The Business School - Business Connected - Winter 2025 Edition

The

Business School

BUSINESS

CONNECTED

WINTER 2025

Paralegal mooting competition winners

collect inaugural Centennial Cup

BUSINESS CONNECTED | WINTER 2025

Contents

Featured Articles

06

Teaching, Learning &

Scholarship

07 Celebrating CCLP graduates!

09 Research paper presented by

——-Business School Alumni at ——

——-JSAC Conference 2024

10 Feature Article: “Exploring ——

——-Financial Inclusion and Gender

——-Equality with My Oral Village”

17 Supporting communities in need

——- around the world in partnership

——-with Action Against Hunger

Career Ready

06 Paralegal mooting competition

——-winners collect inaugural ———

——-Centennial Cup

08 Industry Events

11 Industry in the classroom

12 IPG Mediabrands Canada ——

——-Hosts Digital Engagement ——

——-Programs

13 Experiential Learning: Taking —

——learning off-site

10

18 Winter Clothing Drive for ———

——-students

21 Our degree in the next steps!

25 Faculty and Staff Awards and —

——-Recognition

28 Faculty Research Spotlight: —

——-Digital Engagement Strategy —

——-Professor Presents at Danish

——-Institution

Operational Effectiveness

16 Feature Article: “Ontario Council

——- for International Cooperation’s

——-Dialogue on Indo-Pacific ———

——-Strategy”

19 Collaborating for the Future —

——-Workforce Partner Appreciation

——-Event

20 Marketing Research and ———

——-Analytics student recognized for

——-exceptional work with ————

——-WIMTACH’s Mindful Garden —

——-Project

17

13

21 TBS Support Staff and ————

——-Coordinator Updates

22 Business School Update - ——

——-Program Strategy

23 Centennial’s New Learning ——

——-Management System Luminate

Connected

04 Dean’s Message

27 Kicking off the academic year

29 Festive fun!

30 Volunteering in the Community:

——-Feed Scarborough

32 In Memoriam: Dr. Edward Perry

Land

Acknowledgement

Centennial College is proud to be a part of a rich history of education in this

province and in this city. We acknowledge that we are on the treaty lands and

territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and pay tribute to their

legacy and the legacy of all First Peoples of Canada, as we strengthen ties with

the communities we serve and build the future through learning and through

our graduates.

Today the traditional meeting place of Toronto is still home to many Indigenous

People from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to

work in the communities that have grown in the treaty lands of the Mississaugas.

We acknowledge that we are all treaty people and accept our responsibility to

honour all our relations.

Dean’s Message

Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of

Business Connected

As we reflect on this past year, it’s

clear that 2025 has brought

significant challenges, many

stemming from external factors

beyond our college’s control.

Immigration, Refugees, and

Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policy

changes have had a profound

impact on our financial stability and

our ability to serve our communities.

As you know from my previous

communications, our school has

faced the reduction of 16 programs,

a substantial decline in international

enrollment, and fewer available

course sections for faculty.

It’s been a lot. I want you to know

that your management team, in

collaboration with faculty, is doing its

best to navigate these challenges. I

even traveled to Parliament Hill to

advocate with politicians concerning

the value of business education and

to highlight the real damage these

policy changes will cause.

The passion and commitment you

bring to the classroom are evident in

every edition of Business

Connected. It serves as a record of

the remarkable accomplishments of

our faculty and students—proof of

your resilience, adaptability, and

dedication to teaching excellence.

The passion that The Business

School team brings to our students

each day continues to shape the

future of our institution.

As we move forward, developing

new programs to attract future

students, I am confident that our

faculty’s industry-driven knowledge

and expertise will uphold the highest

standards of teaching and learning.

This edition of Business Connected

is a testament to that. Across all

disciplines, faculty and students

have engaged in industry networking

and experiential learning

opportunities that enrich our

academic environment.

In this issue, you will read about our

paralegal students making history by

winning the inaugural Centennial

Mooting Competition Cup. Our

Fashion Business and Management

students once again delivered an

outstanding sourcing and logistics

project. Our commitment to equity

and inclusion is exemplified by

student journalist Sabihya Subedi’s

powerful essay on financial inclusion

and gender equality.

On the support staff side, we

celebrate our editor and my

assistant, Holly Main, who was

honoured with the Board of

Governors Award of Excellence for

Distinguished Support Staff—

Congratulations, Holly!

Additionally, this issue features a

Business School update on our

program strategy, including the

launch of exciting new programs in

Agribusiness Management,

Accounting and Computer Systems,

International Transportation,

Cybersecurity - Leadership and

Management, Knowledge Systems

and Governance, and Healthcare

Unit Management—all designed to

meet emerging industry needs and

future job market demands. These

programs represent key areas of

growth for our college. As

demonstrated by the success of our

new Occupational Health and Safety

program—which saw an

unprecedented enrollment of over

200 students in Winter 2025—

aligning our offerings with federal

CIP codes is critical to attracting

students.

Lastly, we say goodbye to a dear

colleague, Dr. Edward Perry, who

tragically passed away in the fall of

2024. He will be deeply missed by

everyone in The Business School.

We are a community. We are strong.

And together, we will forge an

exciting path forward.

Barry O’Brien

Dean, The Business School

BUSINESS CONNECTED WINTER 2025 | 4

Career Ready

Bring on the Competitions!

Lions MOOT Cup 2024

In Summer 2024, Centennial Paralegal students took part in the

Lions Moot Cup 2024, located at York University Osgood Hall

Law School. Our team of students displayed outstanding

advocacy skills and we are incredibly proud of all their efforts.

