2024 Diversity Scholarship Award Winners

Ava Harmath’s a born and bred co-oper, having lived her life, so far, in Rougemount Co-operative Homes in Pickering. She has been active as a volunteer at Pickering’s Cultural Fusion and Artfest.  She is proud that both events have helped promote a community atmosphere, celebrating people of all backgrounds while educating others through art, music, food, dancing, and fashion. Ava looks forward to studying psychology at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough or downtown campuses, or Trent University in Peterborough.

Maryam Ibrahim is a founding member of a non-profit in her community called SomaliTogether.  With this organization, she has helped improve youth literacy while at the same time has grown and drawn inspiration from a community she’s deeply committed to. She also helped found the Medical Science Club at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, striving to foster inclusivity and to ensure everyone is both seen and heard. Maryam has lived at Maurice Coulter her whole life. She plans to study computer science and business at Western University in London, Ontario.

Seth Johnson, from Summerlea Park Co-op, is an active volunteer in his university city, Thunder Bay. At Blaze Basketball Camp, he teaches children ages 4-17 the fundamentals of the game.  As a volunteer with the Rotary Shelter House, Seth is part of the team preparing and serving nutritious meals to people experiencing homelessness.  He’s enjoyed both roles since they expose him to a wide variety of different people and contribute to a sense of equality and diversity in the community. In September, he will enter his final year of a Kinesiology program at Lakehead University.

While Tamara Ndlovu moved to Harry Sherman Crowe Housing Co-op only seven years ago, she has already applied to be a member and has become involved in the co-op community, including helping to renovate the community room and assisting with setting up for and note-taking at community meetings. She recognizes that working together is an essential part of an effective community.  Tamara plans to attend York University, the campus on which her co-op is located, to study business and society.

A new member of David B Archer co-op, Kathleen is already extremely involved in her coop community. She attends board meetings regularly as is apart of the yard cleanup committee. A 4^th year Doctorate student at York University, Kathleen is pursuing Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies. She is also a vocalist and performer with Steers and Queers: The Dolly Choir. Kathleen also dedicated her time as a Graduate Student Representative with York University’s Sexuality Studies Council where she made recommendations regarding potential candidates for the committee.

In his 2^nd year at Humber College, Muhammad Shazib is looking forward to achieving a Bachelor of Social Science in Criminal justice.  He’s been an active volunteer at Scadding Court Community Centre. As a program leader assistant in the youth ball hockey program, he’s mentored young people to become better leaders and handled some of the logistics of the program. He’s also helped with the senior digital literacy program at Alexandra Park Community Centre, working on the learning experiences that develop the knowledge, skill, and attitudes necessary for seniors to be effective in the digital world. Muhammad lives at Atkinson Co-op.

Sk is a newcomer to Canada from Bangladesh and moved into Robert Cooke co-op last year. She attends board meetings at her co-op She is currently pursuing Health Information management at George Brown College. As a volunteer on her school’s student association, she assists on the food pantry program and participated in on-site demonstrations for new students on campus orientation week. Sk enjoys working with people and provided language support and first aid training for students on campus.

Abdulrahman has lived in Robert Cooke co-op his whole life, since his parents moved in the late 1990s. An active member of his co-op community, Abdulrahman facilitates a basketball camp program for kids in his neighbourhood. Currently in his second year of the Bachelors of Education program at the University of Windsor, he hopes to be a teacher one day. Abdulrahman also has experience working with a City councilors office to help coordinate and plan events. 

Patrick Karp is a 4^th year Hospitality and Tourism Management student at TMU. He’s a volunteer landscaper at his co-op, City Park. In this role, he works with the landscaping committee to ensure the co-op’s gardens are sustainable and look great. He and his team are surely proud that City Park was named as a Flower Power garden in the 2023 CHFT Garden Awards.  He’s also a member of the outreach committee of Fair Vote Canada. For Patrick, both roles allow him to promote diversity by fostering inclusivity, break down barriers and create spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel welcomed and valued.

Reem Benadada has lived at Charles Hastings Co-op Housing in downtown Toronto for 15 years now. She’s currently the Environmental President of her school’s Eco Council, where she works with other school clubs and community organizations to plan environmental events, doing so using an inclusive and collaborative approach to ensure a range of perspectives are considered.  She’s also active as a volunteer teacher of Arabic at a Saturday school, ensuring younger people can help others understand their culture, with a view to fostering a more diverse community.  Reem hopes to study sciences at one of Toronto’s three universities, McMaster, or McGill.

Seventeen years at Rougemount and a recent applicant for membership, Xavier Dyal Harmath recognizes being surrounded by diverse people in the co-op and the broader community provides an opportunity to develop an understanding and acceptance of difference. Xavier has focused volunteer efforts at City of Pickering events like Winter Nights City Lights, where groups from all races, religions, and genders gather to celebrate community together. Xavier is considering a couple of options for post-secondary education: sports management and early childhood education. 

