(Courtesy Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung/Creative Commons)
The founding executive director of Ryerson’s Global Diversity Exchange (GDX), Ratna Omidvar, is among seven new senators appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I’m very proud and humbled by my appointment to the Canadian Senate today,” Omidvar said in a statement today. “As executive director of Ryerson University’s Global Diversity Exchange for the past two years, I’ve learned a lot about the rich diversity of our campus, city, province and country. I hope to bring these perspectives to Ottawa.”
Omidvar is also an adjunct professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM).
The GDX, based out of the TRSM, examines issues related to global migration and diversity. An expert on migration, diversity and the societal inclusion of newcomer Canadians, Omidvar has been a part of the GDX think tank since Sept. 2014.
She was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2005 and became a member of the Order of Canada in 2011, recognized for her advocacy work on behalf of Canadian immigrants. She is chair of Lifeline Syria, an organization that helps Torontonians privately sponsor Syrian refugees.
Other senate appointees include: Peter Harder, Raymonde Gagné, Frances Lankin, André Pratte, Justice Murray Sinclair, and Chantal Petitclerc.
Reporter at The Ryersonian.