Cheers to students Aaysha Wani, Johnathan Stavrou, Ashley

Collins, Mark Tipold, Shania Francis, and Prethevi Jayarajan

who took part in their first-ever competition. Thank you to student

Minauti Shah, who although ineligible to compete nonetheless

volunteered her time to help her peers, as well as Professors JP

Rodrigues, Justin Rochester, and Dante Spadacini, Centennial

Law Association, Associate Dean Jennifer Northcote for all your

support to our students. Special thank you to Margaret Waddell

and her firm for your support in sponsoring our teams to give them

this unique opportunity to enhance their advocacy skills.

Enactus Innovates for Impact

On July 24, 2024, teams of Centennial students took part in

the Enactus Innovate for Impact event at Progress Campus.

Teams presented their ideas, aligned with the sustainable

development goals, to a panel of judges who provided the students

with valuable feedback to help them advance their initiatives.

Thank you to Business School Professors Adriana Carrillo, Robin

Yipp and Associate Dean Brian Atkinson for taking part in the

panel and thank you to Professor Byron Tobar for your support to

the team and in this event.

Innovative fashion businesses pitch Dragons’ Den style

In December 2024, students from The Business School’s Fashion Business and

Management program pitched their business ideas to a panel of industry

leaders. In their 3rd semester capstone course, students spent the semester

researching market trends to identify a new business opportunity. Congratulations

to the winning group Iris Yang, Precious Shittu, Louise Liu, Hana Eisses and

Ossieta Browne and their business Solaire, an apparel brand that offers both

heating and cooling technology in the same garment, which captured the most

interest from the panel of judges. Thank you to our panel members Colette

Liburd, Lady of Leisure, Summer Ruddock-Ellis, 4YE Media, Professor Jason

Beaulieu, and Associate Dean Steven Khan for all your support.

5 | BUSINESS CONNECTED WINTER 2025

Career Ready

Paralegal mooting competition

winners collect inaugural

Centennial Cup

Centennial College held its very first Centennial Cup event on

October 26 and 27, 2024, billed as a "mooting" or mock trial

competition involving our Paralegal students. Fourteen teams

competed over the weekend, arguing appeals in front of Crown

counsel, defence counsel, adjudicators and legal professionals from

the community, as well as faculty members. The appeal was based

on rights to be free from arbitrary detention and unreasonable search

and seizure under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The final round was a very close decision. Congratulations go to our

winners, Courtney Sinclair and Jonah Kearns, and the runners-up

Frances Phan and Erin McFayden. Top Oralist honours went to

Tiana Campbell. The winning team will share $1,000 and a

guaranteed work placement.

The competition was organized by the Centennial Law Association,

faculty members Justin Rochester, JP Rodrigues and Dante

Spadacini, and Jennifer Northcote, Associate Dean at The

Business School. In addition to Centennial faculty, the judges

included Selwyn Pieters, Omar Ha-Redeye, Latania Dryer, David

Reeve, Cassandra Harvey, Ashifa Alibhai, Deniz Sarakiya, Ren

Tong, Katalin Kirec, Oscar Gomes and Demetra Dimokopoulos.

Posted on Centennial Central - October 30, 2024

Top Photo from left to right: Omar Ha-Redeye, JP Rodrigues, Courtney Sinclair, Jonah

Kearns, Justin Rochester, Demetra Dimokopoulos and Katalin Kirec.

“Thanks go out to all the participants for their

hard work and exceptional performances, and

to Justin Rochester and JP Rodrigues for not

only helping to organize, but also for coaching the

teams in preparation for the competition. A

special thank you to the faculty and legal

professionals who sacrificed their weekends to

support our students and contribute to a very

special event.”

Jennifer Northcote

Associate Dean, Centre for Legal & Administrative Studies


Teaching, Learning & Scholarship

Celebrating Student Success

Celebrating CCLP graduates!

In September 2024, the newest CCLP (CITT-Certified Logistics Professional)

graduates were celebrated at the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation

(CITT) 2024 Ontario CCLP Certification Celebration. This presented 10 students of

Supply Chain Management post-grad students an amazing opportunity to network with

industry professionals within the CITT community. Thank you to all the CITT members

who took the time to connect with our students and offer them valuable insight into the

industry and networking. Cheers to our students who showed the initiative and

ambition stepping out of their comfort zone to participate in the event. We truly hope

this leads to some amazing opportunities. A big thank you to Professors Steve

Bishop, Vickie McInnis, Kelly Xinjue Hou and Ramon Calanza, for helping to make

attending this event possible for the students. Also, a special thank you to the CITT for

organizing a wonderful evening. Congratulations to all our graduates!

Celebrating paralegal

licensees

On November 12, 2024, Centennial

Paralegal faculty were honoured to

celebrate Centennial Paralegal

students' licensure at the Law Society

Paralegal Reception. Way to go,

Paralegal students! Welcome to the

legal profession.

TBS Sock Project winning design 2024

Second semester Fashion Business and Management students

competed with one another to manufacture branded socks for The

Business School. Students researched and

negotiated with vendors from all over the world to

ensure their socks could be made with the highest

quality on time and budget. The program once again

partnered with the Graphic Design students at Story

Arts campus to design the artwork for their socks.

Congratulations to the winning team: Daniel Santana

Sotelo, Louise Huan, Iris Huiming, Kuldeep Singh,

and Jobanpreet Singh. Winning artwork designed by

Juliana Tino. Special thank you to Professor Pamela

Richards for all your support on this project.


