吃瓜直播

Viola Desmond, renowned Canadian civil rights activist and businesswoman, is remembered for her unyielding efforts in challenging racial discrimination. A multifaceted figure of Black Canadian history, Desmond was also a successful entrepreneur鈥攐perating a beauty school where she educated and employed young Black women. 

Desmond鈥檚 resistance to the implicit forms of racial segregation entrenched in Canadian society helped mobilize a bourgeoning civil rights movement supported by other Black leaders and activists. Desmond鈥檚 legacy testifies to her fortitude and resilience yet reminds Canadians that change is a slow and unfinished project. 

In honour of her legacy, 吃瓜直播 (TMU)鈥檚 Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (OVPECI) recognizes and bolsters the achievements, labour, creative and critical contributions of Black women and gender-diverse people for their impact on TMU鈥檚 community. This year, the Viola Desmond Awards Planning Committee partnered with the Lincoln Alexander School of Law for the 16th annual Viola Desmond Awards and Bursary Ceremony.

Accepting the award on Stephanie Latty鈥檚 behalf, professor and Criminology Graduate Program Director Joshua Price remarked on Latty鈥檚 invaluable contributions to the African-Canadian community, support of Black faculty, and extensive work in human rights and anti-racist scholarship鈥攑articularly noting her work documenting and working to stop deaths in custody and scholarship on strip searching of Black women and girls in Canada. 

Latty was also recognized for her positive impact on her students and fellow faculty members at TMU. 鈥淩eading her students鈥� comments about how much she meant in their lives was a gratifying experience,鈥� Price remarked. 鈥淎s a colleague, she鈥檚 inspiring to work with and displays intellectual acumen and imagination. She continually motivates me to think more deeply, ambitiously and creatively about what the classroom space could be.鈥�  

Latty鈥檚 community work and academic scholarship exemplify Viola Desmond's tenacity and dedication. Latty鈥檚 critical voice and scholarship reached the audience of academics, students, and community members at the ceremony, who applauded and celebrated her impact and accomplishments, resounding hope, and unyielding determination.

Naomi Wokocha is completing her honours bachelor's degree at TMU, double-majoring in English and Philosophy with a minor in Criminology. Wokocha鈥檚 impressive academic career has included working with TMU鈥檚 PreMedical Society and Research Ethics Board, the Student Initiative Fund, and as a research assistant for the Philosophy and History departments. 鈥淚 would say my work as a research assistant with the TMU History department's EDI committee was the most transformative,鈥� remarked Wokocha. 鈥淚t introduced me to the significance of EDI in academic and professional spaces, helped me gain experience in research, and learn so much about quality improvement.鈥� Wokocha鈥檚 involvement was supported by TMU鈥檚 faculty, who recognized her potential and emboldened her continual pursuit of equity and excellence. Wokocha reflects, 鈥淭he professors I worked with, especially Dr. Jennifer Tunnicliffe and Dr. Melanie Knight, were so encouraging and gave me so much room to learn.鈥�

Wokocha鈥檚 interest in equity-centred research and bioethics has informed her dedication to exploring the ethical challenges within the healthcare system. Wokocha鈥檚 critical insights flourished in the bioethics department of SickKids, where she worked as a student researcher developing a quality improvement research project and clinical ethics internship at William Osler Health System. Wokocha continues to appeal to her interest in epistemology and moral philosophy in championing equity-deserving groups, Black maternal health, health equity and policy. Recently, Wokocha has begun working as a research assistant for TMU鈥檚 Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing, where she is exploring Indigenous Disability Health.