Born in Brampton, Ontario, AHI grew up in a traditional West Indian family where music was considered diversionary entertainment rather than a viable career path. And during his self-guided musical learning and travels, he had a spiritual awakening and adopted the name AHI (pronounced “eye”), drawing the letters from his initials (Ahkinoah Habah Izarh) and embracing the double entendre of the word, which also means “brother” in Hebrew.

If you take just one thing from AHI’s music, let it be this: you are not alone.“No matter how low, no matter how defeated you may feel, you’re never really on your own in this world,” he explains. “We’re all connected to each other, and when you find your calling and your purpose and you tap into those connections, beautiful things start to happen.” Prospect, AHI’s extraordinary new album, is proof of that.

CJRU 1280AM is Toronto Metropolitan University’s campus and community multi-media hub. Our station airs a variety of programming from the university, TMU students, the community at large and syndicated programming from community stations across Canada.

Born in Sri Lanka, raised on Prince Edward Island, and based in Ottawa, ON - Amanda Lowe Warnakulasuriya is a queer multidisciplinary folk artist, educator, grant writer, community builder, and event coordinator. She provides professional development opportunities, community engagement, and advocacy support for IBPOC, Queer, and Trans communities, helping them gain equitable access to opportunities and funding - both on and off stage! Currently she is a touring musician, an Associate Program Officer at the Canada Council for the Arts, and the co-chair of Girls+ Rock Ottawa.

Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian Kaïa Kater's jazz-fueled voice and deft songcraft have garnered acclaim from NPR, CBC, Rolling Stone and No Depression. On her JUNO nominated and Polaris Music Prize long-listed album ‘Grenades', Kaïa leans into a wide array of sounds and styles in order to convey a broad range of emotions and topics, most notably her paternal Caribbean ancestry. In 2021, Kaïa took part in the Slaight Music Residency at the Canadian Film Center, released a new single ("Parallels") in October, and composed original music for the CBC/BET+ TV series entitled 'The Porter'. She is currently working on a full length album for release in 2023.

Julian Taylor is a Toronto-based, award-winning independent singer-songwriter, radio host, and label owner. Over 20-plus years as the leader of Staggered Crossing, Julian Taylor Band, and his solo work, Julian established himself as one of Canada’s greatest troubadours. His 2020 LP, The Ridge, earned two Juno Award nominations, a pair of Canadian Folk Music Awards, five Native American Music Award nominations, and a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize. Julian's new album, Beyond the Reservoir, builds on the soul-folk sound and autobiographical themes.
It’s rare in this era to see an artist build slowly and reach a new level of widespread acclaim two decades into their career. But Julian’s ethos, work ethic, and artistry has always had a timeless quality to it. And so, he’s built things slowly in a DIY fashion, withstanding highs and lows along the way, ultimately reaching the peak of his powers with his latest solo work. Fans and critics have noticed, granting Julian the Solo Artist of the Year honour at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (and nomination in the English Songwriter category), plus two Juno Award nominations in 2021, as well as a Polaris Music Prize nomination.

Growing up in Toronto on a combination of soul music, hip-hop, blues, and Americana along with ‘90s alternative, Julian was still a teenager when he co-founded the alt-rock band Staggered Crossing in 1996. Within three years, the band signed a publishing deal with industry icon Frank Davies and a record deal with a major label, Warner Music Canada.

Staggered Crossing’s self-titled debut album was released in 2001 and instantly earned Julian his first hit song. “Further Again,” was one of the most played songs on Canadian rock radio in the early 2000s and remains a signature tune of the era in Julian’s home country. It, along with second single “A Million Works of Art," established Julian and Staggered Crossing as rock artists with infectious pop sensibilities.

Canadian indie-folk artist May Cheung has been active in the New York music scene for the past 12 years. She has graced the stages of Hotel Cafe, American Folk Art Museum, Porch Stomp Festival, Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, The Living Room, The Bitter End, Caffé Vivaldi, Pianos, Drom, Sidewalk Cafe and many more. Her debut album 'The Departure' has been described as “stunning from start to finish” by Huffpost. Most recently, she was featured in The Vancouver Sun for her performance in the world’s largest virtual Asian music festival to date, Joy Ruckus Club.