Career Ready

Industry Events

Business Bytes: Bridging talent and industry for

our students

With the success of the Winter 2024 Business Bytes event,

The Business School’s Business and Management

department hosted "Business Bytes: Bridging Talent and

Industry" Summer and Fall 2024 at Progress Campus. These

events provided Business and Management students valuable

insights into the job market.

On October 28, 2024, the event connected students with three

association partners of the college, featuring representatives

from the: Canadian Institute of Management (CIM), Human

Resources Professional Association (HRPA) and National

Payroll Institute. This panel of industry experts shared skills to

help prepare students for career readiness. This event also

included a panel of Business, Human Resources and Project

Management alumni shared their post-graduation experience

and career journey.

On July 3, 2024, the event featured keynote by industry guest

and TBS Program Advisory Committee Member David Song,

Vice President and Branch Director at Robert Half, who shared

key trends in the Canadian job market. A panel of three Talent

Acquisition professionals—Zina Khan, Paul Leckey, and

Souri Zaman—also provided practical advice on making your

resume stand out and effective networking strategies. Almost

100 students took part in person and approximately 200

students attended virtually. Thank you Professor Katie

Bannon who hosted the event and Professor Rathika

Sitsabaiesan who moderated the panel.

Thank you to everyone who helped organize and support these

events, including Professors Katie Bannon, Rathika

Sitsabaiesan, Joan Rempel, Alyssa Muzaffar, Bob Xourafas,

Colin Ramdeen, Abrahim Farah-Neto, Beverly Bannon, Kerri

Shields, and Sheldon Shiewitz, as well as Department Assistant

Camille Jimenez and Associate Dean Brian Atkinson.

Freight Forwarder - Dangerous Goods Event

On October 30, 2024, Global Logistics and Freight

Forwarding students from The Business School engaged

with industry leaders at a special career hack event. Guest

speakers Arnon Melo, Peter Hawkins, and Katrina Monette

explored the "Three O’s"—Options, Opportunities, and Obstacles—

in logistics and international trade careers. Arnon Melo, President

of MELLOHAWK Logistics, shared his experience, while Peter

Hawkins, co-owner of MELLOHAWK, discussed career

opportunities and overcoming job market barriers. Katrina Monette,

owner of Dangerous Goods Packing Services, provided insights

into the dangerous goods industry. This event offered students

from International Business, Global Business Management, and

Supply Chain programs a unique opportunity to learn from

professionals with deep expertise in logistics, supply chain

management, and dangerous goods handling. Thank you to

Professor Mauro Spies for organizing this event each year.

Revitalize & Resonate: Elevating Global Marketing

On November 27, 2024, The Business School hosted the

Global Strategies for Modern Market Success event at

Progress Campus, bringing together experts in global

marketing. Guest speakers Marvin Hough, President of MIRA,

Mandi Paquin-Johnson, Strategic Operations and Learning

Leader, and Megan McCartney, CEO of Wilim Media House,

shared invaluable insights into cultural intelligence, operational


Career Ready

(continued from page 8)

efficiency, and maintaining creative excellence during economic

shifts. Attendees gained practical strategies for building resilient

global brands, mastering international marketing, and adapting to

challenges in the global economy. This event provided a unique

opportunity to enhance skills and thrive in an ever-changing

market. Thank you to Professor Holly Kaiser for your help in

organizing this event.

shared their experience, advice and lessons learned including how

fintech and innovation is being used at Alterna. The students were

able to ask questions and were provided tips including being

persistent and unique when following up. For many students, this

was eye opening to hear first-hand about credit unions. Thank you

to our guest speakers for sharing their time and knowledge and

thank you to Professors Tracey Bissett and Lyle Van Every for

your help in making these arrangements.

Enactus Meet & Greet 2024

Class Visit and industry panel from Alterna

Savings

On October 7, 2024, students from The Business School’s

Fintech courses were joined by a panel of industry guests

from Alterna including Rhonda Nicholls, Scarborough

Branch Manager, Karyn Smith, Mortgage Advisor, and Michael

Chumakov, Director of Wealth Management. The panellists

September 25, 2024, students from Enactus Centennial

College were joined by Eric MacPhee, Manager Programs

for Enactus Canada in Fireside Gallery, Progress Campus.

Eric welcomed new members to Enactus Centennial and provided

the team with a comprehensive understanding of the organization.

The event fostered an engaging and enjoyable environment

through networking opportunities, entertainment, and sharing

information about future events and opportunities.

Research paper presented by

Business School Alumni at JSAC

Conference 2024

The Business School would like to congratulate Human

Resources Management alumni, Nabeel Al Jahan, on his

paper titled, "The Connection Between Japanese and Bengali

Scripts: A Shared Heritage in Brahmi Lipi" which was accepted for

presentation at the annual conference of the Japan Studies

Association of Canada (JSAC). The conference was held at the

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) from October 24 to 27,

2024. This paper is related to Nabeel’s Master's program, which he

completed at the Department of Japanese Studies, University of

Dhaka. During his time there, Nabeel developed a deep interest in

the linguistic and cultural connections between Japanese and

Bengali scripts. His research focuses on his shared heritage in the

Brahmi script and how this connection highlights profound cultural

exchanges.

“I am deeply grateful for the support and

knowledge I have gained through the Post

Graduate Certificate in Human Resources

Management program at Centennial College. The

skills and insights I have acquired here have been

invaluable in enhancing my academic and

professional journey.”

