York鈥檚 entrepreneurship and innovation hub YSpace and the IP Innovation Clinic, Canada鈥檚 largest intellectual property (IP) clinic, are introducing the Inventor to Founder Fellowship, a 13-week program that supports students, researchers, faculty and recent graduates as they navigate commercialization and entrepreneurship.

Building on YSpace鈥檚 award-winning entrepreneurial programs and the IP Innovation Clinic鈥檚 15 years of experience supporting IP and commercialization needs, the fellowship is supported by (IPON) Innovation Fellowship program. The initiative reflects the University鈥檚 growing emphasis on collaboration across its entrepreneurship and commercialization network to drive social and economic impact.

"York has always been home to exceptional research and innovative work," says Pina D'Agostino, associate vice-president research and founder and director of the IP Innovation Clinic. "Through IPON鈥檚 support, the Inventor to Founder Fellowship gives our students, researchers and faculty real runway to take their inventions and innovations forward with funding, guidance and ecosystem connections that help translate discovery into real-world benefits."

Founded in 2010 by D鈥橝gostino, the IP Innovation Clinic is a first-of-its-kind IP law clinic based at . Through partnerships with private practice lawyers and firms, the clinic assists York community members with strategy and planning.

As part of the fellowship, the clinic will embed strategic IP considerations throughout the program, aligning with the University鈥檚 broader efforts to advance research-driven opportunities. Since 2023-24, the clinic has assisted more than 125 York community members, including faculty, researchers, students, alumni and venture teams.

Participants in the Inventor to Founder Fellowship will receive a $10,000 stipend and progress through a structured journey that includes invention and venture idea validation, minimum viable product development, go-to-market strategy and pitching to investors. The fellowship concludes with a public showcase where selected founders present to mentors, angel investors and ecosystem partners.

For many participants, the fellowship will serve as a bridge between academic research and the entrepreneurial ecosystem needed to bring their inventions and innovations forward.

"We built this program for people who have an innovative solution and are ready to move forward to determine its market viability and build a business," says David Kwok, director of entrepreneurship and innovation at YSpace. "The stipend helps remove the early financial barriers and creates startup capital, but what we're most excited about is giving York's student and research community a home to build on their innovations with mentorship and accountability that moves their research and businesses forward."

To be eligible, applicants must be undergraduate, master鈥檚 or PhD students, recent graduates within the past two years, researchers or faculty members based in Ontario and demonstrate a serious interest in advancing an invention or innovation for social or commercial impact. Participants are also required to complete IPON's virtual IP education modules as part of the program.

Applications are due May 4. Visit the program website for more information.

With files from Jiho Bak

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These honours celebrate academic excellence as well as the leadership, service and initiative that contribute to the school.

Presented to graduating students who have made an outstanding contribution during their time at Osgoode, the 10 juris doctor students selected from dozens of nominations for the 2026 Dean鈥檚 Gold Key Awards have enriched the academic journey and advanced student experience through community building, governance, advocacy and extracurricular leadership.

鈥淥ne of Osgoode鈥檚 greatest strengths is our community. The Dean鈥檚 Gold Key Awards recognize students whose leadership, service and academic excellence have strengthened the Osgoode experience,鈥� says Dean Trevor Farrow. 鈥淭hese graduates have set a standard for what it means to contribute meaningfully to a law school and to the profession. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the leadership they will carry forward as Osgoode alumni.鈥�

Ebun Akomolafe

Akomolafe has demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity and a sustained impact on mooting, student governance and peer mentorship. An internationally accomplished mooter, she has earned top oralist honours and helped advance Osgoode teams at the highest levels while also strengthening the institution through structural reform, serving as the inaugural ethics officer of the Osgoode Mooting Society and later redesigning training programs to improve access, fairness and support for junior competitors.

She has been a steady leader in student governance and a deeply committed mentor, providing extensive one-on-one support during recruitment and transitions, often without recognition. She is noted for her principled judgment, even-handed leadership and quiet dedication.

Avery Cameron

Cameron is noted for exceptional leadership and a lasting impact on student mooting and mentorship. As president of the Osgoode Mooting Society, she expanded access to oral advocacy, guiding dozens of students and helped deliver some of the school鈥檚 most successful mooting years, including revitalizing Lerner鈥檚 Cup and sustaining Baby Gale and Cassels Cup when organizers or sponsors withdrew.

