Past Viola Desmond Awards
Learn about past award recipients and explore our image galleries.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Viola Desmond Awards!
Award recipients
- TMU faculty award | Dr. Rai Reece
- TMU staff award | Crystal Mark
- TMU alumni award | Marsha Brown
- Sidney and Mettelia Ferguson student award | Georgiana Mathurin
- High school student award | Jeya Nkrumah
- Denise O'Neil Green student leadership award | Flesticiah Amoah and Jama Seham
Bursary recipients
- Naomi Addai
- Tahja Burnett-Ffrench
- Kelly Cameron
- Jayde James
Honourees
- Sandra Ferguson
- Patricia DeGuire
- Tanitiã Munroe
- Keisha Evans
Honorary patron award
Dr. Pamela Appelt
Visionary recognition
Darrell Bowden
Advocate recognition
Jeff Perera
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022 Viola Desmond Awards!
Honorary Viola Desmond award
Dr. Denise O’Neil Green
TMU faculty award in honour of Robyn Maynard
Dr. Janelle Brady
TMU staff award in honour of Nalo Hopkinson
Shurla Charles-Forbes
TMU alumna award in honour of Dr. Jill Andrew
Eternity Martis
TMU student award in honour of Dr. Eugenia Duodu Addy
Nikesha Sampson
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Kiya Busby
Ashley Levins
TMU student bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Oluwapelumi Egbewumi
Nya Martin-Hemming
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In the news
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Dr. Notisha Massaquoi
Juanita Stephen
Staff award in honour of Ms. Joan Pierre
Sharmaine McKenzie
Student award in honour of Hon. Marlene Jennings
Pauline Mwangi
Alumna award in honour of Dr. Daurene Lewis
Marci Ien
High school student awards in honour of Ms. Viola Desmond
Hannah Flores
Nephertari Marshall
TMU student bursary in honour of Ms. Viola Desmond
Nigeleen Nwakobi
Sojourner San Vicente
Missed the event?
If you’re having difficulty viewing this content, watch the event on Stream.
In the news
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2020 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Senator Rosemary Moodie
Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel
Staff award in honour of Trey Anthony
Olanike (Nikki) Waheed
Student award in honour of Joan Jones
Latoya Powell
Alumni award in honour of Angela James
Namugenyi Kiwanuka
High school student in honour of Viola Desmond
Huda Nur
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Yanique Brandford
Missed the event?
Image gallery
In the news
- TMU Today: Centring Black Canadian women and history
- Share: Viola Desmond to be featured on Canadian banknote
- Metro Morning
- CBC Toronto News at 11
- CityNews Tonight Toronto
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Dr. Dorothy Wills
Dr. Karline Wilson-Mitchell
Staff award in honour of Violet King Henry
Amanda (Amiga) Taylor Wheatle
Student award in honour of Dr. Sylvia D. Hamilton
Christine (T.NA) Smith
Alumna award in honour of Dr. Beverly Mascoll
Stephanie Croisiere
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Brianna Glanville-Forrest
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Anny-Aysel Ineza
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2018 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Dr. Malinda Smith
Melanie Knight
Staff award in honour of Madame Vivian Barbot
Dr. Emily Agard
Student award in honour of Hon. Mayann Francis
Susanne Nyaga
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Shanique Peart
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Deborah Mepaiyeda
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2017 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard
Annette Bailey
Staff award in honour of Rosemary Sadlier
Donica Willis
Student award in honour of Paulette Senior
Devenae Bryce
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Siifan Hassen
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Sharon Folkes-Hall
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2016 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Dr. Juanita Westmoreland-Traore
Jennifer Clarke
Staff award in honour of Chloe Cooley
Mandissa Arlain
Student award in honour of Dr. Pamela Appelt
Pascale Diverlus
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Priscila Wyssolela Moreira Da Silva
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Susanne Nyaga
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2015 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Dr. Rosemary Brown
Idil Abdihalli
Staff award in honour of Dr. Pearleen Oliver
Juanittah Kamera
Student award in honour of Lillie Johnson
Olawatebi Taiwo
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Kia Cummings
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Omnia Aderbo
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2014 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Anne Greenup
Nicole Neverson
Staff award in honour of Andrea Elaine Lawrence
Keitha Prospere
Student award in honour of Zanana Akande
Anissa Hassan
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Hoda Abdel-Gabar
Bursary in honour of Viola Desmond
Omolara Bakare
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2014 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Harriet Tubman
Paulette Kelly
Staff award in honour of Rose Fortune
Tanya Fermin-Poppleton
Student award in honour of Mary Ann Chambers
Shauna Marie Brown
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Rihab Ali
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2014 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Hon. Jean Augustine
Camille Hernandez-Ramdwar
Staff award in honour of Marie Marguerite Rose
Shauna Boolal
Student award
Tameika Green-Crane
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Jaiceya Smith
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2011 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Kay Livingstone
Althea Prince
Staff award
Marlyn Husbands
Student award in honour of Mattie Hayes
Shantae Johns
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Alexandria Green
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2014 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Emma Stark
Akua Benjamin
Staff award in honour of Rev. Addie Aylestock
Lucina Fraser (retired)
Student award in honour of Marie-Joseph Angelique
Idil Omar
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Lamarana Cooper- Diallo
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2014 Viola Desmond Awards!
Faculty award in honour of Carrie Best
Carole Chauncey
Staff award in honour of Portia White
Kaye Sealy (retired)
Student award in honour of Mary Ann Shadd
Paulina Bleah
High school student award in honour of Viola Desmond
Bai Rashud