The initiative, led by Stephanie Gora, assistant professor at the , received $250,000 from the Government of Canada鈥檚 New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) . The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) program supports bold, interdisciplinary research that tests new ideas and aims for real鈥憌orld impact.

Gora鈥檚 project focuses on drinking water quality in multi鈥憉nit rental housing, where water safety is impacted by the actions of water utilities, tenants, landlords/building owners and regulators.

鈥淭his funding gives us the freedom to step back and take a 鈥榩roblem-first鈥� approach to understanding and improving water safety in rental housing that prioritizes the lived experiences of tenants, as well as building owners and management,鈥� says Gora. 鈥淭he goal is to co-develop technologies and frameworks that address the real barriers to safe water in rental housing."

While Canada has invested heavily in protecting drinking water, quality of water from the tap 鈥� particularly in rental buildings 鈥� remains difficult to assess and address, she adds.

Expertise in engineering, housing and urban planning will come together to examine both the technical and social dimensions of water quality. Gora is joined by co鈥憄rincipal investigator Katherine Perrott (University of Waterloo) and co鈥慳pplicants Judy Duncan (ACORN Canada), Liam Butler and Razieh Salahandish (91亚色), along with Brian Doucet (University of Waterloo) for the project, titled 鈥溾�楥an I drink the tap water?鈥� An interdisciplinary action framework for water quality assurance in multi鈥憉nit rental housing.鈥�

According to Gora, research and policy following the 2000 Walkerton water crisis focused primarily on protecting municipal sources, treatment plants and distribution systems. However, conditions within buildings are a separate risk where aging plumbing, construction materials and maintenance practices can significantly affect water quality by the time it reaches residents鈥� taps.

These challenges are particularly pronounced in rental housing, where tenants have limited control over infrastructure and limited access to information.

Multi鈥憉nit buildings constructed before 1960 are more likely to contain lead-bearing plumbing components and lead solder, but water quality issues are not limited to older housing stock. Newer and high鈥憆ise buildings can also experience problems related to water stagnation and interactions between the water and materials used for plumbing.

In January 2024, more than 200 tenants were evacuated from a newly built student apartment building in Hamilton, Ont., due to poor water quality, highlighting the scope of the issue.

The 91亚色鈥憀ed project responds to these gaps by integrating scientific testing with lived experience.

Researchers will begin by testing water samples and interviewing tenants, building owners or managers to understand how water quality issues arise and how they are handled in real-world settings. The team will test how point-of-use and distributed water quality sensors monitor water safety in real time.

The findings will help the team develop a data-driven water safety framework for multi-unit rental buildings using an approach that considers social, environmental and economic impacts while encouraging collaboration among sector partners to clarify shared responsibilities.

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The pellet formulation of the larvicide methoprene will be placed into all University catch basins. The granular formulation of the larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis will be applied to selected bodies of surface water, including ditches and ponds, based on the presence of mosquito larvae.

Methoprene and Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis are both registered larvicides that are approved for use by the federal government. All larvicide will be applied by applicators who are licensed by the Ministry of the Environment or supervised technicians. Each larviciding application will be carried out under permit from the Ministry of the Environment.

The control treatments are scheduled to take place on the following dates:

• May 23 and 24
• June 13 and 14
• July 4 and 5
• Aug. 1 and 2
• Aug. 29 and 30

This schedule may be adjusted based on larvicide counts within catch basins and prevailing weather conditions.

For more information on the exact location and dates of treatment, contact Professional PCO Services at 416-520-7769. For more general information about the West Nile control treatments, contact John Leva, manager of grounds, fleet and waste management, at 416-937-4536.

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The citywide event, running May 23 and 24, provides access to historically, culturally and architecturally significant spaces across the Greater Toronto Area.

At 91亚色, visitors are invited to explore Scott Library, the Joan & Martin Goldfarb Gallery and the Nursing Simulation Lab, each offering a distinct behind-the-scenes experience.

At Scott Library, guests can discover one of the University鈥檚 most recognizable spaces, known for its striking architecture, extensive collections and integration of public art.

Attendees visiting the Goldfarb Gallery can take part in guided tours of current exhibitions, featuring contemporary works and immersive sound installations.

The Nursing Simulation Lab will offer a look inside a hands-on learning environment, where advanced simulation tools are used to train future health care professionals.

Together, these sites offer a glimpse into diverse spaces that support learning, research and creativity at 91亚色.

Learn more and plan your visit at

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Finding your way around 91亚色鈥檚 Glendon Campus is easier and more accessible with the launch of a new digital indoor navigation tool.

