Class Notes

Class Notes

Welcome to Class Notes!

Share news about your growing family, new job or travel adventures and see updates from your old classmates and friends.

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Welcome to Class Notes!

Share news about your growing family, new job or travel adventures and see updates from your old classmates and friends.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Tal-Or Ben-Choreen

Master of Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management, 2012; Fine Arts, 2014
2012 2014 Career and professional The Creative School (formerly the Faculty of Communication and Design)

Tal-Or’s exhibition, Building Icons: Arnold Newman’s Magazine World, 1938–2000, showed at the AGO in 2023–24, then travelled to Museum Hanmi in Seoul, South Korea, in 2024–25. The exhibition, which was co-curated with Sophie Hackett, presents the life and creative career of acclaimed American photographer Arnold Newman, who was known for his compelling portraits of artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Elizabeth Richer

Certificate in Public Administration and Governance, 2006
2006 Career and professional Ted Rogers School of Management

Elizabeth was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2025 in recognition of her dedication to improving Indigenous social services. Elizabeth is director of Niigaaniin Services at Mamaweswen, a tribal council representing seven First Nations on the north shore of Lake Huron. As reported in TorontoMet Today: “Her efforts and dedication in the areas of income assistance, food security, healing, addictions counselling, training and employment have proven that an Indigenous social services model is achievable.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Caroline Pilato

Early Childhood Education, 2005
2005 Career and professional Faculty of Community Services

Elementary school teacher Caroline was the recipient of two Unsung Heroes awards from the Toronto Catholic District School Board for the 2024–25 school year. She has also been nominated for the Prime Minister’s Teaching Excellence Awards. An avid traveller, Caroline has taught in Ontario, South Korea and Australia and visited 30-plus countries over the years. She also enjoys fostering shelter dogs.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Lekan Olawoye

Social Work, 2007
2007 Career and professional Faculty of Community Services

Lekan, who is founder and CEO of Black Professionals in Tech Network and OBSIDI, the job board built for Black tech professionals, was a 2024 Ontario winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The EY Entrepreneur Awards recognize individuals “who are driving Ontario’s prosperity and shaping a brighter future through their innovative businesses.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Leanne Michalofsky

Nursing, 2005
2005 Career and professional Faculty of Community Services

I was a nurse for 35 years and retired in 2015. My area of interest was child and adolescent mental health. I worked for 18 years at SickKids hospital in Toronto. I loved what I did.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Thomas Harrison

Master in Public Policy and Administration, 2007
2007 Career and professional Ted Rogers School of Management

Thomas’ book, Searching for Richard Nixon: Finding Refuge and Making a Home in Prince Edward County, was published in May 2025. The book describes the U.S. vice-president’s secret visit to Picton, Ont., and the Bay of Quinte in 1957. It sheds new light on Nixon’s legacy and links the past with current events, including the election of Donald Trump, while telling Thomas’ personal story as he makes a new home in rural Ontario.

The book cover for Searching for Richard Nixon.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Lea Storry

Journalism, 1997
1997 Career and professional The Creative School (formerly the Faculty of Communication and Design)

This April, Lea launched Speaking ALS: An Anthology. The book is a collection of memoirs, personal essays and non-fiction poems from people living with ALS, as well as those working with and caring for people with ALS. Twenty writers from across North America shared their experiences with the big and little moments stemming from life with this progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Speaking ALS is also a fundraiser, with proceeds going to ALS Canada.

A book cover for Speaking ALS.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Michael Onesi

Business Management, 1994; Journalism, 1996
1994 1996 Career and professional Ted Rogers School of Management The Creative School (formerly the Faculty of Communication and Design)

After a 14-year career at Queen’s University doing media relations and alumni communications, I started a new job in February 2024 as communication specialist with University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. I am writing stories and fundraising letters and emails to support health care in the Kingston, Ont., area.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Daniel O’Kopniak

Architectural Science, 1991
1991 Career and professional Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

My 33-year career in real estate and construction with financial institutions (TD, CIBC, Bank of Montreal and Scotiabank), including my current position as consulting manager of national rebranding for Scotiabank, was made possible with the skills I honed in the classrooms and studio workshops of TMU. During my time at TMU, I created a word game, which finally came to fruition with the launch of Words of HABIT on the App Store in February 2012.

A group of people sit around a table, a few have phones in their hand and are smiling.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Edward Jose

Architectural Science, 1992
1992 Career and professional Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Studio director and partner at Loci Architecture, Edward was recently selected as a winner of Glen-Gery’s inaugural Architect Collaboration Program, an initiative that invited architects, designers and students to submit original designs for custom brick shapes. Along with the other winning designers, Edward was invited to collaborate with Glen-Gery’s research and development team to bring his innovative brick concept, “Curve,” to life. These unique bricks can now be used as the centrepiece of conceptual building projects.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Raymond Cushnie

Architectural Science, 1999
1999 Career and professional Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Raymond is the owner of an architecture firm, JAL Consultants, in Turks and Caicos Islands. Married to Shenequa and father of Ade, Raymond is an elder at Harvest Bible Chapel, past president and current director of Rotary Club of Providenciales and corporate secretary of non-profit Feed Five Hundred.

Posted Mar 26, 2026

Trevor Chittick

Radio and Television Arts, 1996
1996 Career and professional The Creative School (formerly the Faculty of Communication and Design)

After 20 years working for the federal government in Calgary, Trevor moved home to Nova Scotia in 2024 where he set up a book publishing company. Trevor’s first novel (written under the name T.C. Scott) was published in September 2024. White Rabbit: An American Satire is “a political satire that skewers the absurdity of conservative politics.” Trevor also published a middle grade mystery book called The Boy in Mitchell Bay in May 2025. 

Class notes are written and submitted by TMU alumni. While we may make minor edits for clarity and length, we do not verify every detail and are not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.