TMU community honoured for its excellence in 2025

Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Awards

For a full list of TMU alumni who have received newspaper or magazine awards, please go to this story from the School of Journalism at The Creative School.

Gold in Community Written Feature

• Tyler Harper, Editor & Reporter, Nelson Star, Journalism ’10 

Gold in Data Journalism 

• Aloysius Wong, Senior Writer, CBC News, Journalism (MJ) ’23  

Gold in JHR / CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting

• Declan Keogh, Communications Officer, Chiefs of Ontario, Journalism ’19

Left to right: Tyler Harper; Aloysius Wong; Declan Keogh

Canadian Law Awards

Managing Partner Of The Year — Excellence Awardee

• Mitch Frazer, Managing Partner, Mintz LLP, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’21

Female Trailblazer Of The Year (Academia & In-House)  — Excellence Awardee

• Pam Hrick, Law Society of Ontario Bencher and Law Society Tribunal Adjudicator, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management ’23

Left to right: Pam Hrick; Mitch Frazer

Canadian Nurses Association — Fellows

Canada’s most accomplished nurses are recognized for their sustained impact across nursing and health systems.

• Farah Khan, Senior Vice-President, Patient Care Services, Trillium Health Partners, Nursing ’07
• Annette Weeres, Chief Nursing Practice & Research at WeRPN, Nursing ’06

Left to right: Farah Khan; Annette Weeres

Canadian Occupational Safety — Top Women in Safety 2025

• Sarah Abdul-Rasoul, Safety Analyst, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Occupational and Public Health ’13
• Christina Fales, HSQA Manager, Compass Group Canada, Occupational and Public Health ’08
• Leanne Lohnert, Health, Safety, Security and Emergency Manager, WSP in Canada, Advanced Safety Management ’25

Left to right: Sarah Abdul-Rasoul; Christina Fales; Leanne Lohner

Canadian Screen Awards

An annual celebration of the country’s top talent in the film, television and digital sectors. For a full list of award categories and winners, please visit the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (external link, opens in new window) .

Best Live Action Short Drama for “On a Sunday at Eleven”

• Alicia K. Harris, Director & Screenwriter, Image Arts ’16
• Jeff Chiu, Artist & Producer, Image Arts ’18 

Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series — “Beyond Black Beauty”

• Matt Bishop, Partner/Executive Producer, Sinking Ship Entertainment, RTA ’02
• J.J. Johnson, Partner/Executive Producer, Sinking Ship Entertainment, RTA ’02
• Alicia K. Harris, Director & Screenwriter, Image Arts ’16
• Blair Powers, Partner/Executive Producer, Sinking Ship Entertainment, RTA ’02
• Christin Simms, Executive Producer/Writer, Sinking Ship Entertainment, RTA ’02

Best Writing, Documentary — “The Knowing”

• Tanya Talaga, Journalist & Author, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’21

Left to right: Alicia K. Harris (photo credit: Roya DelSol); Tanya Talaga

Dora Awards

Celebrating excellence in the performing arts industry in Toronto. For a full list of TMU recipients, go to this story from the School of Performance at The Creative School.

Pauline McGibbon Award

• Sophie Moynan, Props Builder & Multidisciplinary Artist, Performance Design and Production ’17

General Theatre Outstanding Lighting Design

• Raha Javanfar, Musician & Artist, Guest Artist, TMU School of Performance, Theatre Performance ’07 

Left to right: Sophia Moynan; Raha Javanfar

Hollywood Reporter

Most Influential Women in International Film

• Karen Harnisch, Co-president, Film Forge & Assistant Professor, School of Image Arts, TMU, Image Arts ’10

Women in Entertainment Canada ICON Award

• Margaret Atwood, Author, Honorary Doctor of Letters ’12

Left to right: Karen Harnisch; Margaret Atwood (photo credit: Ruven Afanador)

House and Home — Top 100 2025

Hall of Fame

• Brian Gluckstein, Principal, Gluckstein Design Planning, Interior Design ’83, Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts ’21

Top 100

• Sabrina Albanese, Founder, Sabrina Albanese Interiors, Fashion ’00 
• Cindy Bleeks, Co-founder, Feasby & Bleeks Design, Interior Design ’98
• Erin Feasby, Co-founder, Feasby & Bleeks Design, Interior Design ’98 
• Clare Forndran, Co-founder, Forward Interiors, Fundamentals of Interior Design ’18 
• Neil Jonsohn, Principal, Creative, U31, Interior Design ’99 
• Pete Kiriakopoulos, Partner & Creative Director, Studio 1Nine1, Landscape Design ’19 
• Albert Limshue, Designer, Powell & Bonnell, Interior Design ’01
• Colleen McGill, Founder, McGill Design Group, Interior Design ’96 
• Shirley Meisels, Founder, Mhouse, Fashion Design ’93
• Mia Parres, Founder, Mia Parres Design, Interior Design ’13 
• Carrie Stinson, Partner, Two Fold Interiors, Interior Design ’05 
• Emilia Wisniewski, Partner & Creative Director, Studio 1Nine1, Fundamentals of Interior Design ’14