Nabeel Al Jahan

Alumni, Human Resources Management program


Featured Article

Exploring Financial Inclusion and Gender

Equality with My Oral Village

On November 12, 2024,

students from Centennial

College’s International

Development program had the unique

opportunity to engage with

distinguished speakers from My Oral

Village (MOV): Brett Matthews,

Executive Director and Founder;

Roheena Ali Shah, Gender and

Poverty Manager; and David Myhre,

Director for Partnerships and Co-

Founder. This enriching session was

skillfully organized by Dr. Vida

Shehada, Program Coordinator of the

International Development at The

Business School, bridging our

academic journey with practical,

transformative insights.

The session introduced us to the

innovative concept of Oral

Information Management (OIM),

which focuses on financial inclusion

for oral adults—individuals with

limited literacy or numeracy skills.

Brett Matthews shed light on MOV's

efforts to equip such communities

with structured financial tools that

enable them to manage finances and

business records effectively. This

approach not only fosters autonomy

but also builds resilience in the face

of economic and environmental

challenges.

David Myhre provided an overview of

MOV's initiatives, emphasizing how

their work intersects with pressing

global issues like climate adaptation

and poverty alleviation. His insights

painted a vivid picture of how

targeted interventions can empower

vulnerable communities to achieve

greater financial stability.

A highlight of the session was

Roheena Ali Shah’s inspiring

presentation on her MPhil research

and the Calendar and Cash Project.

This initiative, deeply rooted in

understanding the intersections of

gender, disability, poverty, and

sustainable development, seeks to

help vulnerable households better

manage their resources. Roheena’s

passionate discussion underscored

how addressing systemic barriers can

transform lives, especially for

marginalized groups.

The session concluded with an

engaging Q&A segment, where we

explored how classroom theories on

development translate into tangible

real-world impact. It was a compelling

reminder of how our studies in gender

equality, financial inclusion, and

poverty reduction are actively shaping

initiatives that create meaningful

change.

This experience has been a profound

opportunity to witness how the

principles we study—localization,

inclusivity, and sustainability—are

applied by changemakers like MOV. It

reaffirmed the importance of

innovative, community-driven

solutions in tackling global

challenges.

A heartfelt thank you to Brett,

Roheena, and David for sharing their

expertise and inspiring us, and to Dr.

Vida Shehada for curating such a

remarkable learning experience.

Opportunities like these ignite our

passion for development and

motivate us to contribute meaningfully

to the sector.

Article by Sabhya Subedi

International Development student

and Journalist


Industry in the classroom

The Business School welcomes guest speakers into the

classroom each semester to share their industry

knowledge with our students. Below are a few highlights,

thank you to Professors Sandy Di Felice, Vida Shehada, and

Maggie Zeng who organized these industry guests.

BA 720 class welcomes lululemon strategic insights leader

Lululemon’s strategic insights and foresight leader,

Courtney Lawrence, marked her 8th anniversary in her

role by joining The Business School’s BA 720 Analytic

Insights class in Summer 2024. Zooming from

Vancouver, she discussed how design-thinking,

qualitative research, and customer-centric design are

central to her position. She inspired students by linking data analytics roles

to The Business School’s Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and

Insights. Courtney also highlighted how she uses ethnographic practices,

foresight, and cultural scanning to shape long-term business strategies,

including product, brand, and retail growth. Her talk successfully bridged

classroom learning with real-world business applications.

Guest Speaker from Plan International Canada

On June 20, 2024, Nadine Grant, Plan International

Canada, Vice President, International Programs and

Business Development and TBS PAC Member, joined

Professor Vida Shehada and her International

Development students to wrap up the course on “gender

and development”. Nadine discussed the

Transformative approach to gender equality and Plan’s

Theory of Change of several programs. Thank you, Nadine, for sharing all

your time and industry knowledge.

Guest Speakers in our Financial Inclusion &

Entrepreneurship course (INTD 727)

Niamh O’Sullivan, Manager of Social Enterprise and Networks at Buy

Social Canada (buysocialcanada.com) and Carolyn Burns, member of the

Executive Committee of CAFIID (Canada Forum for Impact Investment and

Development) spoke to students of INTD 727 this Fall semester. The

speakers highlighted important topics and new trends on social enterprise,

blended finance and impact investment, such as gender lens investing in

Canada and globally. Both speakers’ presentations were very well received,

especially the Question & Answer portion, where students had direct

interactions with the practitioners and asked them specific questions for

their continued learning and exploration for their career opportunities. We

can explore potential collaboration with these two organizations and their

members, as both organizations are important networks of social

enterprises and impact investment companies/ organizations.

Driving Stakeholder Understanding and Ethical Business

Practices

This Fall 2024, the MGMT 703 Ethics and

Stakeholder Management class attended the

guest lecture by David Adams, President

and CEO of the Global Automakers of Canada.

During his talk, David discussed how the Canadian

auto sector collaborates with its key stakeholder –

the government – in developing industry public policy leadership. Using a 5-

P framework – principles, practice, place, pricing, perseverance – David

amplified how ethical business practices command an unwavering level of

integrity and discipline. The 14-weeks of MGMT 703 encourage students to

explore contemporary ethical issues and their influences on management

practices and decision-making. With the considerable number of

announcements from the federal and provincial governments to build new

battery and manufacturing capacity in Canada, David’s lecture was welltimed.

Students were very engaged during the Q+A session that formed

part of this interactive class.