She devoted extensive time to coaching, brought senior judges to campus, and led the creation of a more ethical, student-centred mooting culture through new conduct and accountability frameworks. Nominators credit her with leaving Osgoode鈥檚 oral advocacy community stronger, more inclusive and better positioned for future generations.

Allessia Chiappetta

Nominated for sustained leadership and lasting contributions to student life, Chiappetta has served as president and co-president of the Intellectual Property Society of Osgoode and co-president of the Canadian Italian Association of Osgoode. She is noted for expanding leadership opportunities, launching cross-club collaborations and building programming that strengthens professional, academic and cultural engagement across the school.

Chiappetta has also distinguished herself academically and professionally through faculty research assistantships, advanced work in emerging areas of law, acquiring more than 140 hours of clinical service supporting under-resourced innovators, and success in mooting competitions. As an upper-year mentor and orientation leader, she has provided consistent, practical support to junior students.

Brandon Connor

Connor鈥檚 nomination is rooted in values-driven leadership and a broad impact on student life, equity and community care. As co-president of Osgoode OUTLaws, he led major fundraising and programming initiatives, expanded mentorship initiatives and panels supporting queer students navigating the legal profession.

His work as equity officer and Faculty Council Equality Committee member focused on embedding equity into institutional processes, including recruit-focused supports for equity-seeking students and advocacy for stronger student representation. Across clinical work, residence life, mentorship and governance, nominators emphasize that Connor consistently identified gaps in support and took concrete steps to address them.

Michael Conroy

Conroy was nominated for exceptional leadership, service and mentorship across clinical education, governance, scholarship and student life. He is noted for his extraordinary contributions to the CLASP鈥揔PMG Tax Clinic, where he went beyond his role to secure significant relief for low-income clients and continued supporting cases after his formal commitments ended.

As a student leader, Conroy strengthened Osgoode鈥檚 mooting culture and tax law programming, helped sustain major competitions and improved fairness and continuity through institutional reforms. He also made lasting contributions through high-level academic research and publication, while consistently mentoring peers, junior students and incoming cohorts with generosity and care.

Elad Dekel

Dekel was nominated for behind-the-scenes leadership that materially improved student life, systems and access. As co-chair of Orientation Week and treasurer of the Legal and Literary Society, he modernized outdated processes, automated workflows, stabilized finances and introduced cost-saving initiatives, including a new financial management platform and at-cost student printing that saved thousands of dollars.

He also strengthened student programming through leadership roles in the Entertainment and Sports Law Association and extensive clinical and volunteer work, while consistently pursuing essential tasks that kept student life running smoothly.

Gabrielle Gonsalves

Gonsalves is recognized for her transformative contributions to equity and access within the law school community. As treasurer of the Black Law Students鈥� Association, she vastly expanded financial supports, growing the LSAT bursary program from three to 13 awards and establishing an emergency fund for Black-identifying students facing crisis.

She is widely recognized for her intensive, hands-on mentorship, providing academic, recruit and personal support to law and pre-law students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Across clinical work, student leadership and peer support, nominators emphasize that Gonsalves not only advocates for inclusion, but actively dismantles barriers and equips others to succeed.

Arianna Howse

Quiet leadership and a significant commitment to Indigenous student advocacy has earned Howse this award. From her first year onward, she has played a central role in the Osgoode Indigenous Students鈥� Association (OISA), serving as 1L representative, director of communications, and later co-chair, where she consistently acted as a bridge between cohorts, advanced student concerns and strengthened academic and community supports.

Her leadership contributed to record attendance at OISA events and record fundraising for Orange Shirt Day, while her mentorship of Indigenous students was sustained through co-leading training and transition sessions for incoming students. Her impact has been cumulative and enduring, marked by selfless service, careful mentorship and a measurable improvement in the Indigenous student experience at Osgoode.

Shivaansh Khanna

Khanna is recognized for leadership that enhanced student life, financial stability and community belonging. Through senior roles in student government and Orientation Week, he combined strategic planning with deep care for students, leading major initiatives that improved accessibility, inclusivity and long-term sustainability.

As a Legal and Literary Society representative, and later treasurer, he played a central role in restoring the society鈥檚 finances, eliminating a longstanding deficit through transparent decision-making and difficult but necessary reforms. Across governance, orientation and student programming, nominators describe Khanna as a calm, generous leader who mentors others and someone who takes on complex work without seeking recognition.

Jasmit Mander

Mander has demonstrated exceptional mentorship, principled leadership and a sustained commitment to equity and inclusion. As co-president of the Osgoode Sikh Students Association, he helped build a nationally connected student organization through mentorship programs, career panels, recruitment support and community outreach, while also amplifying student voices through council and strategic planning initiatives.

