Professor and alumnus champions Black students studying occupational health and safety

Craig Fairclough remembers how happy and encouraged he felt when Toronto Community Housing, where he grew up, awarded him a tuition bursary that helped pay for his first years as a student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). 

Now, as an alumnus of the university’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) program — and a TMU adjunct professor who educates future generations in his field — Fairclough wants other Black students to feel just as encouraged as he did. With that in mind, he set out to establish the Craig Fairclough Black Students Award in Occupational Health & Safety, granting $1,000 support annually.

“Looking back, I’ve been blessed,” said Fairclough, who works with organizations to prevent adverse health effects, including injury and even death, in the workplace. “The university prepared me to be a successful occupational health and safety practitioner, as well as giving me the opportunity to be an adjunct professor in the classroom.” He’s been teaching for 21 years, while simultaneously working as an OHS consultant, which he says keeps the real-world knowledge he offers his students up to date and empowers them to be field ready as soon as they graduate.

“There are hurdles to attending university, one of them being financial,” said Fairclough. “And there is a lack of representation, with few young, budding Black students in the classroom.” A former Black student told him that, at the time, he was her only Black university professor and one of only two Black professionals in the field that she knew. The student added that Fairclough’s presence inspired her to continue pursuing her bachelor of applied science. Fairclough asked himself, “How can I leave a legacy, reinvest in the community and in students that look like me, and clear some of their financial barriers as they pursue their goals?”

Fairclough tapped his network of family, friends, advisors and colleagues to fund the award. Then, through the Faculty of Community Services’ matching program, the university matched their generosity to establish the award indefinitely.

Emira Refai-Gray won the award back in 2021. Now in her third year, she was inspired to study occupational health and safety because of a workplace injury her father sustained while working as a tradesman in Canada. Both her parents migrated to this country in the 1980s: her father from Egypt, and her mother from Jamaica. Refai-Gray is passionate about protecting workers and educating them on their rights — especially immigrant workers who may be less aware of the protections employers should put in place to keep them safe.

“For this award, I’m really grateful that I was chosen because it took a lot of financial pressure off my shoulders and meant I could continue going to school without being really stressed out,” said Refai-Gray. “It made me feel that it was important that I continue my path through occupational health and safety.”

To the donors who funded the award, Refai-Gray said, “Thank you. Black students come from all different paths, and a lot of us are immigrants. Just having the extra funds to keep going to school is really helpful, especially with the cost of living in the city.” As soon as she graduates, Regai-Gray plans to pay it forward. “I definitely want to start working in the field as fast as I can. And hopefully one day I’ll be able to give back as Craig has,” she said.

Joining Fairclough in funding the award — and sharing in TMU’s gratitude for advancing students in this way — are entrepreneurs and business owners Isaac Wanzama, Khari Gaynor, Kendal David and Satheesh Somalingam; occupational health and safety professional Guillaume LaChepelle; IT expert Ramesh Somalingam; and physician Dr. Ahmad Belfon Jr.