Student feedback:

“....David brought a practical lens with which to view the

complexity of maintaining ethical integrity in relation to

organizational goals and the expectations of society. His

approach focused on the importance of transparency and open

communication with stakeholders -a theme that was well-supported in

the core of the course....”.

Insights into International Development: A Session with

Peter Timmerman

Excerpt from article by Sabhya Subedi

International Development student and Journalist

On November 26, 2024, Centennial College’s International Development

students had the privilege of attending an inspiring session with Peter

Timmerman, the Evaluative and Organizational Learning Lead at CODE

(Canadian Organization for Development Through Education). This

insightful event explored the practical realities, challenges, and

opportunities in the field of international development. With over 25 years of

experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, Peter began by sharing his professional

journey. From managing large community development programs to

navigating partnerships across sectors, his career highlights underscored

the importance of adaptability, cultural understanding, and innovative

thinking. This session was a valuable opportunity for students to connect

theoretical concepts with practice. Themes such as localization, power

dynamics, and community-driven development were brought to life through

Peter’s experiences. It reminded us that the essence of international

development lies in collaboration, empathy, and a commitment to justice.

Our sincere thanks to Professor Dr. Vida Shehada for organizing this

impactful session and to Peter Timmerman for sharing his wealth of

knowledge. His passion for promoting education and empowering

communities has left a lasting impression on all who attended.


Career Ready

Networking with Industry

Strategic Industry Partnership: IPG Mediabrands

Canada Hosts Digital Engagement Programs

In December 2024, The Business School forged stronger industry connections as

IPG Mediabrands Canada hosted students from our Digital Engagement Strategy

and Advertising & Marketing Communications Management programs for an

innovative networking event at their downtown Toronto headquarters. This strategic

engagement opportunity exemplified our commitment to bridging academic theory with

industry practice.

The event featured a distinguished panel of Centennial alumni, including Yashita

Mamtora Atmaram (Associate of Communications Design, Initiative) and Tyrell

Kolenski (Digital Marketing Coordinator, The Tenex Group), who shared valuable

industry insights and career development strategies with current students. Special

recognition goes to Nikki Seaton, Director of Learning and Development at Initiative,

for her instrumental role in facilitating this corporate partnership.

This collaboration demonstrates the growing influence of our digital marketing

programs and highlights the success of our experiential learning initiatives. The strong

alumni turnout and their willingness to mentor current students reflects the enduring

value of a Centennial education and the strength of our professional network.

Conference Connections

The Insurance Broker’s Association

of Ontario (IBAO) continues to

support students in the Insurance

Management Program, through various

sponsored programs. In October,

students were invited to attend the

Insurance Brokers’ Association of Ontario

(IBAO) Next Gen Talent Expo and

Conference. Students had the

opportunity to attend a portion of the

conference, including a job fair and trade

show. The conference also allowed

students a chance to network with

industry professionals and to explore

careers in insurance broking.

Connecting with Alumni and Industry Professionals: SCM & IBM Networking Event

The Business School’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) and

International Business Management (IBM) students had the amazing

opportunity to network and learn from some of Centennial's best SCM

and IBM alumni and Program Advisory Committee (PAC) members at the

Global Networking Social event hosted by Centennial College’s Hospitality

students. It was the inaugural student/alumni networking event for SCM

students and it was a fantastic evening of fun activities, good food and

drink, and awesome company. Many thanks to Professors Steve Bishop,

Vickie McInnis, and Melissa Jimeno for organizing the event. It was very

much appreciated that SCM and IBM alumni and PAC members took time

out of their busy lives to join us for the event. The insights, advice and great

conversations shared with current SCM and IBM students was invaluable

and will give these students many advantages in their lives as they begin

their respected employment searches.

Pictured: Melissa Jimeno, Faculty and Program Coordinator, International

Business Management program cluster with attending IBM students.


Career Ready

Experiential Learning

Taking learning off-site...

At The Business School, learning extends off campus,

providing students with opportunities to see real-world

examples of what they are learning in class. Check out

some of the offsite visits and tours that took place last

semester. Thank you to our faculty who bring these

valuable opportunities to our students.

Picture perfect hands-on experience

In October 2024, The Business School’s Fashion Business &

Management students got an exclusive look behind the scenes

at a professional product photography studio, guided by

photographer Luis Albuquerque. They gained hands-on

experience in both the creative and technical aspects of

eCommerce photography, learning how to bring product images to

life. This immersive session bridged the gap between classroom

theory and industry practice, equipping students with practical, indemand

skills sought after by employers. Thank you to Luis for

sharing his industry knowledge and to Helene, our gracious

hostess, for making our students feel welcome. Thank you as well

to Professors Pamela Richards and Shawna Whish for making

this opportunity possible. More work by Luis Albuquerque can be

found at www.luisalbuquerque.com.

eStar Tour for our Fashion students

Our FBMT 305 Sustainable & Ethical Manufacturing class

toured sewing facilities of eStar International, one of top

sewing facilities for Canada Goose. The tour began in the

showroom, where Yudi Chen, Director of Operations and Elaine,

Production Manager, Canada Goose explained the many different

brands and production arms of eStar. We began the tour at the

loading docks where fabric is received and verified, to staging

area for fabric storage. From there we toured fabric spreading

process and watched a demonstration of automated cutting via

Gerber's Paragon Cutter. Then, onto bundling station where

pattern pieces are bundled together by size, dye lot and

progressive bundling system for Canada Goose complex

production. From there, the skilled workers demonstrated

automated quilt pocket sewing, proceeding next to huge down

filling machines where down is fluffed and then each quilt pocket

is filled to a specific weight and sewn shut. Students watched

sewing production step by step until end line trimming, cleaning,

inspection then finally - packing. We also toured multiple

embroidery machine section and sublimation printing for eStar

private brand in sporting goods.