Faculty, students, staff and visitors can use GoodMaps to navigate Glendon鈥檚 interconnected buildings on its 85-acre Toronto campus.

The free smartphone app provides turn-by-turn indoor directions across Glendon by using detailed digital mapping, improving campus access for a wide range of users.

鈥淕lendon College is proud to embrace this groundbreaking partnership with GoodMaps 鈥� made possible through the CNIB Foundation 鈥� which reflects our enduring commitment to fostering an inclusive, accessible and innovative learning environment,鈥� says Marco Fiola, principal, Glendon College.

The innovative LiDAR-based technology offers more reliability than GPS and includes guidance for people with vision and hearing loss, as well as step-free routes for those with mobility limitations. The app provides structured directions for users who benefit from predictable navigation paths. The app works through users鈥� personal mobile devices.

鈥淕oodMaps helps remove barriers to campus navigation by supporting people with different mobility, sensory and cognitive needs," says Fiola. 鈥淲hat sets GoodMaps apart from other navigation solutions is its commitment to accessibility-first design and infrastructure-free implementation.鈥�

Available in more than 20 languages 鈥� including English, French, Spanish and Anishinaabemowin 鈥� GoodMaps supports Glendon's multilingual and international campus community. Campus maps can be updated in real time, allowing Glendon鈥檚 facilities staff to reflect changes such as construction activity or new points of interest.

In addition to on-campus use, GoodMaps includes a web mapping option that allows users to explore campus buildings online. This feature will help visitors plan routes in advance and reduce uncertainty when navigating unfamiliar spaces.

The is available for free through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The project received financial support from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Government of Canada through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority鈥慙anguage Education and Second Official Language Instruction.

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The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in interdisciplinary education and research in the field of maternal and child health.

The 2026 recipients are undergraduate students Sobi Mohan, Sana Ebadi, Aaliyah Daruwala and Sarah Belvedere; and graduate students Estreya Cohen, Paul De Luca, Haleh Hashemi, Anh Nguyen, Gillian Shoychet and Vanessa Tassone.

For Ebadi, a direct-entry nursing student at 91亚色鈥檚 School of Nursing, the award marks an important milestone in a journey defined by advocacy, scholarship and a commitment to health equity.

The third-year student鈥檚 academic interests are closely tied to her lived experience. 鈥淕rowing up in a refugee family from Afghanistan, I witnessed first-hand the barriers that many refugee and immigrant women face when trying to navigate unfamiliar health care systems,鈥� she says, highlighting language barriers, financial hardship and limited awareness of available services.

In addition to her studies, Ebadi has taken on a range of roles that demonstrate commitment to community service and student advocacy. She serves as outreach director for the Nursing Students鈥� Association of 91亚色, where she works to strengthen student engagement and connect nursing students with professional development opportunities.

As one of 91亚色鈥檚 student health ambassadors, Ebadi speaks to prospective and incoming students during University events by sharing her academic experiences and offering tips on available supports and resources.

She is also a marketing executive with the 91亚色 Blood Initiative, contributing to campaigns to raise awareness about blood donation and insecurity, and volunteers with the South Asian Autism Awareness Centre.

鈥淭he Lillian Meighen Wright Scholarship is especially meaningful because it aligns closely with my academic interests and future goals,鈥� she says, 鈥淚t reinforces my desire to contribute to more equitable systems of care for women and families who face barriers to accessing health services.鈥�

The award adds to a growing list of achievements in Ebadi鈥檚 academic career. Most recently, her maternal health research was accepted for presentation at Sigma鈥檚 37th International Nursing Research Congress in Toronto, where she will share her work with nursing scholars and experts from around the world.

"Recognition through the Lillian Meighen Wright Scholarship speaks to the promise of these students as scholars and emerging leaders," says Nazilla Khanlou, professor and Women鈥檚 Health Research Chair in Mental Health at 91亚色 and academic leader of the scholars program. "Through their research, leadership and commitment to advancing equity in health care, they exemplify the kind of compassionate and socially responsive practice the University strives to foster."

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A professor at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Sharpe has been named a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship recipient, recognizing the impact of her award-winning scholarship in Black studies and the humanities.

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship recognizes accomplished individuals in academia, public service and other sectors whose work addresses major social and public issues.

鈥淚 am honoured to have been selected and grateful to have been nominated,鈥� says Sharpe of the award, which provides recipients with financial and institutional resources over three years to pursue research and public engagement.

Sharpe鈥檚 work aligns closely with the program's mandate through initiatives that bring scholarly inquiry into dialogue with broader communities. Among them is The Alchemy Lecture, an annual, multi-voiced public event she leads that invites scholars and artists from across disciplines to collaboratively explore pressing social and political questions. Another is the BLACK: Lab, a collaborative research and creative space she developed and co-directs at 91亚色 that fosters interdisciplinary scholarship in Black studies, art and critical inquiry.

