Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Ceremony

TMU students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to the 17th annual Viola Desmond Awards Ceremony, hosted by TMU’s Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) in partnership with the Ted Rogers School of Management. This event honours the outstanding contributions of Black women and gender-diverse people whose labour, creativity and passion enrich our community.

Registration closes on February 12. 

What to expect

At the ceremony, you will have the opportunity to celebrate and honour exceptional Black women and gender-diverse people whose contributions are ensuring that Viola's legacy thrives for generations to come. The event highlights their significant contributions while supporting the next generation of leaders. Additionally, the ceremony celebrates the ongoing impact of Viola Desmond’s legacy in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the TMU community.

Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy live performances. Delicious food and refreshments will be served.

Schedule

• 5 p.m. | Doors open for reception and refreshments
• 6:30 p.m. | Ceremony begins 
• 8:30 p.m. | Ceremony ends 

A prayer room will be provided for those observing Ramadan. 

Partnering to honour Viola’s legacy

The Viola Desmond Awards Ceremony is presented by OVPECI in partnership with the Ted Rogers School of Management and other campus partners on the Viola Desmond Awards Planning Committee. 

For the last 17 years, TMU’s Viola Desmond Awards Ceremony has highlighted the achievements and impact of Black women and gender-diverse people at TMU.

Getting here

• If you are taking transit, please go to TMU station or take the 505 Dundas Street car to Yonge and Dundas Street West.
• If you are driving, the closest parking lot is located in the Toronto Eaton Centre Parkade - Lot #434 (external link)  at 525 Bay Street, south of Dundas and is accessible via elevator.

Accessibility

Ted Rogers School of Management building has the following accessibility amenities and features:

• The main entrance is on the ground level at 55 Dundas Street West, leading directly to the lobby. Elevators and escalators will be available to take you to the event floor (TRS 1 - 7th Floor) 
• Elevators provide access to the upper floors. 
• There are men, women, and single-private gender-neutral washrooms with accessibility features on all floors of the school.

Food and refreshments will be served on the 7th Floor ('TRS 1'). This floor is accessible by elevator or escalator. The ceremony will take place in the Steve & Rashmi Gupta Lecture Theatre (TRS 1-067), with wheelchair accessible spaces available near the front of the theatre. Volunteers will be available to assist.

Live captioning is available. Please note that requests for ASL interpretation must be made by February 13, 2026. 

The university 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 (google form)  registration form (external link)  or contact the OVPECI at violadesmond@torontomu.ca.

Questions?

For any inquiries or additional information, please contact the OVPECI at violadesmond@torontomu.ca.