Career Ready

FBMT305 - Roopa Knitting / Dye

House Tour

On October 9, 2024, our FBMT 305 Sustainable & Ethical

Manufacturing class toured facilities of Roopa Knitting

Mills Ltd, one of Canada’s only “state of the art” knitting

facilities. The tour began in the showroom, viewing many

different cut and sew knit fabric qualities, while the owner Amit

Thakkar, explained the differences. We examined various yarn

sizes and fibers, and reviewed fabrics through a piece glass –

a magnifying glass used for thread count. From there we

toured the circular knitting facility, where Amit demonstrated

how the machines work, various needle configurations

resulting in multiple fabric qualities, fabric in actual production

and final inspection. We also toured Canadian Textile Services

Dye House, where fabric rolls are sewn together, washed, then

dyed and finished. Thank you, Professor Sharon Pope, for

organizing this amazing experience.

Transportation 101 Bootcamp Field Trips

In September and November 2024, two groups of Supply Chain Management

students had the opportunity to attend two Transportation 101 Bootcamps, one

specifically for women and one for everyone. The events were hosted by the

Toronto Business Development Centre and proved to be a valuable experience for all

students who attended. The guest speakers provided inspiring messages for the next

generation of logistics industry professionals. Although the logistics industry

landscape has changed from a male-dominated industry, women entering the industry

still face additional challenges and hearing about how the guest speakers overcame

these challenges provided a positive and encouraging outlook for the students at the

female-oriented event. At both events, the students had the opportunity to network

with companies such as Challenger Motor Freight, Musket Transport, Erb Transport

and GFL, among others. The students also had the opportunity to try out a virtual

reality truck driving simulation. Both events were a huge success. Thank you to

Professors Steve Bishop and Ramon Calanza who accompanied the group.

Good Neighbours Canada (GNC) - A field trip

On December 5, 2024, students of the International

Development program at Centennial College, had the

pleasure of visiting Good Neighbours Canada. The visit

gave us the opportunity to be widely exposed to our field of

study and gain hands-on practical experience. During this visit,

Executive Director Hyang Cho provided us with a lovely

presentation on the various development projects and

initiatives they are involved in with the support of Global Affairs

Canada, highlighting the organization’s role in fostering

sustainable development.

By Mike Karanja, International Development Student

Additionally, Sasiaro Daniella Nyam, a Co-op student at GNC

and a graduate of the International Development Program at

Centennial, shared her professional experiences working with

the organization, offering valuable insights into her seamless

transition from college to the job market. This engagement,

organized by Dr. Vida Shehada, contributed to our academic

growth by deepening our understanding of effective project

design and implementation while inspiring us to pursue

excellence as future leaders in the discipline.


Career Ready

Career ready curriculum

Student Experiential Learning Project

Astudent team from the MGMT325 Leading Innovation course, fall

2024, engaged in an opportunity to work with a real business to

complete an innovative project. Applying through the Careers and

Co-op Office, Roma Santos-Butler from the Centennial WIL Work-

Integrated Learning program and the Hong Fook Mental Health

Association requested a student team that could collaborate with the

association on its “Fall Prevention” campaign which targets the senior

population and provides learning and information on many health topics.

The Association requested game-based learning. The students used

Kahoot and built several different games customized to the client’s

requirements with a focus on Home and Environment Safety, Healthy

Habits and Physical Health, and Safe Movement and Use of Assistive

Devices. The students worked with staff from the Association to create

various versions of the games in multiple languages (specifically, Korean,

Mandarin, Cantonese, and English).

Hong Fook Mental Health Association

used the Kahoot games during their inperson

session on November 1, 2024,

and have plans to provide their clients

with links to the Kahoot games so they

may play and learn from home.

#HIRED

The Business School would

like to congratulate Financial

Planning alumni, Chirag

Paresh Sheth, on his new

position as Wealth Management

Associate at Scotiabank.

“The Business School

provided an exceptional learning

experience. The dedicated

professors and well-rounded

curriculum gave me the tools and

confidence to succeed in the financial

industry and help me secure a

position at one of the Big 5 banks. I’m

grateful to be part of a community

that inspires growth and supports

every step of the journey."

- Chirag Paresh Sheth

Financial Planning Alumni

The Shop goes omnichannel

Paralegal students ready for the courtroom

Paralegal students in their final semester participated in mock trials

as a capstone project in their advocacy class this summer, July

2024. The project involved preparing the trial from start to finish.

The final step was actually conducting the trial in Centennial College's

court room.

In December 2024, student from The

Business School’s Fashion Business and

Management program presented their

strategy to bring The Shop online. The Shop is a

pop-up retail space at Progress Campus open

for one week every April. In their eCommerce

Platforms course, students spent the fall 2024

semester building a Shopify website for The

Shop. The website will launch during the winter

semester to help support the physical retail

space, with profits going to the Ka-naadmaadmi

Bursary. Thank you to Professor Shawna Whish

for guiding students through this project. A

special thanks to our panel members: Seán

Kinsella, Director 8th Fire, Jarret Leaman,

Professor in TBS, and Business School PAC

Members Anna Care, Mejuri, and Carly De La

Courneuve, Joe Fresh.


