For 20 years, York University's Bryden Alumni Awards have celebrated alumni who have changed the world for the better. The tradition of recognizing their contributions will continue at The York U Alumni Celebration: Honouring 20 Years of Bryden Awards on Nov. 19 from 7-8 pm ET. All alumni and friends are invited to join the university […]
On Sept. 10, York alumna Nadine Spencer (BA ’04) – along with many Canadians – got some monumental news that was a long time coming. The federal government announced the installment of the Black Entrepreneurship Program, the first of its kind, that will provide $221 million in capital to Black entrepreneurs and business owners in […]
Growing up in Montreal, author Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore (MPPAL ’19) was always drawn to storytelling – from reading her favourite nursery rhymes to eventually creating her own. “I started writing children’s books when I was six or seven years old,” she says about her early efforts to mimic the musical style of her favourite author, beloved […]
Identical twin sisters, Marnie (BA ’01, BEd ’01) and Rena Schwartz (BA ’01, BEd ’01), are certified Ontario teachers, kinesiologists, and owners and artistic directors of ViBE Dance & Fitness Studio in Thornhill, Ont. ViBE is a recreational dance and fitness studio that has a unique performance-based approach and a non-competitive inclusive philosophy. Together with their enthusiastic and energetic staff, Marnie […]
There will be no shortage of York alumni at the 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. While this year’s festival, which takes place from Sept. 10-19, will be slightly reimagined to meet COVID-19 guidelines, the show will go on. Many of the talented directors, actors, producers and cinematographers behind the much-anticipated selection of […]
After graduating from York, singer-songwriter Amanda Martinez (IMBA '99) started working in the International Trade Finance Department at TD Bank. But things changed when she decided to pursue music taking a big risk by "jumping off a cliff to follow her heart." She's since headlined the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, the 2010 FIFA World […]
On Aug. 18, Alumni Engagement and York University Libraries hosted a virtual fireside chat with alumnus Jesse Thistle (BA ’15), author of the award-winning memoir, From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way. During the virtual event, moderated by Dean of Libraries Joy Kirchner, Thistle shared his journey writing his […]
Long before becoming a pilot, Iristel Inc. president and CEO Samer Bishay (BSc ’98) was always gazing at the stars. Bishay, who was born in Cairo, spent his childhood in West Africa and Nigeria with his father, an agrologist, visiting different irrigation projects. “I used to see the crop dusters quite a bit and the […]
The York University Alumni Board has recognized four distinguished York students for their academic excellence and student leadership. We are proud to share the recipients of the 2020 Alumni Awards and Scholarships, and their incredible academic journeys, below. Olivia Beltrano (BBA candidate ’24) – 2020 Harry W. Arthurs Alumni Families Entrance Scholarship recipient Attending York […]
In showbusiness, as in life, timing is everything. It’s a lesson that 2020 has only magnified for actor-writer Amanda Cordner (BA ’11), who had just finished shooting a film based on a play she created with her high school friend and creative partner David Di Giovanni (MFA ’17), when a pandemic hit. The pair had […]