The Forefront: Recent Episodes
Ryerson University
The Forefront showcases how Ryerson is tackling the big issues facing Canadians through bold research, innovation, and collaboration. From cybersecurity to finding solutions to the problems facing our ageing population - The Forefront will shed light on how Ryerson is addressing these issues.
Justin Poy grew up in Toronto in the 1970’s. As one of the only Chinese-Canadian students at his school, he faced constant casual racism, from both students and teachers. This caused Justin to feel ashamed of his identity, which led him to actively avoid his cultural background throughout his youth. Fast-forward to his time at Toronto Metropolitan University, Justin was able to build a strong community, and through the encouragement of his mother, Vivienne Poy, he joined organizations such as the Mon Sheong Foundation.
His work at TMU helped shape his career. He realized that many companies overlooked the Chinese-Canadian market. One cold call to Jaguar led to an entire portfolio of clients looking to expand into that market.
In this conversation, Donette and Justin explore the cultural differences regarding charity and giving between Canada, Hong Kong, and China, how he encourages the Chinese-Canadian community to give back, and how we can teach the next generation about the importance of charity work and volunteering in their community.
Resources mentioned
- Giving to Toronto Metropolitan University
- SickKids Hospital
- Mon Sheong Foundation
- Note: While Justin discusses Mon Sheong Foundation in the context of the 1990s, the organization was founded in the 1960s.
- Yee Hong Foundation
- Chinese Canadian Museum
Three reasons to listen to this episode
- Learn about Justin’s identity journey, from being excluded while growing up in 1970’s Toronto to finding community at TMU.
- Hear how Justin used his cultural background as a competitive advantage in the marketing world by identifying underserved markets.
- Find out why Justin has dedicated his time to organizations such as SickKids, and how he is encouraging the Chinese-Canadian community to give back.
Episode highlights
2:50 - Not wanting to stand out as Chinese
Justin reflects on growing up in Toronto in the 1970’s and being the only Chinese student at his school. He shares how he faced racism from other students and the teachers. This left Justin feeling ashamed of his identity. However, once he arrived at TMU, he began to build community with other students whose families had immigrated from Hong Kong.
7:37 - Turning his identity into a business opportunity
Justin leveraged his background and cultural insight and used it as a competitive advantage. First reaching out to Jaguar, Justin identified how companies were often overlooking the Chinese-Canadian market. From there, he built a portfolio of clients, who he assisted in reaching that audience.
17:30 - Justin’s time as a Board Member for SickKids and how he engaged the Chinese-Canadian community
As a Board Member for SickKids, Justin would work to engage donors from the Chinese-Canadian community by holding events where community members could hear directly from doctors, and include the community in the discussion, which helped them feel invested in the cause.
22:30 - Encouraging the next generation to give back
As Justin notes, factors such as the gig economy and a lack of cultural pride lead to the next generation not valuing giving as much as the previous generation. He shares how he instilled the importance of volunteering and giving to his own children.
Enjoyed this episode?
We invite you to explore more episodes of The Forefront: Next-gen generosity on your favourite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your community.
To learn more about giving opportunities and community impact at Toronto Metropolitan University, visit torontomu.ca/giving.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Education has the power to open doors, create opportunities and strengthen communities. As president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University, Mohamed Lachemi has spent the past decade helping to expand access to higher education while championing student success.
In this episode, Lachemi reflects on his journey from international student to university president and discusses how philanthropy, community partnerships and a commitment to inclusion have helped shape major initiatives at TMU, including the School of Medicine, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, the Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing and new student housing.
About Mohamed Lachemi
Mohamed Lachemi is the president and vice-chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University. He has served in the role since 2016, previously holding positions as TMU’s provost and vice-president, academic, and as a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering. During his presidency, the university has expanded major research initiatives, launched the TMU School of Medicine, and strengthened partnerships with alumni, donors and community organizations.
Resources mentioned / related links
- Giving to Toronto Metropolitan University
- School of Medicine - Toronto Metropolitan University
- Lincoln Alexander School of Law
- Nadir Mohamed Centre for Student Wellbeing
Three reasons to listen to this episode
- Learn how philanthropy and community partnerships are helping expand opportunities for students at TMU.
- Hear Mohamed Lachemi’s personal journey from international student to university president and how it shaped his approach to leadership.
- Discover how education, inclusion and generosity can help strengthen communities and create lasting social impact.
