The University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work marked a decade of its Master of Social Work – Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency program with a reunion in Port Alberni, British Columbia, that brought together 75 graduates from across Canada and the United States. The two-day gathering, held August 1 to 2, 2026, centred on reconnection, shared learning and the alumni network built through the program.
Key facts
- The reunion celebrated the 10th anniversary of the MSW-ITR program.
- It took place August 1 to 2, 2026, at the Kackaamin Family Development Centre in Port Alberni, British Columbia.
- Seventy-five graduates attended from across Canada and the United States.
- Faculty members including Dean Charmaine Williams joined alumni at the event.
- Support from the Fu Hui Education Foundation and the P & L Odette Charitable Foundation helped make the gathering possible.
What does the anniversary mean for current and future MSW-ITR students?
The reunion highlighted how the Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency field of study has become a long-term professional and community network for graduates. Alumni said the program helped prepare them for their work, while faculty and graduates used the anniversary to strengthen relationships, share experiences and reflect on responsibilities carried into the field.
For students in the program, the practical takeaway is that the field of study is supported not only by teaching but also by scholarships and travel funding that help sustain community-building opportunities. The faculty said the Fu Hui Education Foundation has supported a long-standing series of scholarships for MSW-ITR students, and the P & L Odette Charitable Foundation supported the Jane Middelton-Moz Travel and Implementation Fund, which helped fund the reunion.
- Who was involved: MSW-ITR graduates, faculty and program supporters.
- Where: Kackaamin Family Development Centre, Port Alberni, B.C.
- What to note: scholarship and travel support are part of the program’s ecosystem.
- Why it matters: the reunion showed the program’s ongoing alumni connections and community impact.
How did the program’s anniversary gathering unfold?
The event combined celebration with cultural and relational activities. Alumni and faculty took part in conversations about the program’s role in their careers, and the gathering included traditional drumming, traditional dance, a canoe trip on Sproat Lake and a ceremony honouring Dean Charmaine Williams with an honorary blanket for her role in establishing and developing the program.
The faculty also acknowledged Jane Middleton-Moz, Suzanne Goodleaf, Germaine Trudeau-Elliott, Ela Smith and Joanna Vautour for joining the reunion, underscoring the program’s faculty ties as well as its alumni base.
Why was Port Alberni chosen for the reunion?
The article says the reunion was held at the Kackaamin Family Development Centre in Port Alberni, but it does not explain the site selection process. What it does establish is that the location served as the setting for a two-day event designed to bring graduates together to reconnect and strengthen relationships across cohorts.
What support helped bring the reunion together?
Two philanthropic supporters were credited with making the gathering possible. The University of Toronto faculty thanked the Fu Hui Education Foundation for its support of scholarships for MSW-ITR students and for helping make the alumni gathering possible. It also thanked the P & L Odette Charitable Foundation for supporting the Jane Middelton-Moz Travel and Implementation Fund, which provided financial resources for the reunion.
Those contributions suggest that the program’s reach extends beyond the classroom, with external funding helping sustain both student assistance and alumni connection.
Frequently asked questions
When did the reunion take place?
The reunion was held on August 1 to 2, 2026, as part of the program’s 10th-anniversary celebrations.
How many graduates attended?
Seventy-five graduates attended the gathering, coming from across Canada and the United States.
