TMU prepares next-generation talent for real-world impact with $3.3M in NSERC CREATE funding

Congratulations to @torontomet.bsky.social professors Naimul Khan and professor Helen Stopps on securing Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Read more:

The missing work of co-ordination in Canada’s skills ecosystem Filling Canada’s skills gap requires better co-ordination, stronger intermediaries and long-term workforce planning are essential.

Canada lacks the workforce to meet its ambitions, Laura McDonough & Tricia Williams of @fsc-ccf.bsky.social write in @irpp.org. Bridging the gap will require coordination and collaboration to ensure Canada has the right skills in the right place at the right time. Read more:

This mother-daughter duo is redefining inclusive child care TMU's Social Ventures Zone supports Organic Play, a child-led, play-based early education model

Launched by a @torontomet.bsky.social graduate with support from TMU's Social Ventures Zone, Organic Play is an inclusive early learning approach that uses intervention strategies and therapeutic play to create learning opportunities for neurodivergent children. Read more:

Behind the Mask: A Day in the Life of a General Internal Medicine Resident

Meet Brandon Mitchell, General Internal Medicine resident.

Brandon shares what it takes to navigate fast-paced clinics while balancing medical expertise and empathy.

Read more:

Study smarter, not harder: your TMU exam survival guide TMU prof Deena Kara Shaffer shares pro tips to study effectively, manage time and prioritize well-being

When studying for exams, why is practicing output more important than input? @torontomet.bsky.social professor Deena Kara Shaffer offers practical tips and strategies to make exam season a success by helping students study smarter, not harder Read more:

Happening today at 1:00 pm, in person and virtual, the iBEST Visiting Lecturer Series hosts professor Graham Wright. His lecture, Bio-Interfaced Soft Materials for Point-of-Care and Personalized Medicine, will explore advances in cardiovascular MRI. Learn more: ibestresearch.ca/visiting-lec...

Beyond the data: Shaping community partnerships through algorithms

What happens when you blend data science and social impact?

That’s exactly what first-year MD student, Ali Samani, aspired to do. Through the Community Advocacy Project, he built an algorithm to improve how students are matched to placements with community partners.

Read the full story here:

TMU School of Journalism launches season 4 of award-winning student-made podcast

Congratulations to the team of @thecreativeschl journalism students who recently launched season 4 of We Met U When. The award-winning podcast tracks down subjects from past news stories and look at what the journalism industry can do better. Read more:

Newcomers are more likely to be overlooked and underpaid on the job. Here’s how to fix it Canadian immigrants are more likely to be hesitant to ask for a raise or promotion, but experts suggest companies adopt an opt-out process for raises and promotions

Research from @globalmigrationtmu.bsky.social has found newcomers are more likely to be overqualified and underpaid than Canadian-born workers. In @theglobeandmail.com, four experts describe what newcomers, and their employers, can do to close that gap. Read more:

Welcome to the Global Migration Institute, the home for migration research at @torontomet.bsky.social.

As we begin this next chapter, we’re excited to carry forward the legacy of CERC Migration - together with our community.

#TMUMigration

Promotional graphic for a School of Disability Studies blog post titled “Can Heated Rivalry help neuro-queer Canadian hockey” by Jordan O’Dell, featuring bold text over a background illustration of a hockey net and puck.

New School of Disability Studies blog post:
Can Heated Rivalry help neuro-queer Canadian hockey?

Jordan O’Dell explores race, gender, sexuality, and neurodivergence in hockey culture. radssite.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/c...

Inside the push to make ice rinks sustainable Rinks use energy, water, and refrigerants, and they create microplastics. People are trying to reduce this footprint

How does water chemistry affect sustainability at ice rinks around the world? Research by @torontometsci.bsky.social professor Stefania Impellizzeri studies the amount of total dissolved solids in water, helping rinks to make better ice while using less water. Read more:

Canada has a long history of surveilling Indigenous peoples –Riley Yesno highlights the consequences on Indigenous communities & argues for a more deliberate response to ongoing colonial surveillance.

yellowheadinstitute.org/2026/i-spy-c...

Revealing the hidden hazards of a common chemical

Congratulations to master's student Nameera Shaikh on her recent victory in @torontomet.bsky.social Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition. She presented on the dangers of acrylonitrile, a carcinogenic chemical used in consumer plastics, fibres and rubbers. Read more:

📣 Our upcoming Virtual Forum Series event is on May 5 — Islamophobia on Canadian Campuses: Why and What to do?

🔗 Zoom link: tinyurl.com/CFEevent.

Bridging innovation and impact: Khaled Sennah reimagines the future of sustainable infrastructure TMU engineering prof has spent his career turning lab findings into national design standards

He's long been considered one of Canada’s foremost bridge engineering scholars. Now, in recognition of his achievements, @torontomet.bsky.social professor Khaled Sennah has won the annual Sarwan Sahota Distinguished Scholar Award. Read more:

Canada’s cybersecurity sector has a pipeline problem — and a glass ceiling Canada’s cybersecurity labour shortage cannot be solved simply by recruiting skilled immigrants, because systemic barriers — especially for racialized immigrant women — limit their integration, advancement and retention.

