TMU's Centre for Student Wellbeing named in honour of Nadir Mohamed
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will name its new Centre for Student Wellbeing for Nadir Mohamed, a respected Canadian business leader and city-builder, who passed away in September.
This dedication is made possible through a generous gift from Nadir’s wife, Shabin Mohamed, and matched by a close friend to the couple and long-time supporter of the university.
“Nadir embodied the thoughtful, impactful leadership that TMU aims to instil in every student. We are proud to carry forward his legacy through the Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing, which will be the cornerstone of our campus community,” said TMU President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi.
Above, Nadir Mohamed, who was a prominent business leader and champion of innovation. His wife, Shabin, says having the new student wellbeing centre named after her husband “would have meant a great deal” to him.
Extraordinary leadership, philanthropy
Nadir was the CEO of Rogers Communications from 2009 to 2014, and was an honorary member of the TMU Board of Governors and Chair of DMZ Ventures.
His leadership and guidance shaped the vision and trajectory of the university.
Shabin was a founding member of The Image Centre’s advisory board, a leading institution dedicated to the exhibition, research and collecting of photography located at TMU.
Together, Nadir and Shabin have been champions of many health care, arts and cultural and educational initiatives across Canada.
The Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing brings their philanthropic passions together in one exciting project that will have tremendous impact on student well-being and success.
'He loved his time at TMU'
“Nadir and Shabin have been longstanding friends and supporters of TMU,” said President Lachemi.
“Nadir’s belief in education, innovation and leadership has shaped our institution and the broader community. He and Shabin have been strong supporters of education, health care, and community development. We are deeply honoured to further the legacy of our dear friends through the Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing,” he continued.
“The vision for TMU’s Centre for Student Wellbeing really resonated with me and I know it would have meant a great deal to Nadir,” said Shabin.
“He loved his time at TMU, helping students navigate their future and helping startups build their businesses. The new Centre for Student Wellbeing will bring a spirit of caring to students and to the entire TMU community for generations to come,” she said.
Donor support brings project to life
Several generous benefactors are helping bring this project to life.
Lead gifts from Donette Chin-Loy Chang, Ed Clark, Jack Cockwell and Richard Rooney will support construction of the new building.
RBC Foundation is providing vital funding to expand programs for students with disabilities.
The centre will also offer a medical clinic, counselling and academic support, and health promotion initiatives, centralizing all health and wellness-related services currently housed in buildings across campus under one roof.
Student support praised
The driving force behind this transformative project are TMU students, who voted in 2022 to support a special fee that would bring the new centre to life.
The new Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing will be an eight-storey tower constructed on a heritage property on the corner of Gould and Bond Streets on the TMU campus.
Led by Hariri Pontarini Architects, with Indigenous design support from Two-Row Architect and construction managed by Pomerleau, it’s scheduled to open in 2027.
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