2023 ONE City Scholarship Recipients

The 2023 ONE City Scholars are extraordinary students who live in all different parts of Toronto. They are proud of their neighbourhoods and proud of their identities. They are beacons that shine a light on the essential brilliance and optimism of so many young people in Toronto. ONE City recipients aspire to make their mark in many important fields, including Nursing, Medicine, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Law, Teaching and Social Work. They reflect the essential truth that talented and accomplished young people can be found in all Toronto neighbourhoods. We are lucky to have them in our midst.

2022 Scholarship Recipients

We are pleased to announce our 2022 ONE City recipients. These brilliant, tenacious and inspiring students come from schools all across Toronto, reflecting the truth that remarkable students can be found in all neighbourhoods.

2021 Scholarship Recipients

We are pleased to announce our 2021 ONE City recipients. These brilliant, tenacious and inspiring students come from schools all across Toronto, reflecting the truth that remarkable students can be found in all neighbourhoods.

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$2500 Scholarship

Awwal Abass — Westview Centennial SS

Rafid Al-Islam — Monarch Park CI

Ali Al Salman — CW Jeffrerys CI

Praise Erianamie — Richview CI

Melica Fateh-Kia — Downsview SS

Camryn Foss — CW Jefferys CI

Warda Hashi — Martingrove CI

Ella Laforme — Kapapamahchakwew, Wandering Spirit School

Anisa Omar — Weston CI

Trudyann Powell —  George Harvey CI

Arianne Rull — L'Amoreaux CI

Simran Singh — West Hill CI

Sarah Staniforth — Kapapamahchakwew, Wandering Spirit School

Thushyanthini Aruchunrasa — Parkdale CI

Vivian Ngo — CW Jefferys CI

$500 Bursary

Ibuola Ayanlowo — Downsview SS

Lisa Doan — Etobicoke School of the Arts

Omar Hassan — Jarvis CI

Anraj Soni — Weston Collegiate Institute

Farrukh Sultanov — Northview Heights SS

Breanna Thomas — York Memorial CI

Emmi Vanderkooi — Wexford School of the Arts

2020 Scholarship Recipients

This year’s recipients have all recognized the power of community in finding the strength and wisdom to face what life has thrown at them; this recognition has turned them into givers of support; they have become community builders in ways large and small.

Antonietta Gutierrez, Etobicoke School of the Arts

Attending University of Waterloo, Sociology and Social Development Studies

Antonietta has been finding her strength as she has found her voice. As a musician, a mental health advocate, a director, and as a spoken word artist, she has learned to shed her doubts and trust her passion. Her voice is in the service of others, in honouring the fight for women and girls to have their rightful place in this world, in honouring her mother’s journey from Cambodian genocide, or her father’s journey to build a better life, away from the civil war in El Salvador. Antonietta’s world was shaken to the core when her father was taken from her by cancer when she was 12. How to respond? First, by accepting help, and then by giving back as a volunteer to other youth who have shared terrible loss. Antonietta’s response to tragedy and injustice strengthens us all.

Daiem Mohammad, Jarvis CI

Attending University of Ottawa, History

Daiem, a Youth Editor at University of Toronto’s In:cite journal, wants to become a history teacher, partly because he loves history, but mostly so he can return to other youth the mentorship he has received from his teachers. Daiem knows the dangers of underestimating one’s abilities, or not even recognizing them at all. How do you know what gifts you have might be of value to others? It was a poem he posted on the expectations of masculinity that showed him the power of sharing vulnerability. His words brought comfort to others at his school who he didn’t even know. Daiem works hard for his hard-working parents, immigrants from Bangladesh, but also for those in Regent Park who were taken too early and didn’t get the chance to.

Doga Koroglu, Downsview SS

Attending Ryerson University, Social Work

Doga knows each of us has the choice to give up. She almost made that choice herself when she was in the midst of her gruelling cancer treatment. She didn’t. She didn’t because of the strength and support of her parents, but also the love and dedication of the social workers who were there on her journey. She knows that fighting for life is sometimes not enough and she keeps the memory of her friends who died in her heart. She has found her own strength, taking the risk to share her story with other young people who are embarking on cancer treatment. But cancer doesn’t define Doga; she was always empathetic and kind and observant. When she and her family moved from Turkey, just before her diagnosis, Canada gained.