Left to right, top to bottom: Sabrina Albanese; Brian Gluckstein; Neil Jonsohn; Shirley Meisels

Hua Cai Awards

Honours individuals who have made exceptional contributions to bridging the gap between diverse and multicultural communities, and the broader Canadian society.

Person of the Year Award

• Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Chancellor, TMU, Journalism ’78, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’21

Leadership in Academics Award

• Teresa M. Chan, Dean, School of Medicine, TMU

Outstanding Youth Contribution Award

• Samantha Nutt, Founder and President, War Child Canada, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’19

Left to right: Teresa M. Chan; Samantha Nutt

International Women Achievers 2025

IWAA Volunteer Award

• Jacqueline Chen, President, JCAN Charity, Nursing ’04

IWAA Media Award

• Fennella Bruce, Media Consultant, FKB Media Solutions, Journalism ’93

Left to right: Jacqueline Chen; Fennella Bruce

King Charles III Coronation Medal

The medal goes to individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada. Recipients of this recognition in 2025 include:

• Shoaib Ahmed, Founder & CEO, SCOOTY, Business (MBA) ’16
• Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Chancellor, TMU, Journalism ’78, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’21
• Peter Gilgan, Founder & CEO, Mattamy Asset Management Inc., Honorary Doctor of Laws ’16
• Wes Hall, Chancellor, University of Toronto, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’21
• Michelle Hounslow, Executive Director, Advancement, TMU, Fashion ’96
• Dayirai Kapfunde, Founder, Journeys of Life Counselling Services, Social Work (MSW) ’09
• Al Kowalenko, Vice-Chair, Canadian Helen Keller Centre, Journalism ’76
• Mohamed Lachemi, President & Vice-Chancellor, TMU
• Taylor Lindsay-Noel, CEO, Cup of Té, RTA ’17 
• Gerald Mak, Strategy Manager, Ontario Public Service, Business Technology Management ’13 
• Emily Mills, Founder, How She Hustles, Journalism  ’05
• Warren G. Salmon, Founder & CEO, Black Board International and First Fridays, Computer Science ’85
• Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director, DMZ, TMU, Business Administration (MBA) ’18
• Jaime Stein, Director, Western Canada, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, Journalism  ’03

Left to right; top to bottom: Shoaib Ahmed; Mohamed Lachemi; Emily Mills (photo credit: Alia Youssef); Jaime Stein

KML 2025 Top-30-Under-30

Kostich Media Ltd. annually recognizes up-and-coming professionals in the hospitality industry.

• Alexis Bragagnolo, Director, Fairmont Gold, Hospitality & Tourism Management  ’18
• Daniel Fung, Senior Consultant, Hospitality & Leisure, Cushman & Wakefield, Hospitality & Tourism Management ’17
• Zaman Ishaad, Account Manager, AV-CANADA, Hospitality & Tourism Management ’17 
• Julia Pitcher, Global Impact Specialist, Planeterra, Hospitality & Tourism Management ’21

Left to right, top to bottom: Alexis Bragagnolo; Daniel Fung; Zaman Ishaad; Julia Pitcher

Order of Canada

The country’s highest civic honour recognizes  individuals who have made outstanding achievements or contributions to Canadian society.

Companions

• The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella, Judge, Supreme Court of Canada (retired), Honorary Doctor of Laws ’07
• Shaf Keshavjee, Surgeon-in-Chief & Senior Scientist, University Health Network, Honorary Doctor of Science ’14

Officers

• Donald Triggs, Co-founder, Jackson-Triggs Winery, Honorary Doctor of Commerce ’07
• Tonya Williams, Founder & Executive Director, Reelworld Screen Institute, former student in Theatre Performance

Members

• Mark Bonham, Executive Director, Veritas Foundation, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’24
• Vincenzo Pietropaolo, Photographer, Documentary Media (MFA) ’15
• Whitney Rockley, Co-founder & Managing Partner, McRock Capital, Business Management ’91
• Walter and Maria Schroeder, Co-founders, The Walter & Maria Schroeder Foundation, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’25
• Adel Sedra, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Waterloo, Honorary Doctor of Engineering ’15

Top row, left to right: Rosalie Silberman Abella (photo credit: Philippe Landreville); Mark Bonham; Shaf Keshavjee; Middle row: Vincenzo Pietropaolo (photo credit: Anna Prior); Whitney Rockley; Maria and Walter Schroeder; Bottom row: Adel Sedra; Donald Triggs; Tonya Williams

Order of Ontario — 2024

The province’s highest honour recognizes individuals’ outstanding achievements in areas like public service, medicine, business and the arts.

* Due to a publishing deadline, we were unable to capture the 2024 recipients.

• Catherine Karakatsanis, Senior Vice-President, Stantec, Honorary Doctor of Engineering ’24
• Elizabeth Richer, Director, Niigaaniin Services, Public Administration and Governance ’06

Left to right: Catherine Karakatsanis; Elizabeth Richer

The Peak’s Emerging Leaders 2025

The annual award recognizes up-and-coming young leaders shaping Canada’s economy, culture and society.

Marketing & Advertising

• Miranda Hassell, Senior Strategist, Point Blank Creative, Arts and Contemporary Studies ’13
• Syreeta Gordon Taitt, Senior Manager, Mid Market Sales, Sprout Social, Business ’09

Tech

• Brian Baah, GTM Pursuit Lead (Engagement Manager), Google, Business ’16
• Samantha Campana, Head of Communications, Cisco Canada, Professional Communication (MPC) ’13
• Maxwell Koven, Founder, Thoughts from the Datafront, Business ’10 

Healthcare

• Marlee Socket, Communications Manager, Maple, Professional Communication ’19
• Felicia Kontopidis, Director of Care, Journey Home Hospice, Nursing (MN) ’24

Media, Entertainment & Sports

• Paula Sanderson, Producer, Dragons’ Den, Business Administration (MBA) ’24
• Charlie Wall-Andrews, Assistant Professor, Creative Industries, TMU, Management (PhD) ’24

People & Culture

• Samantha Osaduke, Human Resources Manager, The West Egg Group, Occupational Health and Safety ’16

Left to right, top to bottom: Syreeta Gordon Taitt; Brian Baah; Marlee Socket; Paula Sanderson

Toronto Life — Rising Stars 2025

The magazine’s annual list of the up-and-comers shaping our city and the world.

• Christian Allaire, Senior Fashion & Style Writer, Vogue, Journalism ’14
• Arley Nopra, Illustrator/Cartoonist, Graphic Communications Management ’20
• Wanze Song, Founder/Designer, WANZE, Fashion ’16

Left to right: Christian Allaire (photo credit: Hunter Abrams); Arley Nopra; Wanze Song

Toronto Life — The Influentials 2025

The magazine’s annual ranking of the city — and country’s — most influential Canadians.

• Julie Adam, President & CEO, Universal Music Canada, RTA ’92
• Margaret Atwood, Author, Honorary Doctor of Letters ’12
• Teresa M. Chan, Dean, School of Medicine, TMU
• Carley Fortune, Author, Journalism ’06
• Peter Gilgan, Founder & CEO, Mattamy Asset Management Inc., Honorary Doctor of Laws ’16
• Michael Healey, Playwright, Theatre Arts ’85
• Moez Kassam, Founder & Principal, Anson Funds, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’25
• Keith Pelley, President & CEO, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, RTA ’86 
• Tony Staffieri, President & CEO, Rogers Communications, Honorary Doctor of Laws ’25

Left to right, top to bottom: Carley Fortune (photo credit: Jenna Marie Wakani); Peter Gilgan; Keith Pelley; Tony Staffieri

World Architecture Festival — 40 Under 40

The inaugural list recognizes outstanding architectural talent from across North America. Read the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science’s story about the recipients.

• Farida Abu-Bakare, Associate Principal, WXY, & Co-founder, Black Architects + Interior Designers Association, Architectural Science (MArch) ’12
• Tura Cousins Wilson, Co-founder & Principal, Studio of Contemporary Architecture, Architectural Science ’09

Left to right: Farida Abu-Bakare; Tura Cousins Wilson

WXN Women of Influence

The 2025 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards winners are recognized across industries, organizations and communities for their impact and innovation.

Entrepreneurs

• Lindsay Mattick, Co-founder & Chief Creative Director, Pomp & Circumstance PR and Bonus Track, Journalism ’03

Executive Leaders

• Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost & Vice-President, Academic, TMU

Professionals

• Teresa M. Chan, Dean, School of Medicine, TMU

Left to right: Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano; Lindsay Mattick