Sue Williams and Janice Waddell Award Recipients, 2023

Professor Gordon Pon is a staunch advocate of social justice social work! Famous amongst his students for his keen ability to quote scholars and spark critical debate, Prof. Pon prioritizes centring Indigenous Knowledges and uplifts all epistemologies that deviate from western hegemony. Prof. Pon is well-known for his passion for Chinese-Canadian culture, his vast experience working in child welfare, and his consistently humble nature. Through his commitment to anti-racism and social inclusion, Prof. Pon is celebrated amongst his students for providing space for learners to contribute both their lived experience and practice-based knowledge. Prof. Pon is an exemplary professor who reflects the values of TMU’s School of Social Work through his dedication to the success and well-being of each one of his students.

Prof. Pon is inspired by a wonderful teacher, his late father, who always supported his passion for learning. Outside of the classroom, he cherishes spending time with his granddaughter, teaching her Toisanese words and phrases.

Citation by: Bachelor of Social Work students Emily Imrie, Michael Johnston, Margot Matheson, Ally McGibbon, and Jessica Tabak

Lovisa Fung creates a space that reflects the needs of her students and creates a sense of belonging for each student. She cares about their academic and personal success. Lovisa encourages students to think critically, challenge assumptions, and think independently. She welcomes and facilitates open-minded and respectful conversations. She supports this by inviting perspectives from her students. She ensures that the diverse life experiences of underrepresented and marginalized communities are reflected in the course materials and her teachings. Lovisa challenges and supports her students to reflect on their own biases, prejudices and beliefs in order to learn, unlearn and relearn when necessary. I learned to challenge assumptions that have become societal norms but need to be unlearned. I became aware of biases that I had and was unaware of because of Lovisa’s teachings. I will be a better educator because of Lovisa.

Citation by: Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies student Rahana Iqbal

Steven always puts in significant effort to explicitly name and challenge Whiteness and white supremacy in his classes. Notably, as a White man, he pushes other White/White-presenting students to become comfortable with the discomfort and interrogate normative ways of thinking.

Unlike most spaces, Steven’s classroom is a comfortable environment for BIPOC, 2SLGBT+, and other marginalized people to share their experiences about navigating a White-dominant field and changes they wish to see.  He also recognizes that students may have varying goals and paths and will provide support to those who defy normative social work educational pathways.

One of the ways in which Steven provokes students to seriously consider professional development is through bringing in guest speakers who were former students of his. They have provided valuable insight into life during the bachelor of social work program and beyond, alongside corroborating how Steven’s leadership and guidance helped them achieve their goals.

Citation by: Bachelor of Social Work students Imbisat M Chaudhry and Iman Hassan.

Darlene Bileckyj has been working at the School of Occupational and Public Health for over 25 years. As a dedicated member of our team, Darlene has consistently gone above and beyond in her commitment to serving our students and fostering a positive and supportive workplace community. Darlene has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to our students — from organizing events and awards, to providing guidance, mentorship and support through various challenges. Darlene's dedication to mentorship is unparalleled. She has a generosity of spirit that is inspiring and contagious. In addition to her collaboration and mentorship skills, Darlene's dedication to exceeding expectations is truly extraordinary, and her impact on our department cannot be overstated. She effortlessly and efficiently takes on a tremendous workload, which has been invaluable to the success of our department.

Citation by: School of Occupational and Public Health Laboratory Technician Christopher Bentley and Professor Rob Moriarity