Through student governance, pro bono work and community leadership, Mander is described as someone who quietly expands access, builds confidence and walks alongside others without seeking recognition, leaving a lasting impact on the Osgoode community.

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This might sound like the stunt of a thrill seeker, but it was just another day at work for Sahai in his role as a ride engineering intern at Canada鈥檚 Wonderland in Vaughan.

For the student, the unusual co-op work term offered an exciting way to apply and develop what he learned at 快播视频.

鈥淚n school, we learn about mechanical design, forces, safety factors and how systems behave on paper, but seeing those ideas come to life on a full-scale roller coaster like Leviathan made everything click,鈥� says Sahai, a fourth-year student at the .

During eight months as a paid co-op student working on the rides maintenance mechanical team, Sahai was responsible for upkeep of both the Leviathan and Vortex roller coasters as well as some smaller rides. His work involved checking the functionality of mechanical components such as bolts, panels, sensors and restraints, and making needed repairs. Sahai says a highlight was helping to redesign, fabricate and install safety components for the rides.

鈥淪eeing something I worked on being used on a major roller coaster was a huge moment for me,鈥� Sahai says. 鈥淚t made the whole experience feel real and showed me that even as a student, my work could have a meaningful impact.鈥�

The role helped him develop technical expertise and improve teamwork and administrative skills. Sahai says the experience translates well to in-class studies, where he is learning about designing, manufacturing and testing space equipment such as satellites, rovers and rockets.

More importantly, the co-op gave him confidence in his abilities.

鈥淲orking in the amusement ride industry showed me how much engineering goes into creating experiences that are both thrilling and completely safe,鈥� Sahai says. 鈥淚 hope to continue contributing ideas that make technology safer and more accessible for everyone.鈥�

Fatimah Mufti is also taking a creative approach to work-integrated learning experiences.

A student in the Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society program, Mufti plans to be a lawyer 鈥� a decision influenced by her long-time interest in true-crime documentaries. But, when it came time to choose co-op work terms, she saw wisdom in exploring options outside of the law.

鈥淚 determined that I鈥檓 going to do something that I completely don鈥檛 expect myself to be doing to get out of my comfort zone,鈥� says Mufti, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS).

Her first co-op in September of 2024 was an eight-month paid role as a research analyst at the Ministry of Infrastructure in the Ontario government, where she conducted risk assessments, technical research and data visualization for a variety of projects.

For her second work term that began last fall, Mufti pursued another position outside of the legal field and joined ventureLAB, a technology non-profit in Markham that helps hardware and software startups expand globally. The opportunity was supported by the Infuse Program, offered through LA&PS in collaboration with TECHNATION. The program provides funding for employers to hire co-op students from liberal arts disciples into tech-adjacent roles.

Working as a member of the external relations team, Mufti is involved in everything from presenting to business leaders on the organization鈥檚 services, to using Salesforce software to support customer engagement, to taking minutes at leadership meetings.

鈥淭his role helped me see myself as someone who can operate at the intersection of business and technology, which I never envisioned for myself,鈥� Mufti says. 鈥淚 am learning how to navigate fast-paced projects, analyze data and improve my public speaking skills. I鈥檓 also forming so many useful connections.鈥�

Mufti says it has been illuminating to observe the intensity of the work environment at ventureLAB, which operates six programs that help 100 ventures annually with raising capital, retaining talent, commercializing products and acquiring customers. She says colleagues value her contributions and encourage her to share her ideas.

鈥淢y professional identity has evolved from thinking of myself mainly as a student to seeing myself as a contributor who can support decision-making,鈥� Mufti says.

Mufti is preparing to apply to law school in Fall 2026 and hopes to study at . Her co-op experiences, she says, will serve her well on her career path.

鈥淚鈥檝e gained a lot of hands-on experience that has built my confidence and showed me the skills I need to succeed in a professional environment,鈥� she says.

With files from Sharon Aschaiek

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Ontario will provide $1,614,137 to 快播视频 for initiatives that strengthen research infrastructure, including upgrades to equipment and facilities. 

Through the Ontario Research Fund 鈥� Research Infrastructure (ORF-RI) program, 14 快播视频 projects will enhance research on campus.

The new and upgraded infrastructure will advance across disciplines while bolstering York鈥檚 research capacity and collaborative environments.

