individuals who dare to pursue unconventional paths and care deeply about improving the lives of others.”

Applications will open in June 2026 for the 2027 cohort. Learn more about McCall MacBain Scholarships .

The post 91��ɫ student earns top Canadian leadership scholarship appeared first on YFile.

Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy. Recipients will offer words of encouragement, motivation and congratulations to graduands

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Jose Moura: June 12, 10:30 a.m. –

Moura is an engineering scholar specializing in signal processing and machine learning and a longtime professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has taught since 1986. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he holds 19 patents, including two that underpin key technologies in hard disk drives and have been deployed in more than four billion devices worldwide.

In 2019, he served as president and CEO of IEEE, the world’s largest professional technical organization, representing more than 422,000 engineers and scientists across 160 countries.

Christopher R. Bratty: June 12, 3:30 p.m. – Faculty of Education

Bratty represents the third generation of leadership at The Remington Group, one of Ontario’s most respected privately held development companies, where he serves as president of land development and investments. He oversees a diverse portfolio spanning residential, commercial and mixed‑use projects across the Greater Toronto Area.

His leadership has helped shape the region’s evolving landscape, with a focus on building complete, inclusive communities and resilient urban design. Deeply committed to civic and cultural enrichment, Bratty is also a supporter of the arts, contributing public art installations that enhance the neighbourhoods in which his projects are developed.

Howard Sokolowski: June 15, 10:30 a.m. – Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies I

Sokolowski has been a leading figure in Canada’s development industry for more than four decades, directing the construction of over 50,000 homes and shaping residential communities nationwide. He is the founder and principal of Metropia, a company focused on large‑scale, master‑planned residential communities.

A prominent philanthropist, he has supported institutions including Sinai Health Foundation, the Art Gallery of Ontario and 91��ɫ. He was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2011 and received the Building Industry and Land Development Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

Ray Gupta: June 16, 10:30 a.m. – Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies III

Gupta is Chairman and CEO of Sunray Group, one of the largest privately owned hotel operators in Canada. Through the Sunray Foundation and personal giving, he has donated more than $1 million in recent years to numerous causes including the Scarborough Health Network, Northumberland Hills Hospital and Positive and Progressive Educational Support Canada, which funds girls' education in rural India.

He was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canadian Hotel Investment Conference.

Denise Pickett: June 17, 3:30 p.m. – I

Pickett is president of Enterprise Shared Services at American Express, a role she assumed in February 2025 following more than three decades with the company. She oversees global functions that support the organization’s operations, including real estate, procurement, global security and business continuity.

Beyond her executive leadership, Pickett has contributed to community and institutional governance as a member of the board of directors of TELUS and through a decade of service on the board of United Way of New 91��ɫ City. She holds an MBA from 91��ɫ’s Schulich School of Business and was named one of Payment Source’s Most Influential Women in Payments in 2018.

Walter and Maria Schroeder: June 18, 3:30 p.m. – Faculty of Health II

The Schroeders are among Canada’s most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists, whose work has enabled lasting change in education, health care and social equity nationwide. Together, they co‑founded Dominion Bond Rating Service in 1975 and built it into the world’s fourth‑largest bond rating agency before its sale in 2014.

Through the Walter and Maria Schroeder Foundation, they have since committed nearly $500 million to initiatives that expand access to care, advance medical research and remove barriers to education. Their philanthropy has supported major health care institutions across Canada, with a focus on translating research into improved patient care and stronger community health systems.

Marian Jacko: June 19, 3:30 p.m. –

Jacko is a nationally respected leader in Indigenous justice, child advocacy and public service. A proud Anishinaabe woman from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, she earned three university degrees – including a juris doctor from the University of Toronto and a master of laws from 91��ɫ – while raising her children as a single mother.

Called to the Ontario Bar in 1998, she spent nearly two decades with the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. In 2016, she became the first Indigenous woman appointed Children’s Lawyer for Ontario. She now serves as assistant deputy attorney general of Ontario’s Indigenous Justice Division.

The post Changemakers to earn honorary degrees at Spring Convocation appeared first on YFile.

91��ɫ announces its 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, an influential group of leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities and around the world.

The recipients of the sixth annual recognition demonstrate a deep commitment to giving back and are tackling complex social issues across various industries – all before the age of 30.