Episode highlights
03:15 - Investing in students is investing in Canada
TMU serves a student population that reflects the diversity of the GTA, including many first-generation university students and newcomers to Canada. Lachemi argues that supporting these students through philanthropy ultimately benefits everyone: “My answer has been always: ‘Actually, this is to support our country.’”
06:02 - Creating a sense of belonging
For Lachemi, student success begins with making people feel seen and supported. He explains that universities must be “deliberately inclusive” and recognize that different communities have different needs, requiring more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
12:30 - Scholarships inspire a culture of giving
Having relied on scholarships throughout his own academic career, Lachemi understands firsthand how financial support can change a person’s future. He shares how those experiences inspired initiatives like the PACE program and shaped his belief that “giving is not just an act, it’s actually a value.”
15:24 - Building institutions around community needs
From the TMU School of Medicine to the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Lachemi explains how the university’s most significant initiatives have been shaped through consultation with communities. By listening to local needs and partnering with donors, TMU has created programs focused on healthcare, access, justice and wellbeing.
26:40 - Supporting the next generation of changemakers
As he reflects on his last decade at the helm of TMU, Lachemi encourages alumni, donors and community partners to continue investing in higher education. He believes that universities play a critical role in preparing future leaders. “When talented people are successful, they will bring solutions to all of us.”
Enjoyed this episode?
We invite you to explore more episodes of The Forefront: Next-gen generosity on your favourite podcast platform. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your community.
To learn more about giving opportunities and community impact at Toronto Metropolitan University, visit torontomu.ca/giving.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Forefront: Next-gen generosity is exploring how generosity can create opportunity, strengthen communities and shape the future. Hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang, this season features conversations with leaders, community builders and changemakers whose commitment to giving back and giving forward is making a lasting impact.
Through stories of leadership, purpose and community, guests share how investing in others can open doors for future generations and create change that extends far beyond a single individual.
New episodes monthly.
Watch full video episodes on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast apps.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Discover how Toronto Metropolitan University is shaping the next generation of nurses through immersive, hands-on education. Backed by a $1 million donation from the FDC Foundation, these innovative simulation labs immerse students in realistic healthcare scenarios, preparing them for the complexities of modern nursing by utilizing the latest technology to navigate high-pressure situations with confidence and care.
TMU’s DMZ has earned its place as the world’s top university-based tech incubator with its 14 years of experience, 1000+ startups and $2.76 billion in funding. By providing entrepreneurs with the tools to build, launch and scale their ventures, DMZ fuels groundbreaking innovation while shaping the future of entrepreneurship in Canada. Discover how Nathaniel Bagnell, co-founder of the tech startup LiveGauge, is transforming industries with support from DMZ.
Shopping for clothes is typically a visual experience, but for those who are partially or totally blind, it can be challenging. Enter Aille Design, founded by Alexa Jovanovic, a Fashion Communication '16 alumna, and incubated in TMU’s Fashion Zone. Aille integrates braille into its designs, making garments fully legible for braille readers. Discover how Aille is breaking down barriers and reshaping the narrative around disability and fashion.
There’s a silent epidemic impacting older Canadians over the age of 50. A new report from Toronto Metropolitan University'’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA) revealed that 40 per cent of Canadians aged 50 and over are at risk of struggling with social isolation. In this episode, we explore the growing issue of loneliness among older adults in Canada and spotlight the NIA’s efforts to curb it.
Artificial intelligence in higher education comes with its challenges, but one Toronto Metropolitan University professor has turned AI into an asset. Meet ProfBot, the revolutionary AI study buddy developed by Dr. Sean Wise. Learn how this innovative tool has helped students increase their grades — transforming the way students learn and the future of education.
What if the next time you see a doctor, you are treated as a person, not just a patient, and your culture and background are embraced, not overlooked? That’s the vision Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine is bringing to life. Through its bold new approach to medical education, TMU is transforming health care in Ontario to provide a person-centred experience that is as unique as you are.
Our award-winning podcast, The Forefront, is back for another season! Join us as we explore disruptions in healthcare, education, technology, fashion, and beyond.
Smoke, noise, disorientation— when firefighters are inside a burning building, the ability to get out safely is a challenge.
In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanfield, a former Toronto fire chief and co-founder of IFTech, and Alex Ferworn, Director of the Computational Public Safety Lab at TMU, about the “As Real as It Gets” suit, which utilizes virtual reality video game technology into potentially life-saving technology for firefighters.
The job market is changing at a rapid speed, making it difficult for both those looking to get hired and for those doing the hiring. How can we address this skills gap?
