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Award Criteria & Nomination Process

Two community members submitting a nomination to the Viola Desmond Awards.

Nominations are now closed

Thank you to all community members who submitted a nomination to honour Black women and gender-diverse people who are making a positive difference in the community.

Six award recipients are chosen each year

Each year, six awards are given to Black women and gender-diverse people connected to the university including a university student, a faculty member, a staff member, an alumni, a local high school student and a community member.

Awards nomination criteria

One reference letter required with each nomination

All nominations require one reference letter (maximum one page) provided by an individual who can speak to the nominee's contributions to the Black community and/or how they are an active leader in their community or someone who has benefitted from the nominee’s work.  

  • High school students may submit letters from their teacher, mentor, guidance counselor or school administrator (this could be someone who supervised a co-op or volunteer placement).
  • Students (undergraduate, graduate and continuing education) may submit letters from their teacher, mentor, employer (volunteer, paid work, placement) or spiritual/faith/community leader.
  • Staff may submit letters from their supervisor/manager, colleague, committee/team leader or student. 
  • Faculty may submit letters from their supervisor/manager, colleague, committee/team leader or student.
  • Alumni may submit letters from their current or past teacher, mentor, supervisor/manager. 

Optional supporting documents

Nominators can also choose to include a maximum of one of the following additional supporting documents: 

  • additional reference letter from another  referee
  • letters of recognition associated with another award, recognition, etc. 
  • articles about the nominee  
  • videos highlighting the nominees work 
  • links to associated businesses, groups, etc. that highlight the nominees work  

For faculty nominations, nominators can submit an academic C.V. and/or links to publications.

Categories and eligibility

The TMU student award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at TMU.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Be in good academic standing (only those students with a minimum 1.67 cumulative grade point average and a clear academic standing will be considered).
  • Be a positive role model and advocate of the Black community.
  • Be an active leader in their community, with examples to showcase that they have made a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community development and engagement.

This award includes a $500 monetary reward.

The TMU faculty award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.Self-identify as Black.
  • Be currently employed as a full-time or part-time faculty member at TMU.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Have enriched TMU’s and/or Toronto’s diversity through initiatives promoting Black history and celebrating the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural lives of Black people.
  • Be an active leader in their community who has made a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community-building/engagement.

Have a minimum of two years of work/volunteer background and/or activist/advocacy experience with the Black community.

The TMU staff award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be currently employed as a full-time or part-time staff member at TMU.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Have enriched TMU’s and/or Toronto’s diversity through initiatives promoting Black history and Black flourishing.
  • Be an active leader in their community who has made a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community-building/engagement.
  • Have a minimum of two years of work/volunteer background and/or activist/advocacy experience with the Black community.

The TMU alumni award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be a graduate of TMU from any program.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Have enriched TMU’s and/or Toronto’s diversity through initiatives promoting Black history and celebrating the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural lives of Black people.
  • Be an active leader in their community who has made a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community-building/engagement.
  • Have reflected and recognized, in their actions and deeds, the importance of their TMU education and through their stature, integrity and ability they inspire students, faculty and staff within the Black community, both on and off-campus.

The local high school student award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be in their final year of secondary school in the Toronto area.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Meet or exceed the Ontario Ministry of Education standard of good academic standing (only those students with a minimum average of 70% in 6 U/M credits or equivalent will be considered).
  • Plans to attend an accredited Ontario university or community college.
  • Be a positive role model and advocate of the Black community.
  • Be an active leader in their community who has made a positive difference in areas such as equity, diversity, inclusion, human rights, social justice and community-building/engagement.

This award includes a $500 monetary reward.

For the first time in its history, the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion is partnering with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law to host the 16th annual Viola Desmond Awards. In honour of this collaboration, the TorontoMet community leader award has been established to recognize an outstanding member of the legal community. In future years, OVPECI hopes to collaborate with other schools and faculties to offer similar community awards.

This year's TMU community leader award nominee must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be an active member of the legal profession in Toronto.
  • Agreed to be nominated by their nominator.
  • Demonstrated leadership and an ongoing commitment to one or more of the following:
    • Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
    • Harnessing innovation to improve the delivery of legal services.
    • Strengthening access to justice for underserved communities.
    • Supporting the next generation of lawyers through mentorship and beyond.

Applications for the student bursary are now closed

About the Student Bursary 

All applications to the Viola Desmond Bursary are considered, evaluated and awarded by the Viola Desmond Planning Committee.

The recipient is awarded $1,000.

Eligibility criteria 

The bursary applicant must:

  • Self-identify as a woman or gender-diverse person.
  • Self-identify as Black.
  • Be currently enrolled as a student at TMU and have clear academic standing (minimum 1.67 cumulative grade point average is required for consideration).
  • Be a positive role model and advocate of the Black community.
  • Have demonstrated involvement in the community through extracurricular activities both on campus and/or in the community.

Questions?

Please contact the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) at violadesmond@torontomu.ca.