In an article co-authored by professors Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan and Rupa Banerjee, they find racialized immigrant women in cybersecurity face systemic barriers that limit career advancement despite Canada facing a major cybersecurity labour shortage https://bit.ly/41k8Cqv

Practicing Hope: A Somatic Approach for Higher Ed — Academica Forum Drawing on her experiences with scuba diving, Anita Abraham (Toronto Metropolitan University/CEWIL) explains how a somatic approach to experiential learning can better prepare students to engage with the world.

Experiential learning is one of the best places in higher education to see how hope is built, @torontomet.bsky.social's Anita Abraham writes in Academica. It's where students navigate new environments not just by thinking, but by sensing, relating, and acting. Read more:

CEO aging and the MNE Internationalization portfolio Is old age truly a shipwreck? New research from Dr. Liang (Arthur) Li and his team in the Journal of World Business suggests otherwise.

Research by Dr. Liang (Arthur) Li shows that aging CEOs adapt their strategies rather than decline. The study found that older leaders tend to reduce exposure to culturally distant markets, while operating in countries with weaker institutions. https://bit.ly/4dk4T3k

Aida Haghighi recognized among Canada’s Top Women in Safety, 2026

Congratulations to @torontomet.bsky.social professor Aida Haghighi on being recognized among Canada’s Top Female Safety Leaders by Canadian Occupational Safety. Read more:

Can immigration solve Canada’s aging population problem? The answer is complicated Immigration is key to Canada’s economy, but experts say it can’t solve aging alone. Newcomers still face barriers to jobs, housing and stable stat

An aging population is a challenge for Canada's workforce. How can immigration help? @torontomet.bsky.social professor Wendy Cukier says the focus must shift from intake to outcomes, highlighting the need for better labour-market alignment and stronger supports. Read more:

The magic of going to the theatre isn’t about the movie. It’s about watching it with strangers | CBC Radio Movie theatre attendance hasn’t recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption and the rise of streaming services. But film enthusiasts say you lose some of that movie magic when you skip the share...

Shared experiences with a cinema audience can impact our enjoyment of movies, @torontomet.bsky.social professor Paul Moore tells @cbcnews.ca. With attendance in decline, he says the future of moviegoing depends on moments you can’t replicate at home. Read more:

Recasting brutalism: A civic landmark reimagined Phase One of Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU’s) new School of Medicine is now open, establishing a new model for community-integrated medical education.

Indigenous design principles informed the renovation that turned the Bramalea Civic Centre into the home of @tmu-medicine.bsky.social, a welcoming and inclusive environment that integrates education and primary care. Read more in @constructcanmag.bsky.social:

How one TMU course is helping students break their phone habits TMU Prof. Deena Shaffer's Learning and Development Strategies course uses a semester-long digital reset to help students study smarter and feel better.

A @torontomet.bsky.social course is helping students reset their digital habits, reclaim their time and find balance beyond the screen. Through a semester-long “digital reset,” students say their grades have improved, procrastination has decreased, and they feel less exhausted. Read more:

On the mild side: Why travellers are increasingly opting for ‘soft’ adventure travel Thrill-seeking doesn’t have to mean extreme sports. These laid-back Canadian getaways are the perfect intro to adventure travel

Whether it's cooking classes or whale watching, soft adventure is a hot travel trend. @trsmtorontomet.bsky.social professor Rachel Dodds says it's about meaningful, low-risk experiences that value culture and connection over intensity. Read more in @theglobeandmail.com:

A student sits on a chair in front of a large, sunny window inside the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus.

Happy Easter! The OVPRI will be closed on Friday, April 3 and this account will not be active. We'll be back on Monday, April 6.

FSC launches $5.5M ‘Replicate’ to scale proven trades training programs across Canada - Journal Of Commerce With Canada facing a pending labour shortage — particularly in construction and the skilled trades — a new national initiative aims to accelerate solutions by expanding programs that have already prov...

A new $5.5 million initiative from @fsc-ccf.bsky.social is dedicated to driving innovation in skills development across Canada. Replicate is designed to take skills training programs that were effective in one community and reproduce them in others. Read more:

Students sit on steps inside the Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre on the Toronto Metropolitan University campus.

Find out about the scholarly, research and creative events happening across @torontomet.bsky.social in April, from presentations to workshops. Check out our latest events newsletter: www.torontomu.ca/research/new...

"We want to build something that brings people together instead of leaving them to navigate the STEM space on their own."

Molecular Science PhD candidate Jayde Casimir-Powell is helping lead a new Black in #STEM group @torontomet.bsky.social to build a supportive community. https://bit.ly/4dChwXN

Toronto councillor proposes city-run grocery stores to lower food prices A motion that calls for four not-for-profit grocery stores across the city to improve access to affordable food in neighbourhoods facing food insecurity.

Toronto city council recently approved a pilot plan to open four publicly-run grocery stores. Before the vote, @torontomet.bsky.social professor Enza Gucciardi said the idea could help lower costs for those facing food insecurity. Read more: