Virtual Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Ceremony

Join Ryerson University in celebration of the 13th annual Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Ceremony. While we won’t be able to convene in person like we have for the past 12 years, we are still excited to commemorate outstanding Black women trailblazers who are keeping Viola Desmond’s legacy of resilience and resistance alive!

Event details

This annual ceremony honours the achievements of Black women leaders, both past and present, while raising awareness of their diverse yet little-known contributions and stories.

At the event, you’ll learn about this year’s award honourees who are an embodiment of Black excellence in Canada. You’ll also meet the six award recipients and two student bursary recipients who are dedicated leaders in the Black/African-Canadian community, both at Ryerson and in the GTA.

Given this year’s event is taking place the day after International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21), we celebrate the ways in which Viola Desmond acted with courage to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. We will highlight how her act of defiance and perseverance has empowered generations to continue to engage in critical dialogues about the fight for racial equity.

Live captioning and ASL will be provided

Ryerson is committed to the accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities. If you require any additional accessibility accommodations to ensure your full participation, please let us know on the registration form or email accessibility@torontomu.ca.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Lewis (Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion) at equity@torontomu.ca.