In this episode, we speak with Matt McInnis, an educational technology leader, and with Gary Hepburn, dean of The Chang School, about microcredentials: a skills-based training and certification program developed in partnership with industry to help workers master the skills that employers need.
More than 50 per cent of Canadians report that their mental health has worsened since the beginning of the pandemic. And while treatments like therapy and medication can help, they can be hard to access — and expensive.
In this episode, we speak with the team behind a music therapy app called LUCID: Aaron Labbé, who turned to music as a source of comfort during a mental health crisis, and Frank Russo, a TMU professor and neuroscientist.
**A lot of things about being a breast cancer patient can feel dehumanizing, but one thing that can change is what patients are given to wear on their chest.
In this episode, we speak with patient advocate Jennifer Schultz and Jessica Mudry, director of the Healthcare User Experience (HUE) Lab at TMU, about applying humanities thinking — like fashion design — when it comes to finding patient-centred solutions to health care challenges.**
In 2018, hackers got hold of TMU alumna Erin MacDonald’s personal information and began a tsunami of purchases — affecting her credit rating and causing profound stress.
In this episode, we speak with Erin about the theft of her identity, along with global information technology leader Claudette McGowan and TMU-based computer scientist Javaid Zahid, who are creating a quantum wallet to better secure our information.
Our award-winning podcast is back for another season! This time we’re exploring human-centred innovation, from designing a post-surgical garment for breast cancer patients to employing robotics to help first responders.
According to TMU's Centre for Urban Energy, by 2030, 80% of the world's population will live in urban areas, so the way we use energy will impact the way we live, work and grow as a community. This has many people – including TMU alumni, looking for alternative modes of transportation.
In this episode, we speak with two alumni entrepreneurs about their pursuit of cleaner transportation options and TMU expert Bilal Farooq about how cities can be designed to reduce emissions produced by cars.
Canadians continue to be divided on bike lanes on city streets. However, research out of TMU shows that after developing protected bike lanes, four in ten users in Toronto were new cyclists. Before this infrastructure existed, these cyclists would have used an alternate means of travel. This is good news for municipalities looking to reduce congestion on city streets.
In this episode, we explore the benefits of building safe cycling infrastructure and some of the issues preventing people from taking up cycling.
For city dwellers, noise is just part of the package – but how noisy is too noisy? Research shows that ongoing exposure to noise can negatively impact your health, leading to conditions like heart disease and diabetes. And according to the United Nations Environment Program – it's also a top environmental risk.
In this episode, we hear from TMU's leading noise expert and a Toronto resident who took resolving the noise issues in her community into her own hands.
Canadian youth are becoming increasingly concerned about the climate change crisis impacting our country and the world. TMU's Leadership Lab is working towards building factual awareness around solutions to the challenge of climate change through a youth-driven initiative known as Generation Climate.
In this episode, we discuss the implications of climate misinformation and the importance of engaging youth.
In 2021 the Standing Strong Task Force provided a list of recommendations for how the university can address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson and forge a new chapter. One of the recommendations was a renaming to reflect our university values better. The process included feedback from over 30,000 people, with over 2,600 name suggestions. In April 2022, the name Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) was announced.
In this episode, we chat with TMU elder Joanne Dallaire, author and journalist Waubgeshig Rice and chair of the University Renaming Advisory Committee, Jennifer Simpson, as we explore the process behind the renaming and the significance of this move for TMU's Indigenous communities.
In Canada and around the world, Black Indigenous and people of colour are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Research has shown that racialized communities in Canada have higher exposure to air pollution and less access to green spaces.
In this episode, we discuss the gaps in the research and the fight for environmental justice in Canada.
Toronto Metropolitan University's award-winning podcast The Forefront is back! This season, we look at how the university is tackling some of the environmental issues impacting Canadians.
In this season of The Forefront, we will explore the role Ryerson University is playing in creating more inclusive, sustainable, and livable cities.
Since 2008, 447 local news outlets in more than 300 communities have shut down across Canada. This includes everything from newspapers to local TV to community radio. School of Journalism Professor April Lindgren has been tracking the trend via The Local News Research Project which tracks changes to local news across the country. Experts say the loss of these outlets will threaten the wellbeing of communities and the functioning of local democracies. What is the future of local news in Canada and how can it be saved?
In Ontario and across the country, hospitals are struggling with a nursing shortage. The issue has prompted the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing to work with the provincial government to provide support to hospitals through a job placement program for students. In this episode, learn more about how students are stepping up to fill this crucial gap in the healthcare system in the midst of a global pandemic.