鈥淭hese approved projects highlight the depth and diversity of research excellence at York across health, neuroscience, engineering, law, environmental research, artificial intelligence and inclusive design,鈥� says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淲e are grateful to the Province of Ontario for this important investment through the Ontario Research Fund. By supporting critical infrastructure, the province is strengthening our capacity to advance discovery, deepen community partnerships and deliver meaningful benefits to communities in Ontario and beyond.鈥� 

The projects funded in 2025 fall under the Small Infrastructure category, which helps with costs for acquiring and renewing research equipment. Recipient projects are based in the , Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Faculty of Science, and .

Ontario Research Fund 鈥� Research Infrastructure

Aimi Hamraie, associate professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Critical Lab Design: Establish a dedicated research space at York that centres disabled people as designers and makers of technology through research鈥慶reation focused on disability culture and community.
$75,000

John (Doug) Crawford, Faculty of Health
Cortical Networks for Natural Sensorimotor Behaviours: Enables the study of brain function during everyday activities rather than artificial lab tasks, improving the relevance of findings for health care and other applications.
$200,000

Anthony Scime, Faculty of Health
Integrated platform for high resolution analyses of stem cells and tissues in response to metabolic pre-conditioning: Provide advanced equipment to study muscle disease and aging, supporting new strategies to restore muscle function in older adults.
$100,000

Sean Rehaag, Osgoode Hall Law School
Refugee Law Lab: Algorithmic Justice for People on the Move: Support legal analytics and open鈥憇ource technology to increase transparency and fairness in refugee decision鈥憁aking through algorithmic justice research.
$23,963

Michael Paris, Faculty of Health
A novel laboratory to study sarcopenia and the neuromuscular control of movement across the aging spectrum: Establish infrastructure to measure neuromuscular function across the aging spectrum and advance applied motor function research.
$80,000

Lara Pierce and Heather Prime, Faculty of Health
Neurodevelopmental-intervention testing suite to identify and prevent transdiagnostic risk for mental health challenges: Integrate EEG and video feedback in a family鈥慺riendly setting to study early neurodevelopment and mental health risk.
$120,000

Stephanie Gora, Lassonde School of Engingeering
Research Infrastructure to Initiate the 快播视频 Community Water Hub: Support high鈥慽mpact water quality research across rural, remote and urban communities, enabling collaboration with communities and industry.
$140,000

Cuiying Jian, Lassonde School of Engineering
Molecular Interactions and Structures at Solid/Liquid Interfaces for Environmental Applications: Advance understanding and control of molecular interactions at solid鈥憀iquid interfaces to support environmental applications and cleantech growth.
$149,000

Elham Dolatabadi, Faculty of Health
Establishment of Health Equity and AI Lab (HEAL): Use AI to reduce health disparities by promoting health equity and embedding fairness into AI models.
$96,000

Manar Jammal, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Futuristic Infrastructures for AI Framework: Pioneering Self-Healing Cloud and Smart Cities: Establish a high鈥憄erformance AI lab to advance self鈥慼ealing cloud systems and smart city research.
$75,120

George Mochizuki, Faculty of Health
Walking while talking: assessing the interplay between age, distraction, and mobility: Examine how distraction affects mobility and brain activity in mid鈥憀ife to better understand and prevent fall risk later in life.
$72,422

Ryan Orszulik, Lassonde School of Engineering
Additive Manufacturing for Next Generation Space Systems and Robotics: Build advanced manufacturing infrastructure to support next鈥慻eneration space systems and robotics research in Ontario.
$144,632

Devin Phillips, Faculty of Health
A novel laboratory to investigate cardiorespiratory function and perceived dyspnea during physiological stress in humans: Enable precise measurement of heart and lung function during physiological stress to advance applied cardiorespiratory research.
$138,000

Georg Zoidl, Faculties of Health and Science
Interrogating plasticity of electro-chemical synapses using multiphoton imaging microscopy: Use advanced microscopy in zebrafish models to study electrical and chemical communication between nerve cells during development and disease.
$200,000

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York researchers will pursue 10 projects that reflect the University鈥檚 strength in interdisciplinary, community-engaged research across the humanities and social sciences 鈥� including legal and social systems, youth well-being, economic futures and more.