鈥淭he fellowship, along with the support of the University and our many sponsors, will allow the work of The Alchemy Lecture and BLACK: Lab to continue without worry,鈥� says Sharpe. 鈥淚 most look forward to working with fellows, scholars, graduate students, artists and partners on learning together through creative collaboration.鈥�

These initiatives build on Sharpe鈥檚 extensive record of scholarship, which has had wide influence on the establishment and growth of Black studies and the humanities. A Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Black Studies, her work spans literature, film, theory and the visual and performing arts, with a focus on the Black diaspora.

Sharpe鈥檚 contributions to scholarly and cultural conversations in Canada and internationally have received significant distinctions in recent years. In 2025, she was named a recipient of the Killam Prize, which acknowledges career-long contributions to scholarship in Canada. In 2024, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which recognizes individuals who push the boundaries of knowledge and creativity.

These honours followed a notable year in 2023, when her book Ordinary Notes received the Hilary Weston Writers鈥� Trust Prize for Nonfiction and the Hodler Prize. It was also was shortlisted for major international awards, including the National Book Award for Nonfiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction. The book was named among the year鈥檚 notable nonfiction titles by several publications.

Through the fellowship, Sharpe will continue to shape critical conversations in Black studies and beyond.

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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. 鈥�

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鈥檚 largest professional technical organization, representing more than 422,000 engineers and scientists across 160 countries.

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

Bratty represents the third generation of leadership at The Remington Group, one of Ontario鈥檚 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鈥憉se projects across the Greater Toronto Area.

His leadership has helped shape the region鈥檚 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. 鈥� Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies I

Sokolowski has been a leading figure in Canada鈥檚 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鈥憇cale, master鈥憄lanned residential communities.

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

Ray Gupta: June 16, 10:30 a.m. 鈥� 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 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. 鈥� 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鈥檚 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亚色 City. She holds an MBA from 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business and was named one of Payment Source鈥檚 Most Influential Women in Payments in 2018.

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

The Schroeders are among Canada鈥檚 most influential entrepreneurs and philanthropists, whose work has enabled lasting change in education, health care and social equity nationwide. Together, they co鈥慺ounded Dominion Bond Rating Service in 1975 and built it into the world鈥檚 fourth鈥憀argest 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. 鈥�

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 鈥� including a juris doctor from the University of Toronto and a master of laws from 91亚色 鈥� 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鈥檚 Lawyer. In 2016, she became the first Indigenous woman appointed Children鈥檚 Lawyer for Ontario. She now serves as assistant deputy attorney general of Ontario鈥檚 Indigenous Justice Division.

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At 91亚色, researchers are addressing that gap by bringing patient partners into the conversation to learn from lived experience.

Through its Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC), 91亚色 is advancing research that connects scientific inquiry with the lived realities of people affected by conditions and diseases that impact muscle health, ensuring that studies and knowledge-sharing efforts account for how mobility, independence and quality of life are impacted.

The approach recognizes that certain aspects of muscle health are difficult to fully capture without perspectives from those navigating these realities daily.

鈥淩ecognizing lived experience as a critical source of knowledge helps to inform future research, education and public understanding related to the real-world impacts facing those living with muscle health disease,鈥� says Christopher Perry, professor and director of the MHRC.

This perspective is particularly relevant for individuals living with mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic condition that affects how cells produce energy.

Working with patient partners, Perry says many report that muscle weakness, fatigue and changes in mobility can cause decline in the ability to execute everyday activities, plan long term and maintain independence. It鈥檚 these factors, he says, that are often difficult to capture through clinical measures alone.

鈥淔or individuals living with mitochondrial disease, changes in muscle function can emerge gradually or after long periods of stability,鈥� he says. 鈥淎s mobility declines, the impact extends beyond physical symptoms, requiring adaptation to both physical and emotional well-being.鈥�

Kate Murray, CEO of MitoCanada, says when this decline happens, individuals experience a sense of loss.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a grieving process for the life and independence they once had,鈥� she says. 鈥淔rom our perspective at MitoCanada, a big part of what we try to do is make sure lived experiences are part of the conversation and stay grounded in what people are navigating in their lives.鈥�

Adding to the challenge is the absence of disease-specific treatments. However, patient partners share one approach helps: exercise.

Resistance and strength training for those living with mitochondrial disease can help maintain function and independence 鈥� and Murray says it's important to rethink what exercise can mean in this context.