This year, the university is taking part in the City of Toronto Year of Public Art initiative, with a series of installments and exhibits. One of the installments, ‘The Ring’, is in honour of the Dish With One Spoon Territory, the land on which the university is built. In this episode, host Amanda Cupido chats with lead designer and artist Matthew Hickey about the sculpture’s significance, and how it emerged from the ongoing work of the university’s Truth and Reconciliation Strategic Working Group in collaboration with members of the Indigenous community.
When the pandemic began in March 2020, many people found themselves suddenly trapped at home — with everything from restaurants, to gyms, to playgrounds being shut down. A national survey found that less than 3% of Canadian children and youth were meeting the physical activity guidelines recommended by professionals. In this episode, host Amanda Cupido chats with School of Urban and Regional Planning professor Dr. Raktim Mitra about the impacts of living in downtown environments.
In a multicultural hub like the Greater Toronto Area, what impact do immigrant entrepreneurs and retailers have on the city? Urban and Regional Planning professor Dr. Zhixi Zhuang says the benefits go beyond economic ones and extend into establishing a sense of belonging and ownership for many newcomers and communities. In this episode, host Amanda Cupido chats with Dr. Zhuang and Mohamad Fakih, President and CEO of Paramount Fine Foods about the positive impacts of immigrant businesses.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people move to Toronto, which means the need for housing is not slowing down, however neither is the rising costs. This leads to an increase in the construction of high rises, which are polluting the environment. The solution? The ZEROhouse concept is a 1,100-square-foot stacked townhouse designed to be built on cheap land formerly occupied by one or two-storey buildings in existing neighbourhoods.
Like many events in 2020, Ryerson’s Pow Wow looked a little different this year. The annual student-led initiative typically takes place on campus, but when Covid-19 hit, they were forced to shift the event online. The result? A full virtual experience, consisting of Ryerson Pow Wow Education Week and a live-streamed pre-recorded Pow Wow, with video submissions from dancers and drummers.In this episode, Amanda Cupido speaks with student organizer Jessica Sherk and faculty member and mentor Riley Kucheran about the significance of Pow Wows and the importance of bringing Indigenous culture to the forefront on university campuses.
Ryerson University paved the way for green roofs in urban cities, with its first one— The Andrew and Valerie Pringle Environmental Green Roof, going up in 2004. Since then the city of Toronto was the first city in North America to adopt a bylaw that requires all new buildings with the space, to incorporate green roofs in their design. In this episode, Amanda Cupido speaks with Professor Hitesh Doshi about his role in the creation of Toronto’s Green Roof Bylaw, and visits Ryerson’s Urban Farm to chat with farm manager Arlene Throness.
The sudden emergence of COVID-19 has forced higher education institutions around the world to reevaluate how they will teach their students by looking into the best ways to deliver education online.In this episode, Amanda Cupido speaks with Gary Hepburn, Dean of Ryerson’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, about the challenges brought on by the global pandemic and how online learning can provide a more accessible and flexible learning environment for students.
With technological disruption and automation, climate change, demographic shifts, and, now, a global pandemic – what will the future of work really look like in Canada? In this episode, Amanda Cupido works to answer this question as she sheds light on the projects and programs being implemented by the Future Skills Centre. This includes the $37-million investment made into community-based programs to ensure Canadians from low-income and diverse backgrounds, have the skills they need to succeed in the new economy.
As more and more Canadians digitize their lives, they increase their risk of cyber attacks. This, in turn, has created an increased demand for cybersecurity-related jobs. This is a gap Ryerson is working to close.In this episode, Amanda Cupido sits down with the leaders of Ryerson’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to talk about the program developed in partnership with SANS, a world-leading cybersecurity training and certification firm. The program aims to train individuals from various backgrounds and within underrepresented groups to fill the thousands of vacant jobs that serve to protect more Canadians online.
More than one in six Canadians are now at least 65 years old. Many Canadian families are already juggling the responsibilities of caring for their parents and their own children. The wait lists for long term care are outliving the patients on them. What can be done? In this episode, we’ll speak with Dr. Michael Nicin, Executive Director, Ryerson’s National Institute on Ageing, and Karen Cumming, Journalist, Author of The Indispensable Survival Guide to Ontario's Long-Term Care System, about the realities facing our aging population.
The Forefront showcases how Ryerson is tackling the big issues facing Canadians through bold research, innovation, and collaboration. From cybersecurity to finding solutions to the problems facing our ageing population - The Forefront will shed light on how Ryerson is addressing these issues.