鈥淭hese SSHRC Connection Grants  highlight 快播视频鈥檚 commitment to research that is both rigorous and deeply connected to communities, partners, and collaborators across Canada and beyond,鈥� says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation at York. 鈥淭hey celebrate the diverse ways our scholars are engaging across disciplines to address complex social, cultural, and global challenges, and to build meaningful, lasting connections between academia and society.鈥�

Connection Grants support events, workshops and outreach activities that often lay the groundwork for longer-term research projects and enable scholarly exchanges by building bridges between academic and non-academic partners, as well as collaboration between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

These projects are part of the November 2025 competition and received funding for one year.

Converging and Conflicting Buddhist Legal Frames: Secular Governances and Buddhist Transgressions, led by Alicia Turner (associate professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS)) with co-applicant Benjamin Berger (professor, Osgoode Hall Law School), received $24,619.

PROJECT IMPACT: Coming together to establish a priority agenda for knowledge mobilization initiatives for the well-being of Canadian children and youth, led by Rebecca Bassett-Gunter (professor, Faculty of Health) and co-led by a team of York researchers including Heather Prime, Jennifer Connolly, Jennine Rawana, Jessica Fraser-Thomas, Karl Erickson, Madison Aitken, Melody Wiseheart and Thanujeni (Jeni) Pathman, received $24,948.

The Relational Turn: Looking Back, Thinking Ahead, led by Ruth Buchanan (professor, Osgoode Hall Law School) and co-led by Annie Bunting (professor, LA&PS) and the University of Toronto, received $20,096.

Waste-work: race, caste, and labour in the new global politics of disposability, led by Shubhra Gururani (associate professor, LA&PS), received $23,503.

Monstrous Intimacies at 15, led by Tiana Reid (assistant professor, LA&PS), received $24,055.

Col猫re et Espoir autour de la Palestine : Perspectives d'artistes et de chercheur.es en sciences sociales, co-led by Nadia Hasan (assistant professor, LA&PS) with partners from Universit茅 Laval and Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al, received $24,997.

Respite, Care, and Ethics for Cultural Workers: A Traveling Symposium, led by OCAD University and co-led by Casey Mecija (associate professor, LA&PS), received $49,996.

De l'茅conomie politique postcapitaliste 脿 l'utopie 鈥� Rencontre entre recherche en sciences sociales et pratiques artistiques, led by Saint Paul University and co-led by Audrey Laurin-Lamothe (associate professor, LA&PS) and partners from Lund University, Universit茅 Laval, and Universit茅 du Qu茅bec en Outaouais, received $23,646.

Lusophone Studies Association Meeting, 鈥淰oices and Visions: Lusophone Communities in the Global Landscape,鈥� led by the University of British Columbia and co-led by Robert Kenedy (associate professor, LA&PS), received $24,375.

T贸: Tewatia'tar貌:rok Taetewatia'tak茅hnha', led by the University of Toronto and co-led by Jeremy Green (assistant professor, LA&PS), received $50,000.

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Three students at 鈥檚&苍产蝉辫;Community and Legal Aid Services Program (CLASP), however, can now count themselves among that select group.

In October 2025, CLASP was granted leave to intervene in聽Democracy Watch v Canada聽(SCC Case No. 41576) 鈥� a Supreme Court case that examines how parliamentary authority and judicial oversight should be balanced to uphold the law. 聽

The case stems from the Ethics Commissioner鈥檚 decision clearing Justin Trudeau in the WE Charity conflict-of-interest investigation. Democracy Watch disagreed with the finding and asked the courts to review the decision. The Federal Court of Appeal refused, and the matter is now before the Supreme Court.

The appeal raises broader constitutional questions about when, and to what extent, courts may be prevented from reviewing findings made by administrative decision-makers. The judicial review process allows judges to examine decisions of administrative bodies (for example, the Landlord and Tenant Board, Immigration and Refugee Board and Human Rights Tribunal, etc.). This acts as a final safeguard, ensuring decisions are properly reached. Partial privative clauses 鈥� rules that restrict court review of some government decisions 鈥� may limit this safeguard.

In its intervention, CLASP argued that partial privative clauses are unconstitutional because they infringe upon the courts鈥� supervisory role of overseeing administrative decision-makers. But, if the Supreme Court decides these clauses are valid, CLASP proposed a test to ensure that any limits on judicial review remain very narrow.

The case was heard on Jan. 14 and 15, with the court reserving judgment.

CLASP students Hannah Velle, Hazal Gurcan and Lauren Vieira were deeply involved throughout the intervention. During every stage of the process, they contributed by researching legal issues, drafting materials and assisting with filings 鈥� an unusually hands-on appellate experience for students 鈥� and worked closely with CLASP Review Counsel Steven Yu, Subodh Bharati and Anum Malik.

