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 […]
On Nov. 6, members of the York University community gathered at the TIFF Lightbox in downtown Toronto for the 25th anniversary of the 2025 York U Alumni Awards. More than 200 guests were in attendance bringing together alumni, friends, faculty, students and staff for an evening of celebration, entertainment and networking. “For the past 25 years, […]
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 […]
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 […]
The York University Alumni Board has announced the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship, Alumni Golden GRADitude award and the Harry Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship. Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship Shon Lazarev The Alumni Silver Jubilee Scholarship is presented to a student who exemplifies excellence in academics, leadership and community impact. This year’s […]
As a proud alumna of York University, I’ve built a career deeply rooted in community, leadership and impact. Over the past decade, I’ve worn many hats: Non-profit director, executive recruiter, board leader, and now, your Alumni Career Coach. In this article, I’m sharing some of the most common situations job seekers are navigating right now […]
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. “I was at a […]
Growing up in a small town outside of Ottawa, Jocelyn Cadieux (MES ’20) learned the importance of accessibility and mobility. Now, as an urban planner working for the City of Ottawa, he aims to build strong communities by making urban spaces more accessible and developing the surrounding infrastructure. “Our communities shape who we are and […]
Valeriy Kostyuk (BFA ’18) is a Ukrainian-Canadian producer who has had a successful career in art and entertainment. However, after hearing about the conflict in his home of Ukraine, he set forth to make a positive change in his community. Now, as the executive director of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, he hopes to build bridges between […]
Looking back at her time at York, Taylor Graves (BES ’15) recalls the experience she gained as a student that provided a strong connection to the university. Today, as a manager of Customer Experience at Metrolinx, she delivers a similarly enriching experience to positively influence public transportation ridership. What was your experience at EUC like […]