This year’s honourees are making great strides in fields such as aviation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, health care, technology, AI and more. Together, they are working toward building an innovative and sustainable future, paving the way for future generations.

“Each year, the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program highlights the remarkable achievements and impact of 91��ɫ’s global young alumni community,” says Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement. “This year’s cohort features a diverse group of innovators who are shaping the future through their leadership, creativity and volunteerism.”

Since 2021, the Top 30 program has celebrated the success and diversity of the University’s alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders. 

To view the full list of the 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, and learn more about their accomplishments,  visit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 webpage.

The post 91��ɫ University announces recipients of 2026 Top 30 Alumni Under 30 appeared first on YFile.

Led by Parmeet Singh Channe, a student, Enactus 91��ɫ is empowering students to tackle social and environmental challenges through award-winning entrepreneurship and ventures.

When Channe, a third-year computer science student, was growing up, he was exposed early to stark inequalities. He recalls seeing children his age working in extreme conditions instead of attending school. Those experiences instilled in him a drive to make a difference that evolved into a desire to pursue socially minded entrepreneurship and build projects to create the change he wanted to see in the world.

That motivation led him to 91��ɫ and, in April 2024, to a LinkedIn post by Enactus Canada, a registered charity. Channe learned the organization empowers post-secondary students to use innovation and entrepreneurship to advance social impact. Through a network of teams at more than 78 campuses across Canada – and a global network spanning 35 countries – participants develop projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and compete by pitching their ventures and demonstrating outcomes on a national and international stage.

“Discovering Enactus felt like finding a platform that perfectly aligned with what I had already been trying to build: using entrepreneurship as a tool for real-world impact,” says Channe.

After learning that a previous Enactus 91��ɫ chapter had dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, Channe became determined to resurrect it. Within a few months, he relaunched the chapter, which was officially ratified in September 2024. The group started small, with only two members. In those early days, Channe took on several roles: pursuing partnerships and funding, overseeing project development and working to recruit new members to grow the team into a thriving entrepreneurial community.

Today, Enactus 91��ɫ has grown to more than 90 members, supporting innovative initiatives – each driven by a purpose that reflects what first inspired Channe. “Our goal is to create ventures that benefit lives at scale while improving people’s standard of living,” he says.

In its first year, the group demonstrated its mission through award-winning projects, such as: AR Home Builder, an augmented reality app that helps rural communities to construct sustainable, resilient housing; Modular Homeless Shelters, which redesigns existing shelters with factory-built units to provide housing solutions; and Energent, an intelligent energy management platform that helps property managers reduce consumption and costs while promoting sustainability.

Three more ventures are underway this year. LiftAID connects students with non-profits, helping communities access volunteer support while providing opportunities to develop applicable skills. Easysim helps professors teach economics through realistic simulations, making education more engaging and accessible. Dragoncure is exploring ways to support triple-negative breast cancer treatment – especially in low-income countries – by developing solutions that are affordable, low-risk and aimed at reducing relapse.

Earlier this year, Enactus 91��ɫ took these projects to competition with team members Prabhkrit Singh (co-president of Enactus 91��ɫ), Mohammad Areeb (vice-president) and Samashi Munaweera (project manager of Dragoncure).

In its first appearance at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition, the chapter earned three podium finishes: Easysim placed second in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, Dragoncure placed second in the Innovation & Impact Challenge and LiftAID placed third in the Desjardins Community Empowerment Challenge.

In addition to its Enactus achievements, Dragoncure also earned first place at the Hult Prize Qualifiers at 91��ɫ – part of a global competition that challenges student teams to pitch business ideas addressing major global problems. The qualifiers feed into national and international rounds, offering the team a chance to move on to the competition’s final stages and compete for seed funding.

While venture creation and competitions are the chapter's focus, it also serves as a hub. It organizes workshops, networking events and collaborative initiatives that provide opportunities to gain skills in market research, pitching and storytelling, project development and building partnerships. “These experiences not only support venture creation but also prepare students for careers in entrepreneurship and innovation,” says Channe.

Looking ahead, Channe says Enactus 91��ɫ will participate in the Hult Prize Nationals in Montreal in April, followed by the Enactus Canada National Exposition in May, where teams compete for a chance to advance to Enactus Global.