Laurel Gain, Bloor CI

Attending University of Toronto, Computer Engineering

Laurel is an academically high-achieving student and community leader, providing leadership to youth in her community and her school. She is President of the Warden Hilltop Community Centre Youth Council and the founder of the ‘Girls in STEM’ club at her school. Both of these roles arose out of her own experience of isolation, experiences she did not want for others. She and her family continue to face innumerable challenges associated with immigration, in this case, Bangladesh, but Laurel has found the resilience and drive to not let anything hold her back. She is dedicated to creating safe spaces for those who are marginalized and challenging existing spaces to be welcoming to all.

 Tenisha Noel, Oakwood CI

Attending University of Guelph- Humber, Justice Studies

When Tenisha was young, she may not have known that she was going to become a social justice activist, but when the time came, she would take her experience and enable her and her peers to find their voice. No one is born into this world knowing about racism, but life has a way of letting you know. In grade five a teacher said to her: “You speak and articulate your voice very well for someone of your kind.” Initial confusion led to knowledge and, in recent years, to action. Action includes calling out injustice and celebrating Black lives, but it also means skill development, emotional support and organization. As Tenisha notes wisely: “To be a real leader you have to set goals and not be afraid to take action. Goals are portrayed as if you're taking your last breath, but it’s your next breath that’s vital.”

 Trishanna Williams, Westview Centennial SS

Attending University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce

Trishanna says, “In my community, it isn’t often for students to have the courage to fulfill their dreams. However, my dream is to show this community that dreams are possible.” Honour roll every year, math tutor; career goal: professional accountant. What picture do you have in your head? How about a young woman of colour from Jane-Finch? Trishanna has always been turning expectations on their head, for herself, but for others too. She has fought her own doubts and has used what she has learned from her own experience to help others transform their path. The future can be frightening; your dreams about the future can seem unattainable, but Trishanna shows us that when someone walks beside you good things can happen.

2019 Scholarship Recipients

Our recipients are Abinayaa Parameswaran ( Forest Hill CI);

Bernadine Bartlette (Downsview Secondary School);

Taejah Noble ( CW Jeffreys CI), and

Yusra Habibiy (David and Mary Thomson CI).

ABINAYAA PARAMESWARAN

Abinayaa Parameswaran is a deeply thoughtful student at Forest Hill Collegiate who will be attending Carleton University in Ottawa to study Global and International Studies. Abinayaa is a dedicated Bharathanatyam dancer and gardener, indicating her broad interests and expertise. Fueled by the experiences of her parents, who were not able to pursue their educations, who faced civil war in Sri Lanka and often experienced racism, Abinayaa has developed a strong sense of social justice and the central role for anyone of a good education. She says “Post-secondary studies will be the only way in which I can be at peace with everything my family has gone through for these opportunities in Canada. I have heard my parents talk about their regrets without an education and the closest thing I can get them to that dream of an education is getting a quality education for myself.” Although Abinayaa will tell you that she is just learning how to use her voice to raise issues at school and the community, others would say that she is quickly becoming an expert. Regardless, she always gives credit to others, the true sign of a leader of great promise.

BERNADINE BARTLETTE

Bernadine Bartlette is a determined student who is graduating from Downsview Secondary School and will be attending Sir Wilfred Laurier University in Kitchener to study Political Science. Bernadine has a deep passion for understanding the world and how it works. She writes with subtlety and depth about complex issues. She seeks clarity but not at the cost of oversimplifying. This wisdom of thought comes from recognizing that intellect and emotion, capacity and confidence are inextricably linked. While her engagement with the world is innate to her being, she has had to exercise it vigorously to overcome what life has thrown at her. She has had moments in her life where she wanted to give up, but there is something inside her, a kind of bravery, that will not let her quit. As she would tell you, “It is an insult to the universe to believe you can predict all possible outcomes, and it's an insult to yourself to give up on goals and aspirations because you don't understand how it will happen.”

TAEJAH NOBLE

Taejah Noble is a dynamic community-minded student who is graduating from C. W. Jeffreys Collegiate and will be attending Guelph/Humber University to study Family and Social Services with a minor in Justice Studies. Taejah is a healer, first of herself and then of others. When many of us face extreme challenges, we turn against ourselves in an attempt to manage; Taejah is no different. However, she quickly understood how unproductive that instinct could be. To help herself, Taejah understood she should help others. She is a strong advocate for inspiring people to use their struggles as leverage to be stronger. She believes that we must accept the inevitability of adversity and focus on our capability of determining its impact. Her work as a mentor, a student leader and as a high-achieving academic have brought her high praise from her teachers. Who wouldn’t praise her when Taejah explains, “I must give credit to my barriers as they have shaped me as a person and influenced me to remove those similar obstacles for others in any way that I can.”