Ansley Simpson is a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabe musician, artist and member of Alderville First Nation known for poetic lyrics, deeply moving vocal-only performances, and immersive arrangements. The Tkaronto-based musician garnered two Indigneous Music Nominations and won Best New Artist in 2018 for their debut album “Breakwall”. In 2021, their collaborative work on Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s album “Theory of Ice'' landed a coveted place on the shortlist for the Polaris Prize. Ansley’s a natural performer that holds audiences spellbound with story-telling embedded both in and out of their songs. Their songwriting process was featured in an episode of APTN’s Indigenous Music series “Amplify'' for their single “Firewater” and their original score enlivened the powerful message throughout Tanya Talaga’s award-winning documentary “Spirit to Soar''. Ansley’s highly anticipated sophomore album “She Fell from the Sky'' is a journey through Indigenous reclamation out now, on their label Gizhiiwe (GIH jzee way).

Jamaican-Canadian artist, music educator and facilitator Joni NehRita writes songs about unity, hope and social justice, currently calling Waterloo, Ontario home. Joni's recent project, Love & Protest is a concept album that explores the juxtaposition between love being "The Answer" and anger being the fuel to fight for change. It is an electro-acoustic fusion of finely crafted songs sun-drenched in rich vocal textures & Afro-Caribbean/Brazilian rhythms.
A seasoned performer, NehRita known for her ability to touch an audience and leave them feeling changed. Raji Sohal from CBC 3 Montreal may have put it best, “I can attest that in live performance her voice and stage presence are stellar and come off as endearingly natural. Joni had me hollering and cheering like I haven’t at an R&B show in a while.”

This year NehRita releases her 4th full length album, “Love & Protest” which is a marked step further toward global roots/world music but keeps her distinctive gift for writing accessible songs that groove in tact. Love & Protest explores the juxtaposition between love being “the answer” and fire/anger being the fuel to protest, to question, to be the change. The new album finds NehRita switching from keys to guitar as her main instrument and has relies heavily on percussion rhythms found in Caribbean & Brazilian music.

Joni is also a music educator & facilitator who has taught workshops in improvisation, performance & vocal technique at Wilfrid Laurier University, Seneca College, Folk Alliance International, The Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival as well as at countless other schools & community events. In February of 2020 she added TEDxED speaker to her list of professional accomplishments. Joni is also regularly called on to participate on panels about music, race & social justice, for adjudication at music festivals/competitions as well as to host and/or moderate events.

Kejo Kameke Buchanan is a Librarian at the Toronto Reference Library Arts Department that curates folk acoustic sound through Jali Journey on a community radio station, CJRU 1280AM. Also Executive Producer of FolkRecovery.org an oral history project celebrating and archiving BIPOC Canadian folk storytellers available in various accessible formats.

As an Afro-Canadian knowledge sharer and creative of Jamaican heritage her credentials include over 6 years experience in non-profit database management, BA in Humanities, Library Tech diploma and MLIS degree. Travelling between areas of community, creativity, information and nature. Her consistent goal is to merge her information skills and artistry within collectives of community builders, seed planters and those honouring and benefiting from collective healing and change.

A painter, draftsman, graphic designer, filmmaker and photographer, Frank Mayrs (Frank Black Mayrs) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He moved with his family to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1947 and died in Aylmer (now Gatineau), Quebec, where he had lived since the mid 1950s. He was the second oldest member of a family of four brothers (Bill, David and Charles) who all became prominent Canadian artists.

https://www.askart.com/artist/Frank_Black_Mayrs/11196320/Frank_Black_Mayrs.aspx

Johnson gained employment with Kodak in 1948 as a sales and technical representative for the Atlantic provinces. Born in Calgary, but worked out of Truro, Nova Scotia. Before joining Kodak, he spent 10 years in the R.C.A.F. photographic division as an aerial photography instructor. (Source: Kodak Dealer News, Summer 1962)

GREET is a volunteer body which was founded as a result of a need identified by the Learning and Teaching Sub-Committee of Academic Council. It appears that its original members may have been drawn from the Sub-Committee. GREET is comprised of one faculty member from each of the six Ryerson Faculties and the Learning and Teaching Program Director. The latter position was created as a part-time position by the Vice President, Academic, based also on a recommendation by the Council Sub-Committee, and reports through the Vice President, Academic's Office. Both GREET and the Learning and Teaching Program Director (formerly Co-ordinator) work closely together as they share similar goals and concerns. The Chair of GREET receives modest release time to carry out his/her duties; this is funded jointly by the Vice President, Academic and the Learning and Teaching Program Director's budget. *Sandra Radchenko (Applied Chemical and Biological Sciences) appears to have been the first Chair of Greet. As of 1998, Bill Glassman of Psychology was Chair.