Channe envisions the chapter growing into one of Canada’s leading student venture ecosystems. It boasts more than 10 active projects creating measurable change for thousands of individuals internationally, with Enactus 91��ɫ alumni leading startups and driving innovation across industries.

“We aim to contribute meaningfully to the SDGs while building a generation of students who see themselves not just as learners, but as problem-solvers and changemakers,” he says.

By inspiring others to take action, Enactus 91��ɫ aims to create a ripple effect one person at a time. “Just one tree can provide shade to hundreds of people in its lifetime,” Channe says.

The post Student entrepreneurs build ventures to create real-world change appeared first on YFile.

Kamelia Atefi, an associate professor at 91��ɫ’s , believes engineers have a unique role in confronting climate change. A warming world brings heavier rains, hotter summers and shifting soils that crack roads, weaken bridges and damage buildings.

Engineers, who design and maintain much of that infrastructure, are uniquely positioned to respond with innovative solutions.

“We cannot use the standard design procedures that we’ve been using,” Atefi says. “We have to redefine the way we are designing things.”

For more than 12 years, Atefi has been contributing to that mandate. A specialist in geomechanics – the branch of civil engineering that studies how soil and rock behave under mechanical, hydraulic and thermal forces – she is reshaping the field through a climate‑focused lens. Instead of treating the ground merely as a foundation, her work examines how it can actively reduce carbon emissions, improve resilience and support sustainable construction.

For example, among her projects, Atefi is exploring innovations through geothermal energy – the heat stored beneath the earth’s surface – as an alternative source for electricity, heating and cooling.

Making shallow geothermal cooling systems work safely and efficiently requires understanding how underground heat, water and soil pressures interact; miscalculating any of these forces could cause failures to infrastructure, reduction of energy efficiency or even damage to the nearby ground.

Atefi is pursuing this through a collaborative $7‑million project led by the University of Waterloo and funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Innovation Fund (CFI-IF). With $500,000 dedicated to her team at 91��ɫ, she is collaborating to build the largest geothermal energy and energy geo-storage research centre in Canada.

Using state-of-the-art triaxial testing equipment funded through the CFI-IF project, Atefi will replicate underground conditions in the lab, applying realistic heat, water flow and pressure to soil and rock samples. This allows her team to study how porous materials respond to thermal and hydraulic loads – including those found in geothermal systems and in conditions created by climate change – ensuring that designs can be both safe and efficient for real-world settings.

Atefi's also leads a collaborative project with the University of Guelph, Carleton University and the University of Waterloo that received $250,000 from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) – Exploration stream. In this project, she is building on a technique called microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which emulates a natural process in which bacteria produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that binds soil grains together.

“The whole idea behind MICP is to use natural microbes that exist in this environment, feed them some nutrients and let them grow,” she explains. “They produce a very natural cement – you can call it bio‑cement.”

Engineers can use this process in situations like mine tailings, which are the leftover materials after valuable minerals or metals have been extracted. If unstable, tailings can collapse or leak toxic water; MICP, however, can turn loose, dangerous tailings into something more solid and safer, using bacteria instead of cement.

While bio‑cementation has been successfully demonstrated in field trials and pilot projects around the world, it is not yet a standard ground improvement method – especially in the contexts Atefi is exploring. “We are looking at northern communities, which are completely isolated,” she says. “They have gravel roads, and we want to improve the quality of those roads in harsh environments using a method that is environmentally friendly, without introducing grouting or chemical‑based materials.”

Atefi is tackling these challenges by engineering new bacterial strains and developing tools to monitor and model how the process behaves under real‑world conditions. “The goal,” she says, “is to understand these behaviours better so bio‑cementation can be promoted and tailored to be stronger in harsher environments.”

Though many of these innovations are still in academic or research settings, Atefi says engineers are uniquely positioned to bridge theory and practice. For her, this means actively contributing beyond the lab as Chair of the Climate Change Committee for the Canadian Standards Association code, which sets technical requirements for engineering, construction and safety across Canada. Through this work, for example, she helped revise the foundations code to incorporate climate‑informed design, translating research insights into standards that guide real‑world engineering projects.

Those solutions are what drive Atefi's work. “It’s about finding ways for engineering to not only respond to climate change in practical, real‑world ways, but to re-think design and construction techniques to help mitigate its effects,” she explains. “We want our work to not just stay in the lab but to actually help communities be safer and more sustainable.”

