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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Louise is the co-author of a new children’s picture book, Walking Together, which was written with Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall and illustrated by Emily Kewageshig of Saugeen First Nation. Published by Annick Press, the story is a “poetic, joyful celebration of the lands and waters as spring unfolds. We watch for Robin’s return, listen for Frog’s croaking, and wonder at Maple tree’s gift of sap.” The story braids together the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing, showing how these two perspectives can co-exist peacefully.