Emily Bancroft studies Sport Media at TMU where she will enter her 3^rd year in September. She’s an active volunteer as a support worker for the Adaptive Multi-Sport Program and with the Downs Syndrome Association of Toronto. In both organizations, she encounters children from many different communities here in Toronto whose families are united by how disability has shaped their lives. For Emily, the positivity that results in these play spaces are enlightening and delightful. 

For 16 years, Kai Ingram has lived at the St. Lawrence District’s Caroline Co-op and has recently become a member. Kai has participated as a teacher’s assistant in an elementary school helping children of all backgrounds learn Mandarin, providing a first-hand experience that diverse spaces can develop. They have also worked at Banki Media, as a junior editor and social media assistant were they saw entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. An applicant to Sheridan College, Kais is hoping to study media fundamentals and game programming.

Nawal Barmeid was born into Harbour Channel and now enjoys the privileges and responsibilities of membership there. Also found on the Bathurst Quay, the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre is where you may have found Nawal volunteering at a children’s summer camp or with a seniors’ program. In each, Nawal reports spending time with a range of people from a variety of backgrounds and ages. Nawal looks forward to studying business or public health at the University of Toronto or Toronto Metropolitan University.

Thea Ahumada has enjoyed volunteering as a painter for the Bain Co-op’s Canoe Project, an initiative designed to promote Indigenous reconciliation within the co-op community. She also helped at Guelph’s Hillside Music Festival on the waste management team. Both experiences served to promote diversity in different ways, by bringing people together in creative endeavours. Thea is a lifelong resident of Bain. She currently studies at Rosedale Heights School of Arts and plans to pursue education in humanities with a focus on child and family development.

Alexander has been living in Eamon Park co-op since he was born and has recently applied for membership. He assists with landscaping and maintenance on co-op property. He also ensures the elderly at the co-op are taken care of by assisting them by delivering groceries and clearing their walkways in the winter time. As of January 2024, Alexander began studying electrical techniques at Centennial College and plans to be an electrician.

Kevin Akhadia is an active member of his religious community, volunteering as a camp counsellor at CEF Camp “Good News” Summer Camp and the First Baptist Church Summer Camp. In both roles, he’s worked hard to integrate campers from all backgrounds into camp activities and to break down barriers that might exist between groups.  He’s a 10-year resident of Atkinson Co-op in downtown Toronto.  Kevin will pursue studies in illustration at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art and Design.

As a graduate at Harbord Collegiate Institute, Mustafa assisted with a youth camp facilitated by the Toronto District School Board. Mustafa is currently studying political science at York University and hopes to one day work for either the provincial or federal government. Mustafa enjoys playing and watching basketball.

Tiendara Sathananthan has completed the first year of a Life Sciences degree at UofT achieving a remarkable perfect score in a course, Earth and Life through Time. She participated a Research Assistant in the Students for Vaccine Equity group, aimed at raising awareness about global vaccine inequity. Tiendara has also been a reading mentor at the Toronto Public Library where she worked closely with two grade 1 students, reporting back to her supervisor and their parents weekly on progress.  Through volunteering, she’s demonstrated her belief that education promotes diversity. Tiendara, a resident of Tamil Co-op, will continue her UofT studies in September.

Brooklyn Shipley lives at Scarborough’s Milliken Housing Co-op and attends school at Centennial College where she is studying to be an aesthetician.  Brooklyn has volunteered in an after-school studies program at a local Boys and Girls Club. She also completed a co-op placement in high school at St. Rene Goupil Catholic School where she engaged children in activities designed to promote young people’s self-confidence while building skill. She knows increased awareness and appreciation of diversity is important to develop in young children.

Christine Marie Marquez studies Heath Administration at TMU where she’s enjoying course like Canadian Immigration Patterns and Ethics in Health Care, a way to ensure her studies keep the same firm focus on diversity and social issues so she can meet her goal of understanding the needs of others. She’s spent her volunteer time with organizations like Eva’s Satellite, a charity for youth struggling with substance use and mental health issues, and Canada Bloom, where she’s been a tour bus greeter, ensuring that elderly visitors are treated in a way that’s mindful of possible age-related limitations.

Cabbagetown’s Three Streets Co-op has been JakubSzymanski’s home now for 12 years. As a member now, Szmanski enjoys volunteering on the co-op’s finance committee. He’s also been a voluntary member of the Moss Park Youth Council and a Leader in Training at Camp Ekon in Muskoka. In both roles, he’s embraced the opportunity to bring youth together to celebrate diversity and foster inclusivity. Jakub looks forward to studying business management at TMU, Wilfried Laurier, or the University of Toronto.

Local 75 Housing Co-op in downtown Toronto is home to Mahreen Rahman. From there, she studies information technology at York University where she will enter her second year in September. When Mahreen is not studying, you might find her at MABELLEarts, an organization that brings people together across perceived differences to do something together. At MABELLEarts, she’s participated and helped organize a series of workshops led by artists from around the world, learning about other cultures while making art. She’s also been active on the YWCA Toronto Girls’ Council, engaging in civic activities and raising money for global causes to support women.