Career Ready

Ontario Council for International Cooperation’s Dialogue

on Indo-Pacific Strategy

On October 30, 2024, Ontario Council

for International Cooperation (OCIC)

held Indo-Pacific Strategy at

Centennial College, which brought together

advocates, experts, and policymakers to

discuss Canada's development involvement

in the region. In addition to highlighting the

necessity of fair opportunities for women in

leadership, peacebuilding, and sustainability,

the conversations also underlined the

significance of robust collaborations and

innovative approaches for environmental

leadership and disaster management. In

order to remove obstacles women encounter,

promoting inclusive development, and

leveraging on women's contributions,

advocates noted the critical role that

grassroots organizations and genderresponsive

policies play. These disclosures

strengthened the Indo-Pacific Strategy's

dedication to resilience and equitable growth,

providing a strong basis for a future report on

the event's core outcomes. Many students

from the International Development Program

volunteered in this event.

Here is a link to the event

https://ocic.on.ca/reflections-andrecommendations-from-the-dialogue-on-cana

das-indo-pacific-strategy-by-yagiz-boran/

Article by Yagiz Boran

International Development Student and

OCIC Youth Policy-Makers Hub Member

Need help with your job search?

The Career Services and Co-operative Education Department provides support

and guidance to all students and alumni with their career planning and job search

goals. We also offer an Optional Co-op Program for many Business programs.

OUR KEY SERVICES

ExperienceCentennial – Resource & Job Portal

ExperienceCentennial is your one-stop shop for all your job search and career

planning needs. View job postings, download tip sheets, register for events

and job fairs, and book appointments here.

Log-in to ExperienceCentennial to begin accessing our resources and

services.

Advising Appointments

Schedule an Employment Advising appointment with one of our Employment

Advisors or attend our weekly drop-ins with a Peer Career Coach to support

you with career planning, resumes, cover letters, interview preparation, and

more. Book your virtual or in-person appointment today on

ExperienceCentennial.

CareerSTART Webinar Series

Join us to learn practical tips and get answers to your questions about

resumes, interviews, job search, networking and a variety of other careerrelated

topics. View our upcoming CareerSTART webinars and sign-up via the

Career Events calendar on ExperienceCentennial.

Online Tools

• Ten Thousand Coffees – network with alumni and employers virtually

• Big Interview – practice your interview skills virtually and get AI feedback

• Devant – explore resources supporting international students in

enhancing their job search

• Career Success Guide – teach yourself how to job search with our selfdirected

guide

Details can be found on ExperienceCentennial > Job Search Resources >

Online Tools.

Upcoming Hiring Events

We are continuously hosting employers on-campus and virtually as well as

planning various other hiring initiatives. Ensure you are always checking our

Experience Centennial Hiring & Events Calendar to stay up to date!

Follow us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter for updates, and stay tuned to the

ExperienceCentennial calendar for other upcoming hiring events!

Contact Us

Experience.centennialcollege.ca | careerservices@centennialcollege.ca

Centennialcollege.ca/career-services | 416-289-5233



Learning that gives back

Supporting communities in need around the world in

partnership with Action Against Hunger

This Fall 2024, The Business School’s Corporate

Sustainability students launched a fundraising campaign in

support Action Against Hunger Canada, in an effort to

eliminate hunger and malnutrition in Kenya. The campaign raised

funds that will go towards providing children suffering from

hunger and malnutrition their basic food and nutrition needs.

Through their efforts, our students raised $3,700 for this cause.

A big congrats to our students and thank you to Professor

Natalie Chinsam for her support in this campaign.

“Over 3.5 million people in

Kenya -mostly women and

children- are suffering from

severe malnutrition due to food

insecurity, poverty, extreme flooding

and unequal distribution of wealth”

Learn more about Action Against Hunger by visiting:

www.actionagainsthunger.org

$3,700

raised for

Action Against

Hunger

Progress Restoration: Planting & Litter Cleanup Event

On October 2, 2024, The Business School’s

Sustainability Class and Centennial Community

participated in the Progress Restoration:

Planting & Litter Cleanup Event. Through this

restoration project, a neglected former daycare play

area on the south side of A-Block at Progress Campus

was revitalized with the support of the City of Toronto

Greening Partnerships Grant. The space is now a

vibrant gathering place for the community to relax,

study, or connect. Volunteers planted native species

trees, shrubs, and perennials while also collecting 85

pounds of litter during the cleanup. Special thanks to

Professor Natalie Chinsam and the Centennial

Sustainability department for organizing this event!



Winter Clothing Drive for students

This winter, The Business School Success Advisors and Operations Team

collaborated with faculty and students in the Fashion Business & Management

Program to organize a Winter Clothing Drive for our students. This initiative

creates a Work-Integrated Learning Opportunity whereby students get real-world

experience in e-commerce, marketing, and community engagement, enhancing their

educational journey. Additionally, the project aims to provide our College Community

support as all revenue generated from the e-commerce platform will be donated to the

CCSAI Food Bank to further help Centennial College students in need.

Our Fashion Business Management students played a vital role in coordinating and

photographing all the donations. Their efforts allowed us to share a preview of the

available items with students in the invitations they received—a thoughtful touch that

made a big difference.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s TBS Winter Clothing Drive!

Thanks to your generous donations, over 100 students were able to select 1-2 warm

clothing items each.

A heartfelt thank you as well to everyone who helped support this initiative, including:

Success Advisors Shadya Abdulrahim, Nadia Kangal, Sonia Sims, Mabel Liu,

Racine Senining, and Saida Mohamed, FBMT Professor Shawna Whish, as well as

Navisha Patel, Galuh Savitri, Holly Main, Jennifer Walker, and Operations

Manager Nicole Koss whose dedication and hard work made the day a success.

