Building tradition together: Multigenerational TMU families

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has long been a place of connection, tradition and transformation — not just for individual alumni, but for families whose ties to the university span generations. For some, these connections are deeply personal, creating a shared legacy that carries forward through time.

Sofia Baldassarra, New Media ’18, grew up hearing stories about university life through her family long before she set foot on the TMU campus. Her mother, Adriana Baldassarra, Hospitality and Tourism Management ’91, attended what was then Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, and Sofia’s older brother, Julian Baldassarra, Mechanical Engineering ’16, followed years later. Sofia also shared that her family’s connection to TMU extends beyond her immediate family, with three uncles on her mother’s side having also attended the university.

“My mom’s whole family went to Ryerson (now TMU), and it was a completely different time,” Sofia said. “My brother’s experience two years before me, living downtown and enjoying campus life, made me want to attend too.”

Carving her own path

Growing up in Toronto with that legacy helped shape Sofia’s own path. She loved media in high school and was drawn to TMU’s RTA New Media program, where she could explore her interests without having to leave home.

“I already knew the university from my family, so it felt familiar — the perfect balance between having my own university experience and staying close to home,” Sofia said.

Once on campus, Sofia quickly made memories that echoed across generations: first‑year events, hockey games and friendships that defined her university years.

She worked with her cousin on YouTube projects during school and, after graduating, continued to develop her skills and media expertise in unexpected ways. Today, she is Head of Marketing at Starlane Home Corporation (external link, opens in new window) , her family’s homebuilding business, and has built a significant audience as a content creator with 134,000 followers on TikTok, blending media, marketing and storytelling.

Sharing the TMU experience

For Sofia, the value of her family’s multigenerational TMU connection goes beyond degrees and job titles. It’s about tradition, shared memories and the evolution of the university experience over time.

“It’s nice to have certain memories in common as we’ve grown up and become adults,” she said. “It’s so cool to see how the school evolves over time and how we’re able to share experiences that are the same yet different. When there’s tradition across generations, it’s even more rewarding to look back on it decades later.”

For the Biglieri family, TMU shaped both personal and professional pathways. Anthony Biglieri, Urban and Regional Planning ’83, was drawn to the university for its urban planning program and its location in the heart of Toronto, where he could explore the city as a living classroom.

“Why only plan a building when you can plan an entire city?” he said. “I figured I would learn the most about communities and development in the place where it was all happening.”

A defining moment came during his admissions interview with Professor Imré Koroknay. Anthony recalled it as the first time someone pronounced his last name correctly — and their conversation about urban planning confirmed he was in the right place.

Passing the torch

When his daughter, Samantha Biglieri, Urban Development (MPL) ’15, followed in his footsteps, Anthony was both proud and reflective. Seeing her excel in the same program, with professors he admired, felt “unbelievably surreal,” he said.

For Samantha, TMU offered an opportunity to combine her professional interests with her personal values. Her decision to pursue urban planning was shaped by her grandmother’s experience with Alzheimer’s, which revealed how much a neighborhood’s design can affect quality of life.

“My Nanny’s [grandmother’s] suburban home had become like a prison for her because she could no longer drive, taking transit was scary and the nearest store was too far. I wondered if her experience would have been different in a walkable, accessible neighborhood,” Samantha said. “I knew from my Dad that at TMU I would learn both the critical skills to investigate these issues and the applied skills to do something about it.”

Growing up in Toronto, Samantha had long seen TMU as the centre of city life through her father’s stories and family visits. Living at home during her master’s program, she cherished the chance to talk through planning ideas, assignments and city development with her father.

“Some of my best memories were coming home and nerding out with my Dad about planning,” Samantha added. “It means everything to share this connection with him.”

A particularly meaningful moment for Anthony came when he got to hood Samantha at graduation as president of the Alumni Association. “Seeing her walk across the stage — it was one of the most rewarding moments of my life,” he reflected.

A legacy of shared experiences

Anthony’s TMU journey shaped both his career and the guidance he gave Samantha. He founded the Planning Alumni Association, served as President of the Alumni Association and received a G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today, Samantha carries that legacy forward as an associate professor at TMU, leading the Health, Access and Planning Lab (external link, opens in new window) , and as a senior consultant with The Biglieri Group Ltd.

“The experiences and values TMU gave me shaped the guidance I could give my daughter,” Anthony said. “Seeing her thrive and contribute to the city, carrying forward the family’s TMU story, has been incredibly rewarding.”