鈥淚t was such a unique experience to contribute to a case before Canada鈥檚 top court,鈥� says Velle. 鈥淓veryone on the team worked incredibly hard, and it really solidified my interest in appellate work.鈥�

Vieira describes the experience as significant and memorable.

鈥淭his has definitely been the highlight of law school so far,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e really worked as a team and were integral to the whole process, which is rare for students.鈥�

Fifteen groups were granted leave in the case, signalling the court鈥檚 view that it raises issues of significant importance and merits consideration from a wide range of perspectives.

The court鈥檚 reasons are expected to clarify the scope of judicial review and shape the development of administrative law in the post-聽Dunsmuir, post-Vavilov听别谤补.

Yu, who presented before the court on Jan. 15, commends the CLASP team and students for their contributions and hard work.

鈥淲e wanted to highlight access to justice and the human impact of limits on judicial review,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his was a truly collaborative effort 鈥� our (arguments) reflected the collective hard work, commitment and thoughtful contributions of all the students and counsel on the project.鈥�

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I am delighted to announce the appointment of Shane McNaught to the role of assistant vice-president (AVP) labour relations, effective Jan. 26, 2026.

Shane McNaught is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), earning a bachelor of commerce. Following his undergraduate degree, Shane worked in several marketing management roles in corporate retail and financial services before pursuing further post-secondary education. Shane is a proud 快播视频 alumnus earning both a LLB and LLM in labour relations and employment law. 

Following law school, Shane began his career in labour and employee relations at the University Health Network and later transitioned to a more senior level role in labour and employee relations at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, where he negotiated several collective agreement renewals, as well as negotiated a first collective agreement for a new bargaining unit. Shane then took a role as legal counsel, labour relations and employment law at the Ontario Principals' Council, the recognized provincial bargaining agent for Ontario public school principals where he focused on protective services, legal representation and collective bargaining. 

Most recently, Shane worked at Scotiabank in a global labour relations role where he served as the director, global labour relations and senior legal counsel-employment law for close to eight years. In this role, he provided Canadian employment law legal services, oversaw all international collective bargaining and served as chief negotiator for several rounds of collective bargaining for several international jurisdictions.

Shane is highly committed and has extensive training and experience in research, development and delivery of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility training, including delivering an international respectful workplace training roadshow. Shane is an experienced workplace investigator, including conducting complex human rights and harassment investigations where he applied an empathetic and practical approach to address sensitive issues. Shane is thrilled to be joining 快播视频 as the AVP labour relations.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Dan Bradshaw for his leadership and dedication as the inaugural AVP labour relations at York from 2019-25. Dan鈥檚 expertise, composure and integrity have been invaluable to the University鈥檚 navigation of complex labour relations. Further, his efforts have been integral in the development of a labour relations team focused on actively supporting the University community and building effective relations with multiple union representatives.

Please join me in welcoming Shane back to York and to his new role. I am confident that he will lead labour relations 鈥� and York 鈥� in meaningful ways that will shape the University鈥檚 approach to collective bargaining, grievance resolution and employee relations, ensuring fair and effective practices across all Faculties and staff groups.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Parissa Safai
Interim Vice-President Equity, People and Culture

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York-affiliated recipients are among the 80 appointments announced on Dec. 31, 2025 by the Office of the Governor General of Canada.

The newly appointed members affiliated with the York community reflect the University's impact across law, higher education leadership, health care and community services, publishing, sustainability, museum and art scholarship, and human rights advocacy.

Companion

Rosalie Silberman Abella, honorary degree recipient and former committee member
Abella became Canada鈥檚 youngest judge at age 29 with her appointment to the Ontario Family Court and later became the first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. During her tenure, she made contributions to Canadian law through landmark constitutional rulings that 鈥� among other accomplishments 鈥� advanced equality and human rights law.

She received an honorary degree from 快播视频 in 1991 and served as a committee member for York鈥檚 School of Public Policy and Administration Advisory Council.

Officer

Roseann Runte, former faculty and Glendon College principal
An author, teacher and academic administrator, Runte has held several leadership roles in academia, including serving as principal of Glendon College from 1989-94.

She later served as president of Carleton University and as head of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. She was also the first woman president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. Throughout her career she has strongly promoted humanities in Canada, and been an advocate for bilingualism.