The post 91��ɫ engineer inventing ways to use the ground as climate solution appeared first on YFile.

Drawing from lived experience shaped by conflict, displacement and homelessness, he is working to drive meaningful change and elevate youth leadership.

A global accelerator for youth-led initiatives, the Youth Impact Council brings leaders aged 18 to 35 together to advance projects on climate change, social justice and innovation. Through resources and facilitation, the council supports and scales the ideas of emerging changemakers.

In his role, Timotewos can propose new initiatives and evaluate those that are brought forward, contributing a thoughtful, community-centred perspective to global decision-making.

The council reviews and votes on projects, then accelerates selected initiatives by connecting them with partners, mentors and networks that support growth and real‑world impact. The initiative was conceived during New 91��ɫ Climate Week 2023 after youth advocate Anna-Grace Millward recognized that young people are often most affected by major decisions, yet rarely included in the rooms where those decisions are made.

“The council’s model prioritizes action over theory, supporting youth-driven solutions that demonstrate traction and potential for growth,” says Timotewos, who studies global politics, human rights and equity, and public administration and law at 91��ɫ's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “When young people are given meaningful responsibility, they rise to the moment. My goal is to ensure that more young people are not only welcomed into leadership spaces, but trusted to help shape their direction.”

Each quarter, members present their initiatives and vote to shortlist high-impact projects. From there, one initiative is selected to receive strategic guidance, media amplification and ecosystem support to help scale its real-world impact.

Born in Hawassa, Ethiopia, Timotewos’ path to global leadership began in circumstances marked by loss and instability. After the passing of two older brothers in infancy and his father’s resignation from local government, his family faced financial hardship. They later relocated to Yemen where, as a seven‑year‑old, he lived through the war. His home and school were bombed, yet his father worked with colleagues to keep the Ethiopian embassy operational, helping evacuate more than 6,000 people to safety. The family received Ethiopia’s National Hero Award in 2015 for their contribution.

Subsequent moves to Ireland and Canada brought new challenges. His family spent seven months in a homeless shelter where he experienced the stigma faced by many unhoused youth. These experiences later shaped his commitment to community service.

In 2024, Timotewos fulfilled a promise he made while living in the shelter by launching a hygiene‑kit drive for unhoused youth. This initiative evolved into Communities Care, a youth‑led organization that has supported more than 3,000 youth across Canada and over 300 in Ethiopia.

He founded Brothers4Brothers, a mentorship and mental health program that raises awareness of men’s mental health, particularly for Black and racialized youth. More than 75 participants have graduated from the program, with many returning as peer mentors, extending the cycle of support and leadership, says Timotewos.

He is also behind the creation of The Kindness Loop, a platform highlighting youth‑led kindness, resilience and community action.

Beyond his grassroots work, Timotewos serves as the youngest member of the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board. He is also one of 20 Black youth selected nationwide for the 1834 Fellowship and represents 91��ɫ as a president’s ambassador, University senator, BE YU student success mentor lead, Department of Equity Studies representative, and leadership, equity and education ambassador.

This appointment reflects the growing presence of 91��ɫ students in global leadership spaces, says Timotewos. “It speaks to the power of youth-led action in building systems that are more inclusive, more responsive, and better equipped to serve communities around the world.”

The post From homelessness to leadership: 91��ɫ student drives global change appeared first on YFile.

Shawn Esmaeeli, a fourth-year student at 91��ɫ’s School of Nursing, , earned the Southlake Champion Award – Extern Award for creating positive change in clinical health settings.

The distinction recognizes an undergraduate nursing student who demonstrates compassion, presence and humanity during their clinical experience.⁠ Esmaeeli, who has worked as a clinical extern at Southlake for close to two years, is praised for his collaborative, kind and attentive approach to clinical care.

Southlake’s announcement of the award highlights how Esmaeeli consistently supports patients facing uncertainty and describes how he “goes above and beyond to ensure patients feel seen, supported and never alone,” whether in the emergency department or offering comfort on the cancer unit. He is also recognized for his ability to work thoughtfully with patients and families, as well as collaboratively with interprofessional teams.

“Shawn ... reflects the very best of what the next generation of health care professionals bring to Southlake,” the announcement states.

Esmaeeli says receiving the award is deeply meaningful, noting the recognition affirms his intentional approach to patient care is making a difference. “It was humbling to be recognized as the clinical extern of the year champion, and this award motivated me even more to continue providing patient-centered care with empathy, respect and dedication,” he says.

