Growing up, Asha James (BFA ’18) always had a deep interest in the arts, but it wasn’t until she joined musicals in high school that she would discover that the stage was where she felt most at home. As Asha entered the acting industry, she was determined to find stories and cast members that reflected her community. It was this desire that would lead her to land a role in Obsidian Theatre’s FLEX, a project that would shape her career.
As a Black youth coming to Canada from Zimbabwe, Tapo Chimbganda (PhD ’17) had a difficult time adjusting to a new country. She felt isolated and saw first-hand many of the barriers that young Black women face. It was this early experience that inspired her to start Future Black Female, an organization that seeks to guide and empower Black girls and young women to achieve […]
Desaraé Dee (BFA ’12) is a Canadian fusion artist, pianist, composer, producer, and educator whose work centres on instrumental and genre-blending music that explores emotion, spirituality, and storytelling.
Many alumni discover their talents in the classroom. Others find it through career paths. For chef, cookbook author, filmmaker and television personality Valerie Azinge (BA ’12), it was a personal health journey that would reveal her gift for the culinary arts. What started as a fun way to share her fitness recipes, transformed into a […]
After dealing with his own personal battle with depression, Jason Balgopal (JD, LLB ’97) saw the importance of a support group to help combat a challenge that many deal with in isolation. To address this crucial need, Jason started the Mental Wellness Peer Support Group, a weekly peer-to-peer support group for those who face similar […]
Michael Perley (BA ’70) is an environmental and public health advocate whose exceptional leadership has earned him one of Canada’s highest honors, the Order of Canada. He’s being recognized for his transformative work on tobacco control, creating smoke-free spaces and influencing significant legislative changes on acid rain emissions and air pollution in Canada and the […]
While many students pursue a degree in Education with the goal of teaching in the classroom, Miles Gargaritano (BEd ’15) pursued his degree with the goal of teaching in the workplace. As the Senior Director, Information Technology (IT) Operations at Loopio, a Toronto-based software company that supercharges response management, Miles utilizes what he learned in […]
Many students follow a traditional path when it comes to their education and career. For alumnus, Jamie Glass (BA ‘91) the path to a career in education was anything but linear. What began as a career in law evolved into a desire to empower future generations of students. It was a shift that began with […]
Reverend Doctor Cheri DiNovo C.M. (BA ’94) is a queer activist, author and former minister and politician recognized for her transformative leadership in advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and legislation.
Lisa Jackson (MFA ’19) is an Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang First Nation) award-winning filmmaker who has written, directed and produced films, television and multimedia projects, from a dome film to VR and IMAX. Partway through her film career, she decided to pursue a master’s degree and studied in York’s MFA in Film program.