YUSRA HABIBIY

Yusra Habibiy is a charismatic, hard-working student who is graduating from David and Mary Thomson Collegiate and will be studying engineering. Born in Toronto after her family fled war in Afghanistan, Yusra has embraced the best of her family’s heritage while absorbing the opportunities that Canada offers. Yusra works hard, not only for herself, but also for what she knows her capacities can do for others. She understands that the privilege to exercise her right to education is not available to many females around the world; she wants to change that by demonstrating that a female engineer can make an impact. Engineering is not just a skill; it is a tool of empowerment, as are the skills of leadership. Yusra’s positivity and energy are infectious and make all around her more ambitious for themselves and their communities. You get a sense of the kind of person Yusra is when she says “I want to demonstrate that Afghan girls can achieve great things, and that our Canadian home is the ideal environment for us to realize our potential, not only for ourselves, but to give back to the society that welcomed us.”

2018: The First ONE City Recipients

ONE City Celebrates Toronto’s Best Good News Story!

2018: The First ONE City Recipients

The ONE City Scholarship Fund is run by educators who want to celebrate the remarkable young people graduating from Toronto high schools, especially those who find a way to overcome major challenges and excel.

As part of our celebration, we are offering this year four scholarships of $2500 to four very deserving young people, who exemplify what is best about Toronto’s youth.

Below, please find the profiles of the four winners of the first ONE City Scholarships. We are so excited to share their stories with you.

We are so lucky to have these fine young people growing up in our city. They have overcome so much and have already made important contributions to their communities. They are shining examples of the thousands of young people who have committed themselves to building positive lives in Toronto, even while they have had to face so many obstacles. Toronto talks about ‘Diversity our strength’, but we can all do more to recognize the vast potential of our young people, especially those who have faced challenging circumstances. In so many instances, they have faced hardship and found in themselves resilience, optimism, and creativity. They embody the key to the best of Toronto’s future.

ONE City Scholarship Fund Fund is administered by Toronto Foundation, a community foundation that enables the philanthropy of individual, families and groups across the city. 

The ONE City Scholarship Fund is supported by Toronto Foundation for Student Success and is led by educators.

Esmat Sahak

Esmat Sahak is an exceptional student who is heading to University of Toronto to study Engineering Science. His teachers at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute are so enthusiastic about him. He is collegial, a mentor to younger students and has a strong social conscience. He sees problems as opportunities, and plans on using his engineering skills to build drones that deliver medicines. His family moved from Afghanistan and settled in Flemingdon Park before he was born here. Esmat and his family have faced the challenges of being new to Canada, but no obstacle has kept him from building towards a life that is full of promise and achievement.

Hajar Seiyad

Hajar Seiyad, who attends Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, has a deep independent streak, and yet she is committed to others. As a child of Sri Lankan immigrants who did not have the benefit of an extended education, Hajar, understands the value of the opportunities she has been given. Her keen observation of others has allowed her to see the great need for positivity and grit among the youth of Flemingdon Park. She has volunteered in many areas of Mental Health and will be studying in this field at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus next year. She has been particularly interested in academic achievement and self-esteem; after volunteering with community tutoring and facilitation initiatives, she has begun her own tutoring service for students six to fifteen.

Naqeeb Barak

Naqeeb Barak, who attends Jarvis Collegiate, is proud he lives in Regent Park. What he has experienced there is a community that is inclusive, supportive and warm. He has used this positive environment to develop his own leadership. He arrived in Toronto at the age of 11 to rejoin his family who had emigrated earlier; he and his family had spent years in Pakistan after fleeing there from Afghanistan, leaving everything they had owned, including the farm that had been in the family for generations. Naqeeb spoke no English when he arrived here. A mere six year later, Naqeeb has seized the opportunities he has been given, become fluent, and immersed himself in organizations that support others: Me to We, Muslim Students Association, Mental Wellness Club, LGBTQ Club, Pathways to Education, Muslim Welfare Centre, Christian Resource Centre. He is planning to pursue a Bachelor of Science.

Nathan Devlin

Nathan Devlin, who attends East York Alternative, has gained admission to OCADU to pursue illustration after a very positive portfolio review earlier this year. Through his art he is committing himself to communicating the experience of LGBTQ teens; he has contributed to three murals for his school and has helped curate, install and promote several art exhibits for at-risk youth at the Gladstone Hotel and XSpace Cultural Centre. Not only is Nathan the first in his family to attend post-secondary, he is also the first in his family to finish high school. He is a poised young man who is embracing the possibilities that await him.