Celebrating TMU’s outstanding volunteers
At Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), we are very grateful for the many ways volunteers make our university stronger. The annual G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Awards celebrate that contribution, recognizing those who give of their time, talents and resources to make the education of TMU students more relevant, more personal and more meaningful.
The June 28 event is the 6th anniversary of the G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Awards, and our first back in person since 2019. With 38 alumni and friends being recognized for the generosity of their volunteerism, this edition brings the number of those honoured to a powerhouse 275.
Featured among this year’s recipients is Juliet Ajambo-Doherty (Applied Chemistry and Biology ’07, Master of Science ’09). Ajambo-Doherty serves as co-chair of the Faculty of Science Mentorship Program, alongside Chancellor Janice Fukakusa. In this role, she has been an invaluable, long-time mentor to STEM students and new graduates who identify as belonging to a racialized group. Ajambo-Doherty is an enthusiastic energy professional with a passion for equity, diversity and inclusion. She draws from her experience as a technical engineer with Ontario Power Generation Nuclear, where she is the inaugural co-chair of both the Employee Resource Group for Racial Equity and the Employee Resources Group for Women.
Also recognized this year is journalist, author and skilled storyteller, Waubgeshig Rice (Journalism ’02). Rice is from Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay. He is a regular contributor to TMU publications, providing insights and perspectives as a guest speaker on the university’s podcast — The Forefront: Ideas for Cities — and as an author in the Book Talk series. Waubgeshig also inspires budding journalists and graduating students at special TMU events hosted by the Journalism Research Centre and Aboriginal Student Services.
While most faculties and divisions typically choose individual volunteers, this year the Lincoln Alexander School of Law chose to recognize a special group of dedicated volunteers for their collective contribution of which has been pivotal to the learning and development of law students at TMU. The Moot Coaches gave significant time, effort and energy to developing the legal expertise and oral advocacy skills of hardworking law students to ensure they are able to participate, perform and build the university's reputation at various national mooting and lawyering-skills competitions. The coaches’ contributions have been invaluable to the development of Lincoln Alexander Law in its early stages, and for the positive impact their dedication and support will have on the future of the legal profession.
You can see the full list of the 2023 honourees here. And on June 28 at 6:15 p.m., we encourage you to tune into the live stream of this year’s G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Awards on YouTube. Everyone is welcome and we hope you will join us to celebrate our exceptional volunteers.