Members

Kim Ruth Brooks (LLM 鈥�00), alum
Brooks is a tax lawyer, professor, human rights advocate and president of Dalhousie University. A nationally respected academic leader, she has held senior roles in legal education, including dean-level leadership, and has contributed extensively to research and teaching in taxation, equality and social justice.

She has played a leading role in advancing equity, accessibility and freedom of gender expression in higher education. Her work emphasizes inclusive leadership, research excellence and student-centred institutional change.

Rosanna Caira (BA 鈥�80), alum
Caira is a journalist, podcast host as well as editor and publisher of Foodservice and Hospitality and Hotelier magazines. She is recognized for initiatives that empower women to take on leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

She serves on industry boards and committees, including the Canadian Hospitality Foundation, and co-founded the Women in Tourism & Hospitality Summit, which provides networking, mentoring, training, education and financing opportunities for women in the hospitality and culinary sectors.

Jane Laurine Darville (BAS 鈥�89), alum
Darville is a health care administrator and community health specialist, recognized for compassionate leadership in specialized health care populations. She served as founding board member and executive director of Toronto鈥檚 Casey House HIV/AIDS hospital and as executive director of Vancouver鈥檚 Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice, which provides pediatric palliative care.

Reesa Greenberg, former adjunct professor
Greenberg is an independent scholar and art historian specializing in exhibitions and display. Her research focuses on the intersections of national, gendered and ethnic identities with contemporary art and war. She has advanced digital documentation of Canadian art and contributed to restoring Canada鈥檚 Pavilion in Venice.

James C. Hathaway (LLB 鈥�79), alum, former professor
Hathaway is a scholar and author specializing in international human rights law, queer rights and refugee law. Through research, teaching and advocacy, he has contributed to global refugee protection. His work has been widely cited by senior courts and has shaped both scholarship and practice in the field.

He is a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan Law School, where he founded a program on refugee and asylum law, and a former professor of law at .

Charles A. Hopkins, UNESCO Chair at York
Hopkins is an internationally recognized leader in placing sustainability as a core principle of education. In 1999, Hopkins assumed the inaugural role of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair at York, leading efforts to integrate sustainable practices into both the curricula and operations of 快播视频. 

He has brought those same efforts worldwide through collaborations with UNESCO, the United Nations University, higher education institutions and ministries of education.

John Mark Willinsky, honorary degree recipient (鈥�08)
Willinsky is an educator, researcher and activist who has devoted his career to fostering equitable public access to research. Through his scholarship and leadership, he has been a voice in the open access movement, advancing new models of knowledge sharing in higher education and beyond. That work has included founding the Public Knowledge Project, now the world鈥檚 most widely deployed scholarly publishing platform, used in 150 countries and 60 languages to make research freely accessible.

He received an honorary degree from York in 1989 for his contributions to education, public engagement and research.

For more information about the Order of Canada or to view the full list of this year鈥檚 appointees, visit the .

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鈥淩emember,鈥� she says with a grin, 鈥渢here are no wrong answers. Just louder yeses.鈥� 

One lawyer, more used to cross-examinations than quick quips, takes a breath and blurts out, 鈥淭hank you and I want to 鈥� invent a talking stapler!鈥� 

The group bursts into laughter. And just like that, the exercise is working. 

For the next few hours, these legal professionals 鈥� masters of control and preparation 鈥� are being asked to do the opposite.  

They discover that the same skills that make a great improv scene such as listening, reacting, building on others鈥� ideas, can also make them better in the courtroom, boardroom and beyond. 

Professionals in many sectors are trained to prepare and then prepare some more. Osgoode Professional Development鈥檚 鈥溾�� flips that idea on its head.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very cool program that focuses on skills not typically covered in most legal or professional training,鈥� says Gail Margaret Geronimo, program lawyer for the one-day workshop offered through 快播视频鈥檚 Osgoode PD. 鈥淟awyers are primarily trained to be prepared. This focuses on being present 鈥� thinking on your feet without preparation.鈥� 

In a profession where every word is carefully chosen and every argument meticulously structured, improv offers a refreshing counterbalance. 

The interactive online workshop introduces the fundamentals of improvisation and how they can be applied to professional communication. Key improv skills 鈥� embracing risk, reacting to the unexpected and staying in the moment 鈥� translate into real-world skills.  

Offered for more than a decade, the workshop was originally developed for lawyers; now, it鈥檚 open legal and other professionals looking to strengthen communication and collaboration skills, says Geronimo. 