The Office/Position of Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator comes under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Vice-President, Academic. It was created as a part-time position based on a recommendation by the Learning and Teaching Sub-Committee of Academic Council. The Committee also recommended the establishment of GREET, a volunteer internal body with which the Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator has worked closely because of shared goals and concerns (the Co-ordinator has been an official member of the GREET committee).

Harold Grant Collingwood was born on August 4, 1909, in Exeter, South Huron, Ontario and died at the age of 87 in May 1996. As a commercial photographer, Collingwood was commissioned by numerous companies namely the Mclean Hunter newsletter and Chatelaine magazine.

David J. Bishop was a Photographic Arts student at Ryerson Institute of Technology. He is the former Director of Corporate Sales with Kodak Canada Inc.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 233 (CUPE 233), proudly represents all custodians, groundskeepers, carpenters, electricians/fire alarm technicians, refrigeration mechanics/gas-fitters, maintenance “B” mechanics, painters, plumbers/gas-fitters, steam-fitters, hvac systems/control mechanics, general maintenance workers, and student helpers.
The local was organized on June 24th 1964, making it the oldest union on campus.

1990 : with the disbandment of the Learning Resources Centre on July 1, the Media Centre reported to the Vice-President Finance and Administration. On August 1, the Media Centre joined the Department of Development, Alumni and Community Relations. John Kentner, Manager of the Centre, reported to Ian Marlatt, Director, Creative Services.
In early 1996, with a realignment of responsibilities in the Development, Alumni and Community Relations area, the graphic and photography functions of the Media Centre were formally consolidated within the Community Relations unit, whereas the remaining audio-visual equipment functions were integrated into Computing and Communications Services (CCS). In December of 1996, the Development, Alumni and Community Relations Department changed its name to the University Advancement Office. Plans were underway to change the name of the Media Centre to Presentation Technology and to renovate and reorganize the physical area currently occupied by the Media Centre in the basement of the Learning Resources Centre.

CCS renamed the Media Centre to Media Services and transferred staff members the newly formed DMP (c.1996). The Digital Media Projects Office began as a joint initiative between Rogers Communication Centre (RCC) and Computing and Communications Services (CCS) to promote digital media usage to faculty for use in classroom teaching. It was originally located within the RCC. Around 2000, the RCC withdrew from the joint DMP initiative and CCS became the sole supporter. At this point, the DMP was moved from the RCC to it's current location in CCS within the Library Building.

Cathy Crowe is a long-time Street Nurse in Toronto. She has worked in the area of homelessness since 1988.
Cathy obtained her diploma in nursing from Toronto General Hospital in 1972, her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Nursing from Ryerson in 1985, and her Masters of Education (Sociology) from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 1992. In 1998 she co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) which declared homelessness a National Disaster. The disaster campaign is a three level campaign targeting federal, provincial and municipal solutions to the homeless disaster and housing crisis. Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit an additional 1% of their budgets to affordable housing.
Cathy has received a number of awards including an International Human Rights Award in Nursing in Amsterdam from the International Centre for Nursing Ethics in 2003 and in 2018 Cathy received the Order of Canada. She has also been the recipient of many honourary degrees: in June 2001 an Honourary Doctor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria in British Columbia; in June, 2005 an Honourary Doctor of Laws from McMaster University in Hamilton; in 2008 an Honourary Doctorate of the University from the University of Ottawa; in June 2010, an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from York University (Canada); in June 2015, an Honourary Doctor of Laws from the University of Windsor; and in 2021 an Honourary Doctor of Laws from the Law Union of Ontario.
From 2004-2009 she was the recipient of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation’s Economic Justice Award and worked both locally and nationally on issues related to homelessness. During her fellowship she authored Dying for a Home: Homeless Activists Speak Out (Between the Lines, 2007). She was the Executive Producer of Home Safe Calgary and Home Safe Toronto, a national documentary film and community development project on homeless families and children, with filmmaker Laura Sky. Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) appointed Cathy Crowe Distinguished Visiting Practitioner in 2013 and she is currently situated in the Faculty of Arts, Politics and Public Administration Department.
At Toronto Metropolitan University Cathy collaborated with the Jack Layton Chair to launch the Jack Layton School for Youth Leadership, and launched Community Health and Social Justice Walks for students from across the University.
Her most recent books include "A Knapsack Full of Dreams. Memoirs of a Street Nurse" (Friesen Press, 2019) and "Displacement City. Fighting for Health and Homes in a Pandemic" (UofT Press with Greg Cook).
More info is available on her website www.cathycrowe.ca

Ken and Joyce Hack (nee Shepherd) were Ryerson students in the early 1950s who met at what was then Ryerson Institute of Technology and later married. Ken graduated from Retail Merchandising (1953) while Joyce from the School of Fashion (1953).

