WINTER 2021 CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION Contents WINTER 2021 Become a Tee Lyn Duke looks at an art installation, a photograph of Duke in regalia, at professor the Library entrance. or an industry leader. Or both. Realize your future at ryerson.ca/graduate/future-students Gould Street Alumni Diary 3 President’s message 29 Charting progress Alumni association 5 Celebrating Indigenous embarks on identity transformation Library unveils new installation by Nadya 30 Book club Kwandibens Three great books by Ryersonians to read 6 Special delivery this winter How volunteers are Features making sure grads receive 32 Life story their diplomas 14 New lawyers for new times Al Ramsay empowers Creating access to justice is what we need now himself and the queer 7 Panel on campus safety By Wendy Glauser community Finding a holistic approach to security 34 Alumni profiles 20 A call to action Cheryll Case, Christian 10 Anti-Black racism Students petitioned for action on systemic racism Hui and Ena Chadha initiatives underway in media. Here’s what Ryerson did make change New committee takes action to support students, By Connor Garel 38 Class notes faculty and staff Updates from alumni 26 Centring Indigenous voices 11 Q & A 44 Remember when? Yellowhead Institute’s research shapes policy Gavin Ball, Master of Digital Media alumnus, Tony Staffieri, Ryerson’s 1918 vs. 2020: A look at By Michelle Grady Ontario Tech University professor and founder PHOTOGRAPHS BY (COVER) JANICK LAURENT, (TOP) STEF & ETHAN new Board chair pandemics in Canada of creative consulting studio Full Circle CS. Winter 2021 / Ryerson University Magazine 1 FOLLOW US @ryersonu @RyersonU @ryerson_u @ryerson–university Support Ryerson students. Visit ryerson.ca/giving Contributors The legacy and letter from the editor By Mohamed Lachemi of 2020 President and Vice-Chancellor LETTER FROM THE EDITOR What does change look like for you? For many of us, the past year has sparked an intense IN AN ERA MARKED by rapid change, start of a long journey for my parents to a willingness among Canadians for trans- KELSEY ADAMS NABRA BADR TAYO BERO awareness of 2020 stands out. A year ago, we were transform the destiny of their children parent and honest dialogue, and a desire Journalism ’17 Fashion Communication ’18 Writer, Profile of Ena Chadha, inequality in our celebrating the start of a new decade. A through education, one of the most funda- to understand the need for change. Writer, Profile of Photographer, Alumni (p.37) Anti-Black Racism society and a sense few months later we were all affected by mental of human rights. The sacrifices they At Ryerson, that translates into real action: that if we do not take Christian Hui (p.36) Profiles (p.34 to 37) Campus Climate Review, (p.10) action against bias a pandemic, our daily lives anything made have inspired my life and career. building a law school focused on access to Kelsey Adams is an arts and Nabra Badr is a Toronto-based Tayo is an award-winning and racism we are but normal. Though we have seen human rights cam- legal education, as well as access to justice culture journalist born and photographer whose focus culture writer and radio complicit in it. In this While COVID-19 was the first obstacle, paigns over the years, I think this time is dif- for Canadians, taking an honest look at raised in Toronto. She is a staff is to create powerful images producer. Her work often issue, we feature the social upheaval that followed has the ferent. My optimism stems from the fact that Indigenous issues in history, and embracing some of the many writer at NOW Magazine and through a fashion, beauty appears in publications like Ryersonians who are potential to inspire fundamental changes in change is being driven by a new generation a culture of anti-racism. has written for the Globe and and portrait lens, working Chatelaine Magazine, Teen making change and our political, economic and social landscape of youth seeking real, universal change, not It is my sincere hope that fundamental Mail, The FADER, Complex with clients such as The Kit Vogue, the Guardian and leading us to make for generations. At Ryerson, this broader simply piecemeal responses to singular progress on human rights will be the most CA and Canadian Art. and Flare Magazine. on CBC Radio. Covering a better world. public awareness has led us to focus even grievances (valid as they may be). I also see important legacy of 2020. She is devoted to elevating issues spanning race, culture, —Colleen Mellor more on values that are deeply embedded in Journalism ’86 the voices of marginalized feminism and the African the culture of the university. cultural