FCS community members to be recognized at G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Awards
On April 22, members of the Ryerson community will gather online to recognize the exemplary contributions of alumni and friends to Ryerson University, including seven volunteers who are affiliated with the Faculty of Community Services (FCS).
The G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Awards are named in honour of the late chancellor emeritus of Ryerson University and Officer of the Order of Canada, for his deep belief in the importance of volunteering.
You can watch the event live (external link) on April 22 at 5 p.m.
Congratulations to our award recipients!
Peter Lebuis is the itinerant child and youth counsellor at the Toronto District School Board. He also works in private practice at Peter Lebuis Counselling, and as a clinical associate and intake coordinator at Schuler Counselling and Consultation. Over the past decade, Lebuis has made it a professional obligation to support child and youth care students. He supported the internship coordinator in a new pilot project, the CYC2CYC mentoring initiative, that Child and Youth Care has launched with the Tri-Mentoring program and the Live Actor Simulation at Ryerson, and has become an exemplary mentor within the program.
Nominated by: Saira Batasar-Johnie, internship coordinator, School of Child and Youth Care
Don May is a member of the first graduating class in Urban and Regional Planning from Ryerson University in 1973. He has had a remarkable career as a registered professional planner whose time was marked by service and recognition awards. He is regarded as a long-serving volunteer who has lent his expertise to champion significant initiatives in the planning profession. May graciously stepped forward and volunteered as a member of the School of Urban and Regional Planning 50th Anniversary Celebrations Committee, lending an alumni perspective from the school's early years and even bringing together his class for a reunion.
Nominated by: David Amborski, professor, Matthias Sweet, associate professor, and Magdalena Ugarte, assistant professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning
Jaclyn Ng Man Chuen earned her bachelor's and master's of child and youth care at Ryerson University. She is currently a child and youth care practitioner at the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board and Humber River Hospital in the inpatient and outpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Units/Clinic. As a dedicated alumna of the School of Child and Youth Care, she currently sits on two different committees and has volunteered as a mentor for first-year students and as a field supervisor to fourth-year students.
Nominated by: Saira Batasar-Johnie, internship coordinator, School of Child and Youth Care
Shazia Ramji graduated in 2013 from the Child and Youth Care program at Ryerson. As a child and youth care practitioner, she embodies compassion, vulnerability and an open and honest personality that makes it effortless for young people to relate to her. She is committed to creating safe and supportive spaces for growth for the youth and families at the Toronto District School Board. The same dedication is recognized within the School of Child and Youth Care as Ramji is always ready to lend a helping hand. She has volunteered her time to be a guest speaker and has supported students with assignments. Currently, Ramji has volunteered to become a CYC2CYC mentor, a pilot project launched by the program, in partnership with the Tri-mentoring program and LAS@R, that provides simulation learning.
Nominated by: Saira Batasar-Johnie, internship coordinator, School of Child and Youth Care
Loretta Swan is no stranger to the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP), and has dedicated over 25 years of service to Ryerson. In 2019, she volunteered as a member of the SURP 50th Anniversary Celebrations Committee, where she played a crucial role in sourcing content that acknowledged the people, communities and ideas that have developed the school's history.
Nominated by: David Amborski, professor, Matthias Sweet, associate professor, and Magdalena Ugarte, assistant professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning
Photo: Michael Pereira
Maurizio Rogato is a proud alumnus of the Urban and Regional Planning program. Since graduating in 2002, his relationship with the university remains lively as he continues to share his passion, leadership and support to the Ryerson family and community. As a volunteer, Rogato has been a guest speaker at industry events and has been the recipient of Ryerson University's Outstanding Volunteer Award and the Government of Ontario's Service Award of Excellence. He has also served as a member and later as chair of the Ryerson Planning Alumni Committee in 2009 and 2011. He is currently the vice-president of the Ryerson University Alumni Association (RUAA).
Rodney Yip has had a successful career as a disaster risk recovery and business resiliency expert with IBM Canada for over 30 years. Since retiring in 2015, Yip has made tremendous contributions to Ryerson University through tireless volunteer work and involvement. Driven by his core beliefs, Yip is always willing to commit his time, talent, and treasury to make innovative and impactful changes to solve real-world challenges and move society forward. He is currently a member of the Dean's Advisory Council for the Faculty of Science, a mentor at the Science Discovery Zone, an advisor with the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and a strategic advisor with Computational Public Safety and the Computer Science Graduate Studies program at Ryerson.
Yip is a longtime supporter of the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, establishing the Rodney Yip Award in 2013 and openly advocating for greater support of the nursing profession.