Studying nursing at 91��ɫ has helped to shape his perspective by emphasizing empathy, reflection and patient-centreed practice, he says – lessons he will carry forward in his career.

“91��ɫ has encouraged me to see patients not just through a clinical lens, but as individuals with unique experiences, needs and values. I have learned the importance of active listening, cultural sensitivity and collaboration principles that guide how I communicate with patients and support them during vulnerable moments.”

Melanie Dauncey, undergraduate program director for the School of Nursing, says it’s rewarding to see students excel in clinical practice outside of 91��ɫ.

“Shawn earned this award through his own dedication and commitment to patient care,” she says. “The School of Nursing strives to support the growth of our students, and it’s encouraging to see Shawn translate his learning in ways that consistently reflect a patient-first approach.”

For Esmaeeli, the clinical externship offered real-world insights into the power of compassion and teamwork. He saw first-hand how small gestures of empathy – such as taking time to listen or offering reassurance – can make a significant difference in patient care. Working alongside supportive nurses and mentors showed him that the cornerstone high-quality care is rooted in “collaboration, kindness and a shared commitment both to patients and one another.”

The Southlake Champion Awards highlight contributions from staff, medical professionals, volunteers and learners whose actions shape the patient experience. This year’s recipients were acknowledged during a recent recognition event.

The post Nursing student earns award for compassionate clinical care appeared first on YFile.

Engineers Canada, the national governing body representing more than 300,000 engineers, awards its fellow designation to individuals whose leadership, service and impact have strengthened the engineering community through mentoring, advocacy, education, innovation or public service.

"Receiving this designation is a tremendous honour," says Zhu. "For me, this award validates the integrated approach we have taken at 91��ɫ, where we strive to push the boundaries of space technology while simultaneously cultivating the next generation of engineering talent. I am deeply grateful to be part of a community that values both technical excellence and the mentorship that sustains our profession."

The recognition adds to a distinguished list of honours for Zhu, a professor in the , director of 91��ɫ’s Space Engineering Design Laboratory and Tier 1 91��ɫ Research Chair in Space Technology and Robotics. In addition to being a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as well as an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

�ܳ��’s research focuses on two major challenges in aerospace engineering: controlling flexible spacecraft structures and reducing orbital debris to make space operations sustainable. He has developed advanced methods to model and control deployable components such as solar arrays, tethers and robotic arms, enabling spacecrafts to maintain stability and precision in motion.

He has also created technologies to safely and cost-effectively de-orbit defunct satellites, addressing a critical concern for long-term space access. Through CubeSat and nanosatellite missions led at 91��ɫ’s Space Engineering Design Laboratory, he has turned theoretical designs into flight-tested technologies, strengthening Canada’s expertise in spacecraft dynamics, control and robotics.

At the same time, Zhu has had a profound impact on his students. As leader of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) CREATE Training Program in Space Engineering and founder of the Space Engineering Design Laboratory, he provides undergraduates, masters and PhD students with hands-on experience in satellite development and aerospace research. Students design, build and test CubeSats and nanosatellites, develop robotic mechanisms and lead experiments that fly in orbit.

Many of the students he supervises publish research, present at international conferences and collaborate directly with industry and the Canadian Space Agency. Several former trainees now hold key roles in Canada’s space sector – from spacecraft design engineers to mission planners.

Through mentorship, graduate supervision and fostering a culture of student-led innovation, Zhu encourages trainees to initiate their own research projects, explore start-ups or advanced technologies and pursue novel approaches to space engineering. Together, these efforts continue to strengthen the pipeline of talent feeding Canada’s space ecosystem, resulting in prestigious recognitions like 2025 91��ɫ's Top 30 Alumni Under 30, Gold Medal of 2024 China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, as well as NSERC and Ontario Graduate Scholarship recognitions.

Zhu latest recognition as a fellow of Engineers Canada, reflects how his research and mentorship have shaped the country's approach to small-satellite innovation and orbital sustainability.

"This honour reflects the core of my career: pioneering research in space technology and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation," Zhu says. "More personally, it validates the immense effort and passion I have invested in mentorship and community service."

The post Professor earns fellowship for innovations, mentorship in space engineering appeared first on YFile.