creators. diaspora, Tayo is committed to This edition of Ryerson University “My belief in the uplifting marginalized voices Magazine highlights some of the ways these connection between human rights and and telling unique stories. challenges are playing out at our university, education is the DID YOU from our Anti-Black Racism Campus ON THE KNOW... result of my own life VARTY, (BADR) EBTI NABAG, (BERO) OSATO EREBOR É Climate Review, and how we shape campus experiences.” COVER safety protocols, to the launch of our new law You can download the school, and the legacy of Egerton Ryerson’s (Top left to right) Tiffany Mboyo Mongu, Sarah Frazer, Heather Batista Baez, online magazine at Christian Hui, Harsimran Kaur Sidhu, Eternity Martis, Ena Chadha, Dylan Gervais, ryerson.ca/alumni/ relationship to the Indigenous community 11, (ADAMS) ANDR (ADAMS) 11, Kian Rastegar, Khushi Dave, Omar Jawabri, Breanna Xavier-Carter, Kaylee Rich, news/Ryerson- ’ and residential schools. The issue also pro- Cheryll Case, Evan Brander, Brittany Mark University-Magazine. files the efforts of students, faculty, staff and alumni who are pushing human rights forward in a variety of ways. Volume 24, Issue 1, Winter 2021 I welcome this renewed focus, as I believe that universities play an important role in Ryerson University Magazine is published twice a year for alumni and friends. Reproduction, republication or distribution of content and photographs is strictly prohibited without prior written permission of the editor. Vice-President, University Advancement and Alumni Relations Ian Mishkel • Chief of Staff & Executive shaping not only the discussion but also Director, Communications Michael Forbes • Executive Editor Karen Benner • Editor Colleen Mellor • Associate Editor Antoinette Mercurio • Staff Writers: Surbhi Bir, leading by example when it comes to justice, Lindsey Craig, Michelle Grady and Jessica Leach • Art Direction & Design Studio Wyse equity and human rights. My belief in the connection between human rights and edu- CONTACT Ryerson University Magazine, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, On, Canada M5B 2K3 cation is the result of my own life experi- Phone: 416-979-5000 ext. 5088 • Email: [email protected] • Web: ryerson.ca/alumni/news/Ryerson-University-Magazine/ MEMBER Council of Ontario Universities (COU), Universities Canada, and Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) ences. I was born in Algeria just two days © 2021 Ryerson University ISSN: 1713-627X • Published January 2021 PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT NUMBER 40065112 after the war of independence from France came to an end. PRIVACY POLICY Ryerson University respects your privacy. On graduation, Ryerson will hold your contact and certain other information so that we can contact alumni to Living under colonial rule, my parents and offer the benefits of our affinity programs, to provide information about social, career and educational programs and alumni activities. 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National independence marked the 2 Ryerson University Magazine / Winter 2021 Winter 2021 / Ryerson University Magazine 3 UPDATES FROM OUR CAMPUS Learn. Build. Change. gould street Repeat. / ANTI-HATE RESOURCE / HOW AR ENHANCES VIRTUAL LABS / ANTI-BLACK RACISM / Q & A / Artificial intelligence, automation and a global pandemic are changing the way we work. How we approach our jobs today will be different tomorrow. One way to keep pace in the future is through continuous learning. Artist Nadya Kwandibens (left) with Tee Lyn Duke, who is With over 400 online courses and dozens of in-demand certificates, you can build, featured in the photograph. change or improve your career — again and again. Continue to adapt with the times. Start learning online this January. INDIGENOUS SPACE ON CAMPUS THE RYERSON UNIVERSITY Library unveiled a large-scale public artwork Celebrating Indigenous identity by rising star Nadya Kwandibens last fall, commemorating the university’s engagement with the annual Native Art installation by photographer American Indigenous Studies Association This way forward (NAISA) conference. While the Nadya Kwandibens unveiled at conference was cancelled due to the pandemic, the university decided to continuing.ryerson.ca ETHAN & STEF BY PHOTOGRAPH Library entrance move forward with the mural. Winter 2021 / Ryerson University Magazine 5 GOULD STREET Find out what’s going on at ryerson.ca/news-events/events The 10-by-15.7-foot portrait is on display as part of the university’s commitment to increase Indigenous visibility and celebration on campus, educate the whole community and inspire meaningful conversations.