Viola Desmond Awards & Bursary Program
Toronto Metropolitan University’s Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Program promotes Black flourishing, shining a light on the phenomenal Black women and Black gender-diverse people whose labour, creativity, passion and skills are positively impacting the entire TMU community. Their contributions are ensuring that Viola's legacy thrives for generations to come.
Now in its 16th year, this annual program is led by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI). This year, OVPECI partnered with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, with contributions from campus partners serving on the Viola Desmond Awards Planning Committee.
Congratulations to the 2024 award and bursary recipients
TMU student award
Cris Nippard
Student, School of Journalism, The Creative School
TMU faculty award
Stephanie Latty
Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology, Faculty of Arts
TMU staff award
Camara Chambers
Director of Leadership Development, The Dais
TMU alumni award
Ashley Jane Lewis
Black Postdoctoral Fellow, TMU Black Scholarship Institute
TMU community leader award
Charlene Theodore
Chief Inclusion Officer, McCarthy Tétrault
Luanda Campbell
Campus Recruitment Advisor, Enbridge
Safia Thompson
Litigation Associate, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Toronto
TMU student bursary
Chelsi Campbell
Student, RTA School of Media, The Creative School
Faith-Ann Clarke
Student, RTA School of Media, The Creative School
Titilayo Coker-Oshiwoga
Student, School of Nutrition, Faculty of Community Services
Hermela Taye
Student, Business Management, Ted Rogers School of Management
TDSB student award
Alicia Gonsalves
Student, Social Service Worker Program, School of Community Services
Shanice Maria Samms
Student, Department of Social Sciences at York University, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
Sidney and Mettelia Ferguson Award
Naomi Wokocha
Student, English and Philosophy Double Major, Minor in Criminology, Faculty of Arts
Learn more about the award honourees and recipients
Acknowledgements
The OVPECI would like to thank and acknowledge the ongoing support from our donors, sponsors and organizing committee! Special acknowledgements are given to Marsha Brown, Dr. Catherine Ellis, Shurla Charles-Forbes, Dr. Melanie Knight, Joan Pierre, Dr. Yvonne Simpson, Nikki Waheed and Nicole Waldron for their sustained and tremendous support of the Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Program.
A special thanks to our donors
The OVPECI is pleased to recognize the generosity of donors who have made a gift between February 2023 to October 2024:
- Pamela Appelt
- Rachel Barreca
- Darrell Bowden
- Marsha Brown
- Nadya Burton
- Barbara Charames
- Shurla Charles-Forbes
- Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP
- Colin Cyrus-Gibbons and Jenny Gumbs
- Patricia DeGuire
- Selasi Dorkenoo
- Sandra Ferguson
- Jastej Gill
- Paulette Kelly
- Kathleen Kellett-Betsos
- Dauna Jones-Simmonds
- Paulette Senior
- Georgiana Mathurin
- Rudo Mataure
- Marcelle Mullings
- Ross Mutton
- Peter Nkansah
- OPSEU, Local 596
- Brenda Parris
- Pamella Powell
- Andrea Ridgley
- Henderson Aviation Resources
- Tonya Wray
- Frank Walwyn and Kayla Theeuwen
- Anna Triandafyllidou
A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated partners who honour Viola's legacy
Viola Desmond's courageous act of civil disobedience occurred at the Roseland Theatre on November 8, 1946 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. For the past 16 years and in partnership with the community, TMU has taken a leading role in honouring Viola’s legacy. Learn more about past award recipients.
This year’s event was made possible through the partnership between the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) and the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. Together, we aim to advance equity and inclusion efforts and recognize the contributions of Black women and gender-diverse people in TMU and the greater Toronto community. Make a donation today and help us keep the legacy of Viola Desmond alive.
Organizing committee
The 2024 Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Program was led by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) in partnership with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law with contributions from campus partners serving on the Viola Desmond Awards Planning Committee.
Committee chairs
Michelle Forde
Manager, PICCABR and ECI Initiatives, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion
Sharmaine McKenzie
Executive Director Strategic Initiatives and Operations, Lincoln Alexander School of Law
Looking forward to next year
We look forward to the continued celebration of Black achievement at TMU. Stay connected with the Viola Desmond Awards & Bursary Program for updates and future events.
Questions?
Please contact the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) at violadesmond@torontomu.ca.
(Illustration by Macha Abdallah (external link) )