Canadian Studies Alumni Showcase

Andrea’s journey in politics began with a grade five field trip to Queen’s Park, sparking a lifelong passion for civic engagement and youth involvement. By grade eight, Andrea was a Legislative Page for the Province of Ontario, gaining early exposure to the democratic process. During his high school years, Andrea served as his school board’s Student Trustee, a role that deepened his understanding of government at all levels. Andrea was then inspired to pursue political science at the University of Toronto, graduating with distinction and minoring in Canadian Studies. During his time at UofT, Andrea held various leadership roles in the Woodsworth College Students Association, the University of Toronto Student Union, and the University’s Academic Board. Andrea began his professional journey as an intern for Member of Parliament John Brassard. After graduating in 2021, Andrea joined the office of Education Minister Stephen Lecce, advancing to senior roles. He later became Press Secretary to Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma and now serves as Director of Communications to Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Francophone Affair.

Shadé is an Employment Lawyer and Workplace Investigator at Turnpenney Milne LLP. Prior to joining the firm, she developed her legal expertise at a National full-service firm in Toronto where she maintained a broad litigation practice that focused on complex employment, civil and commercial litigation matters. Shadé has demonstrated experience advising public and private sector clients, particularly Universities, on human rights, discrimination and harassment, wrongful dismissals, breaches of contract and occupational health and safety matters. She has appeared before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Superior Court of Justice.

Shadé received her Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law in 2022. She served as the co-president of the Black Law Students ’Association while in Law School. She received her Honours Bachelor of Arts with high distinction from the University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College in 2019. She double majored in Criminology and Canadian Studies, and minored in Sociology.

Shadé was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2023.

Liam is a PhD Candidate and Course Instructor in the Department of Geography & Planning at the University of Toronto. His research explores resource populism in western Canada, focusing on the history of colonial infrastructure and the development of a resource-dependent economy in Treaty 6 and 7 territories (southern and central Alberta). In his work, he tries to understand how race and gender have influenced the class identity of extractive workers, and how they continue to shape populist mobilizations today. He teaches environmental geography and political economy at the university and has been a Canada Graduate Scholar. His work has been published in journals such as Antipode and Social & Cultural Geography. He is also an active member of the Place and Space Collective and the Vancouver Tenants Union.

Omer Malikyar is a second-year Master of Global Affairs student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, specializing in global security, human rights & global justice, and migration. He holds a double major in Political Science and Canadian Studies from his undergraduate studies. Omer currently works with Jumpstart Refugee Talent, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the economic mobility of refugees. He also leads the State Fragility and Displacement Initiative (SFDI), a research hub at the Munk School focused on issues of state fragility and displacement. Outside of his academic and professional commitments, Omer enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures and environments.

Celia (she/her) is a Community Land Trust Specialist with the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts, where she supports non-profit CLTs with organizational development and affordable housing projects. Celia has a Bachelor of Arts (major in Canadian Studies) and a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto. During her masters, she was a Graduate Fellow with the Institute on Municipal Finance & Governance. Prior to her current role, Celia worked for a social housing provider in London, a university in Paris, and a housing co-operative in Toronto.

Shuò Yáng (pronounced shwoh yahng) studied Canadian Studies at the University of Toronto. He currently works as a fundraising prospect researcher for a healthcare charity in Toronto. In this role, Shuò investigates the net worth, philanthropic interests, and giving histories of potential donors, assisting fundraisers in securing donation.