鈥淭his includes people in positions requiring leadership, litigation, negotiation skills or conflict resolution skills 鈥� essentially, anyone who needs to respond effectively in the moment and rely on clear, adaptive interaction,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e notice that professionals need these skills on a day-to-day basis. Communicating in a way that involves being present and actively listening is a skill that鈥檚 so important to perform effectively as professionals.鈥� 

And as a bonus, it鈥檚 taught by Lisa Merchant, a seasoned performer and instructor with Toronto鈥檚 Second City, the comedy improve theatre troupe, who has over 30 years of experience. 

鈥淟isa is fantastic,鈥� says Geronimo. 鈥淪he gets people on their feet. She鈥檚 done a good job of making the class engaging and maintaining a comfortable, safe space.鈥�  

Merchant is a senior faculty member at Second City Training Centre and a professor at Humber College, recognized for her award-winning comedy work and television appearances. She received multiple accolades in 2019, including the Toronto Star鈥檚 Best Theatre Instructor (Platinum) and Second City鈥檚 Frank McAnuity Faculty Award. 

During COVID, the class transitioned from in-person to online, making it accessible to professionals outside the GTA. And with Merchant running the show, the workshop continued its momentum through the pandemic and beyond. 

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do it as successfully online without an engaging facilitator,鈥� says Geronimo. 鈥淟isa really brings a lot of energy and draws people in.鈥� 

The half-day class features classical improvisation exercises and drills, with full live participation. No content is recorded, unlike other online courses.聽

鈥淭here are no recordings, no scripts and no retakes 鈥� just spontaneous participation. The whole tenet of improv is being present,鈥� says Geronimo.  

Participants practice thinking on their feet, answering questions on the fly and speaking with confidence and poise. 

Geronimo says the class gives professionals a rare chance to stretch their skills in a low-stakes setting. 鈥淵ou can take chances without consequences,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a practice zone where you can explore, experiment and grow.鈥澛�

The next session runs Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

鈥淢any people come into the class nervous,鈥� says Geronimo, 鈥渂ut they all leave energized and excited about what they learned.鈥�  

With files from Karen Martin-Robbins

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The initiative, launched by global research organization CIFAR (Canadian Institute for Advanced Research), introduces two AI Safety Networks that will address: fake AI-generated content in the justice system; and, linguistic inequality in AI tools. 

Funded through CIFAR鈥檚 Canadian AI Safety Institute (CAISI) Research Program, each network will receive $700,000 to design and implement open-source AI tools over the next two years that will detect synthetic evidence and make language models fairer for everyone. 

Both solution networks 鈥� Safeguarding Courts from Synthetic AI Content and Mitigating Dialect Bias 鈥� will be co-led by York faculty. 

Maura R. Grossman, an adjunct professor at will direct the Safeguarding Courts from Synthetic AI Content network alongside Ebrahim Bagheri from the University of Toronto. This team will develop a free, open-source framework to help courts detect and manage AI-generated content, such as fake videos or hallucinated legal documents produced by large language models (LLMs).聽

The team鈥檚 solution aims to support both legal professionals and self-represented litigants with user-friendly tools that flag questionable content. 

鈥淲e need a tool that knows when it's not sure about its output,鈥� says Grossman, adding that the stakes are high when a judicial decision is based on fake content. 

Mitigating Dialect Bias will be co-directed by Laleh Seyyed-Kalantari, assistant professor at York鈥檚 , alongside Brock University鈥檚 Blessing Ogbuokiri. The work will focus on Nigerian Pidgin English, a dialect spoken by over 140 million people that is often misinterpreted by LLMs as toxic or inappropriate, leading to censorship and discrimination.   

Working with a citizen network in Nigeria, Seyyed-Kalantari鈥檚 team will build the first-ever bias and safety benchmarks for Pidgin English as part of an open-source audit and mitigation toolkit. 

鈥淚 think what makes our solution unique is that it is locally rooted and culturally representative of citizens of African countries,鈥� says Sayyed-Kalantari. 鈥淲e want to ensure that the research that we are developing brings actual positive changes for people who are using these LLMs in Africa.鈥� 

The project could have a much broader impact by creating culturally representative AI systems and influencing policy to ensure equitable access to AI tools for marginalized communities 鈥� including immigrant and Indigenous populations in Canada.  

The CAISI Research Program at CIFAR is part of a $50-million federal investment launched in November 2024 to address the evolving risks of AI. It supports interdisciplinary research to develop practical tools for responsible AI deployment across Canada and the Global South. 

With files from CIFAR 

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