Congratulations to the 2026 Student EDI Research Award Recipients
杏吧原创 has awarded two students funding to support summer research projects related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Established in 2021, the Student EDI Research Awards respond to a specific recommendation in 杏吧原创’s EDI Action Plan and is a landmark recognition for EDI scholarship in Ontario higher education.
The award is funded by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and administered by the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities.
Student recipients present their research to the 杏吧原创 community during the Fall term.
Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients!
M茅lanie M. Brochu
M茅lanie is a Master of Science (MSc) candidate in Biology and a Wolastoqewi researcher from Neqotkuk First Nation in New Brunswick. Her work examines how Indigenous peoples, knowledges, and stewardship are represented, or excluded, in environmental monitoring research.
As the granddaughter of an Indian Day School survivor, her work is deeply tied to her relationships with community and land through practices such as harvesting, fishing, canoeing and ceremony, which shape her understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems as central to long鈥憈erm stewardship. Through the Student EDI Research Award, she is investigating how meaningful Indigenous involvement can strengthen monitoring programs, improve conservation outcomes and support culturally grounded, community鈥慸riven approaches.
Under the supervision of Dr. Vivian Nguyen, M茅lanie aims to develop an interdisciplinary project grounded in Indigenous methodologies with the goal of creating knowledge鈥憇haring outputs that are accessible to both academic and community audiences. Her project contributes to broader conversations about Indigenous governance, stewardship and relationality in environmental research.
Hezel Ulona
Hezel is a fourth鈥憏ear Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management student in the Faculty of Global and Public Affairs. Her project, Reimagining Canadian Multiculturalism, examines how well the Canadian Multiculturalism Act reflects the country鈥檚 contemporary racial, cultural and religious diversity.
As a first鈥慻eneration Nigerian immigrant, Hezel鈥檚 research is shaped by personal experiences of identity, belonging and recognition within Canada鈥檚 multicultural landscape. Through the Student EDI Research Award, she is exploring whether Canada鈥檚 multiculturalism framework continues to support inclusion as intended, using GBA+ and intersectional analysis to assess how the Act has been interpreted and implemented since 1988.
Under the supervision of Dr. Erin Tolly, Hezel hopes to strengthen her independent research skills, apply EDI frameworks in practical policy evaluation and contribute to addressing the underrepresentation of Black scholars, particularly Black women, in public policy research. Her work aims to bring forward perspectives that broaden conversations about identity, inclusion and equity in Canadian policy.