George Swede was a member of the Department of Psychology at Ryerson from 1968 to 2006 (and Chair from 1998 to 2003). He is now Professor Emeritus. During his career at Ryerson, as well as after, he pursued his interests as a creative writer, editor and arts administrator. Some highlights include :

• Co-founder, Haiku Canada in 1977 ;
• Editor, the Canadian Haiku Anthology (Three Trees Press, 1979) ;
• Co-editor, Global Haiku (Brooks Books, 2000) and Erotic Haiku (Black Moss Press, 2017) ;
• Honorary Curator of the American Haiku Archives for 2008-2009 ;
• Elected editor of Frogpond : Journal of the Haiku Society of America, for issues between 2008 and 2012. He and Anita Krumins, a retired Ryerson Communications Professor).were the first Canadian Editors.

George Swede has also published more than 40 collections of poetry, one, Helices (Red Moon Press, 2016), won the 2017 Leroy & Mildred Kanterman Memorial Book Award, First Place for the best collection of haiku ; and a Portuguese/English chapbook, "um mosquito no meu braço" (Francisco Carvalho, translator for Eufeme, 2017).

For more information about George's life, awards, publications and positions go to Wikipedia or to his website at georgeswede.com.

• 1848 :The original "Oakham House" built by famed architect William Thomas as his private residence.
• 1860 : House purchased by John McGee, owner of the Phoenix Foundry in Toronto. The exterior dogs now in Archives & Special Collections, were commissioned by William Thomas and to John McGee who foundry fashioned both dogs. (Note : This John McGee is not a relative of Thomas d'Arcy McGee.)
• 1867 : John McGee died and his widow, Rebecca, continued to live at Oakham House until her death in 1891/2
• 1892 : John A. McGee lives in the house for one year.
• 1983 : Harriet Muirhead moves in and in 1895 opens it as a boarding house (she likely rented from John A. McGee until probably he sold it).
• 1899 : House sold to the Society for Working Boys to be used as a home for disadvantaged boys and called the Working Boys' Home.
• 1958 : Ontario Government, on behalf of Ryerson, purchased the building after the Working Boy's Home moved to Clifton House on Montcrest Street.
• 1960 : Kerr Hall, the Student Union Building of Ryerson Institute of Technology and male residence is officially opened.-
• 1969 : The name of the building is changed to Eric Palin Hall in honour of Eric Palin, one of the original members of RIT and founder of the RTA and Electronics Programs. A formal dedication ceremony was held in October, 1971 and in the same year the Quadrangle Building is renamed to Howard Kerr Hall.
• 1973 : Fire inspection discovers wiring in residential floor as a fire hazard and shuts down the residence.
• 1974 : The Board of Governors approved the conversion of Palin Hall to a community centre.
• 1978 : After several delays, Ryerson's newly-renovated Palin Hall officially re-opened with its original historic name "Oakham House". The renovations were designed by George Kneider Architects. Eric Palin Hall became the name of the Technology Annex at 87 Gerrard Street East.
• 1996 : In July, RYESAC, the Ryerson Student Union, was given control of the daily management of Oakham House by the Palin Foundation, with an emphasis placed on student activities. Major changes included: the elimination of the dining room and Junkyard Cafe; the installation of a new campus pub and coffee house; and office space for the ombudsperson and student groups coordinator. (EYEOPENER 4 Sep 1996 / NIGHT VIEWS Sep 1996). See the histories for the Ryerson Centre and the Palin Foundation for related information.

Gordon Bean had a Bachelor of Arts Degree, as well as a Masters Degree in Advanced Library Science. He began teaching at Ryerson in 1972 in the Library Arts Program. He taught in the program until 1983 when the school ended the program. Gordon joined Continuing Education in 1983 as the Course Coordinator for Applied Arts. He held this position until 1995. While at Ryerson Gordon was a member of the Informatics Committee. After the collapse of the Library Arts Program, the Informatics Committee worked on developing a proposal for an Information Studies program at Ryerson. Gordon Bean passed away May 3, 2023

George Bielmeier, retired member of the Department of Social Work. Died September 9, 2023.