鈥淚鈥檝e heard community members describe exercise almost as a form of hope. They feel empowered and optimistic about the potential to slow their decline or maintain what they have,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or these individuals, exercise isn鈥檛 about performance or pushing limits, it鈥檚 about maintaining function, independence and quality of life.鈥�

Patient partner Louise Gibson, a mitoAmbassador and community advocate with MitoCanada, shares this perspective and will present her insights and experiences to 91亚色 researchers at the upcoming Muscle Health Awareness Day (MHAD), now in its 17th year.

As a patient advocate, she brings lived experience into research and education settings, helping inform health care teams, support patient education and advocate for greater awareness of rare diseases.

She also emphasizes the role of accessible exercise in maintaining function and quality of life for people living with mitochondrial disease.

鈥淚t is difficult to fully understand the conditions we study without hearing from people who live with them every day, which is why the Muscle Health Research Centre is focused on creating space for those voices and finding better ways to ensure they are heard,鈥� says Perry.

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The initiative is part of the 鈥檚 fourth-year course Sport and International Development (KINE 4310) that engages students in community-driven projects with local and global organizations.

Led by Associate Professor Lyndsay Hayhurst as part of a community-service learning (CSL) initiative, 45 undergraduate students partnered with seven organizations 鈥� Jays Care Foundation, Commonwealth Sport Canada, Free to Run, Skateistan, Prezdential Basketball, Canadian Women & Sport and the International Platform on Sport and Development 鈥� to effect real-world change.

Working in small groups, students contributed approximately 25 hours over the term to support partner-identified priorities related to: gender equity; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning; newcomer inclusion and belonging; climate justice; and youth development.

Each group developed a structured work plan, maintained regular communication with their partner organization and completed a midterm progress report and final report outlining their research, analysis and recommendations.

A core focus of the course was knowledge mobilization, with students producing accessible, action-oriented resources designed to be used in practice by organizations. These outputs included monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) toolkits, policy briefs, infographics, coaching resources and digital content strategies.

The course concluded with a final in-class conference where students presented their knowledge mobilization outputs to partner organizations followed by discussion and feedback from partners and peers.

Partner organizations said the presentations offered practical relevance, clarity and creativity of the presentations, noting that several recommendations would be adopted to inform ongoing programming, evaluation and policy development.

The work, Hayhurst notes, highlights how students are engaging with contemporary challenges shaping sport and development practice.

One project, for example, worked on a policy brief on trans and non-binary inclusion for Canadian Women & Sport just as the International Olympic Committee released new guidance on trans athletes participating in women鈥檚 sport.

鈥淭he real-time policy shift that is widely interpreted as excluding trans athletes from women鈥檚 sports brought urgency to the group鈥檚 presentation and sparked conversations about how community sport organizations in Canada can respond with more inclusive, equity-focused approaches,鈥� says Hayhurst.

The Jays Care student group worked on researching how youth-facing barriers to sport participation 鈥� and the efforts to address them 鈥� shape access, retention and experiences in community baseball. The project maintained a specific gender analysis, with attention to girls鈥� participation in the broader community-based landscape. Working with Jays Care, students presented an infographic exploring how equity, access, safe spaces, inclusive environments and meaningful participation translate (or fail to translate) into tangible outcomes for girls in baseball across Canada.

Alexandra Blanchard, director of strategy at Jays Care Foundation and 91亚色 alum, says working聽with the students was positive experience, noting they聽were enthusiastic, curious and a pleasure to engage with.

鈥淚t's energizing to connect with the next generation of students who are passionate about the field and I'd jump at the chance to do it again,鈥� says Blanchard. 鈥淯niversity partnerships like this are a wonderful way to bridge research and community practice, and we'd recommend the experience to any community organization looking to do the same.鈥�

In addition to applied research experience, the CSL model supports skill development in research, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

鈥淭his course has run for the last 10 years with the goal of moving beyond traditional learning by engaging students in collaborative, community-driven projects,鈥� says Hayhurst. 鈥淪tudents are not only developing critical insights into sport, development and social justice, but importantly, they are also creating tangible knowledge mobilization outputs that will be taken up in practice by community partners.鈥�

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Each year on the National Day of Mourning, established in 1984, Canadians pause to honour individuals who have died, been injured or suffered illness due to workplace hazards. It's also a day to reaffirm individual and organizational commitments to fostering a safe and healthy work environment for all.

Members of the University community are invited to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m.

To learn more about the National Day of Mourning, please visit the following websites: 

Employee resources and support

As a reminder, all 91亚色 employees and their immediate family members have access to confidential counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, available through the . There is also an online portal with 24-7 access and resources.

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