A retired member of the Social Work department. Died April 5, 2023

Dave Upham started at Ryerson in 1981 as an AV technician, and becoming assistant photographer shortly after. In 2010, he became Ryerson's only full-time photographer, He retired in 2014. Dave Upham passed away February 23, 2023.

David Reville has worked on mental health issues for over 40 years as a community activist, a member of the Toronto City Council and Ontario Legislature (1980-1990), special advisor to the Premier (1990-1994), and chair of the Ontario Advocacy Commission. Reville was also a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990 who represented the downtown Toronto riding of Riverdale. In 1996, he established David Reville & Associates (DRA), which specialized in social research and community development.

Reville was an instructor at Ryerson in the School of Disability Studies between 2004 and 2014.

In 2002, Reville was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.

The Library was established, with William Willcox appointed as the Librarian. It was located in two rooms on the ground floor of the Ryerson Hall (Normal School) building and was used mainly for meetings. Its first order of 1,000 volumes of books was placed in 1949. In 1954, Margaret Culp was appointed Head Librarian, with the library collection growing to 7,000 volumes in 1956. Philip McLeod was appointed Head Librarian in 1957. In 1958, the Library Collection grows to 8,000 books and 200 periodicals while small collections of photographic slides and paperbacks are added to the holdings. As well, students were given their first orientation by staff.

In 1960, the fourth Head Librarian appoint is Barbara Knox, and in 1961 the Library issued its first statement of objectives. In 1962, Margaret MacGregor is appointed Head Librarian. In 1963 the Library is relocated to the newly completed Howard Kerr Hall and its collection grows to 15,000 volumes. In 1965, Arthur Paulaitis was appointed Head Librarian. In 1966, the Library moved to the MGM building at the s/w corner of Gould and Victoria Sts, and by 1967 the library had 6 librarians on staff. In 1968 the library moved again to the Business building (later named Victoria Building) on Victoria Street.

In 1971, the Library's first collection development policy is created, and by 1972 it had 90 000 volumes with specialized collections such as periodicals on microfilm and government documents are established. In 1974, the Library is renamed the Learning Resources Centre and John North is appointed as its new Director, replacing Arthur Paulaitis, and the Donald Mordell Learning Resources Centre is officially opened on the site of the old MGM building. In 1976, the Ryerson Archives, established in 1971, becomes affiliated with the Library and in 1977 two new special collections are established within the Library - the Energy Centre and the Third World Learning Resources Centre. In 1979, the Ryerson Library becomes the first library in North America to operate its circulation on the DOBIS/LIBIS on-line computer system.

In 1990, Richard Malinski is appointed Chief Librarian, replacing John North.

The Library grew to include the Law Library and in time the School of Medicine library and, thus, in 2023 the name was changed from Library to Libraries.

C. Julian Smith attend Ryerson Institute of Technology, graduation in 1952 with a diploma in Printing Management. He served as coach of the Ryerson Rams hockey team in 1950-51 and, the following year, captained the team to the championship of the Minor College Hockey League. Julian also played for the Regina Pats and Quebec Aces and attained a Level 4 ranking in the National Coaching Certification Program.

The School of Graduate Studies was formed in 1998, with its first 2 programs being launched in 2000. In 2010 the school changed it name to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies in honour of former Dean Dr. Maurice Yeates (2002-2010). In February of 2024 the school was renamed again, adding on Postdoctoral Studies, to highlight the importance of post doctoral fellows contribution to Scholarly research at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

David Street was a contracted photographer for Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now TMU) capturing events and scenes around campus between the years ca. 1973 to 1992.

Peter Di Gangi is a land rights researcher and analyst with Sicani Research. He has worked with Indigenous communities across Canada with a focus on historical, legal and cultural research. His experience includes working on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Assembly of First Nations, and a variety of associations, tribal councils and First Nations in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. He was the Director of Policy and Research, Algonquin Nation Secretariat and an Advisory Board Member at Yellowhead Institute (2018-2020).

Ethel A DeMings was member of the faculty of Institutional Management program at Ryerson Institute of Technology. The program would eventually evolve in the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. DeMings retired in 1972 as the director of Home Economics and passed away in 1998.

Centre for Entrepreneurship opened in January 1988 under the direction of Business Professor Raymond Kao. It was one of six set up by the provincial government to "champion entrepreneurship and innovation." Each Centre received $150,000 in government funding annually in a four-year arrangement. Renamed Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Research in Fall of 1992 under the direction of Pro. David Schlanger. The centre closed in June of 1996.