Holiday Helpers giving back

Students from the Supply Chain Management post-graduate program attended a

gift-wrapping event in Mississauga hosted by Holiday Helpers, a charitable

organization that provides families in need with clothing, housewares and

Christmas presents for the whole family. The event was a wonderful opportunity for

the students to give back to their community and to help the families enjoy the

holidays. The event was in conjunction with the CITT Toronto Area Council, a

significant supporter of the cause through participation in the event by CITT

community members. Kudos to the students for volunteering and thank you to

Professor Steve Bishop for your help in organizing this opportunity.

Did you know?

Since November 2023, The Business School has been collecting used plastic writing tools to help divert waste

from landfills. Through a program in partnership with Staples Canada, TerraCycle recovers used markers and

pens to create sturdy plastics for furniture, playgrounds and packaging. In 2024, The Business School diverted

about 5.5kg (12 pounds) of plastic from the landfill. Thank you all who make use of the collection bin, set up in

the TBS Kitchen, and special thank you to Professor Elizabeth Williams for all her work in this initiative.


Career Ready

Industry Partners

Collaborating for the Future Workforce

Partner Appreciation Event

On October 23, 2024, Centennial College hosted the Partner Appreciation

Awards and Celebration: Collaborating for the Future Workforce event at the

Centennial College Event Centre. The evening was dedicated to appreciating

and recognizing Centennial’s incredible partners.

The event highlights and celebrates the transformative impact of our

partnership and collaborations, honors those who exemplify partnership

excellence, and showcases successful alliances. Special congrats to The

Business School’s industry partner, Rita Samaha, University Health Network

(UHN), who was awarded the New Partner Award at the event. We would also

like to congratulate TBS industry partners who received award nominations at

the event, including: Kubes Navaratnam, Nava Wilson, LLP, Natalie Fung,

Scarborough Health Network (SHN), Stephen McDermott, CIFFA, and Nick

Henderson, dentsu. This recognition is a testament to the significant impact

your partnership has had on our community.

Thank you, SOLV, for organizing this event and to all our industry partners

who provide so much support to our students and out programs.

Top: Rita Samaha, Internship Coordinator, UHN, accepts the New Partner Award on

behalf of the University Health Network. Bottom: Rita Samaha, UHN, participating in

event panel “Strategic Partnerships for Workforce Innovation”.

Photo credits: Mike Tjioe Photography - www.miketjioe.ca

Welcoming our new PAC Members

Program Advisory Committees (PAC) provide an essential link between Centennial College and the

community they serve. PAC members inform programming with respect to industry trends and thus any

changes in skill and knowledge requirements, keeping curriculum aligned with industry needs. The

Business School has over 200 PAC Members. We are excited to welcome our new PAC Members below!

Find out more

about PACs at

Centennial

by clicking

HERE

Amila Akbar

BMO Private Wealth

Director & Assistant

Market Leader

Michelle Baillie

BFL Canada

Client Service Assistant

Andria De Cesare

Ministry of the Attorney

General

Recruitment Supervisor

Carly De La

Courneuve

Joe Fresh

Sr. Director, Merchandise

Planning & Allocation

Ledia Dervishaj

Scotiabank

Manager – Trade

Finance Operations

Rob Gnaedinger

Forum for International

Trade Training (FITT)

Director, Training and

Academic Relations

Anetta Kleinert

HR Consulting

Senior Total Rewards

Consultant

Crystal Mackay

Director Member

Experience Retail

Alterna Savings

Khawar Nasim

Invest Ontario

Vice President of

Business Development

Richard Payne

Richard Payne, Barrister

and Solicitor

Lawyer

Aishwarya Ramesh

Babu

HR.com

Researcher & Editor

Deborah Veska

Desjardins Financial

Security Independent

Network (Ontario

Central)

Director of Sales

Aristoteles

Zervopoulos

Export Development

Canada (EDC)

Senior Risk Manager,

ESG Advisor


Career Ready

• Silvia Baptista

International Business

Management Degree Ad

Hoc PAC since 2021

• Leesa Butler

Fashion Business &

Management PAC since

2015

• Marnai Cimolai

Insurance Management

PAC since 2022

• Christine Claveria

Legal PAC since 2023

• Oryst Dydynsky


PAC since 2010

Retiring PAC Members

Thank you to our retiring Program Advisory Committee Members for all the

support they have provided to The Business School and our students over the

past years, including:

• Ashley Espinola


• Daniella Gan

Accounting PAC since

2019

• Alison Goldman

Business Administration-

Leadership &

Management PAC since

2023

• Barbara Lambert


PAC since 2022

• Kristy McKenna

Financial Services PAC

since 2020

• Allecia Miller


PAC since 2021

• Rosy Nadalin-

Kennedy


since 2015

• Alanna Parsan


since 2019

• Barbara Riddell


since 2019

• Athursh Vaithilingam


• Ray Williams


Centennial College Insurance

Field Placement featured by

ORIMS

We are happy to share,

our field placement and

insurance program

received some very

positive promotion in the

May 2024 edition of The

Pulse, Ontario Risk and


Society (ORIMS) risk

management quarterly

newsletter.

Read the full article “Centennial College

workplace program helps students find their

path into insurance, risk management’ (page

22-23) at:

www.pulse.ontariorims.org/pulse-may-2024/

Marketing Research and Analytics student recognized for exceptional work with

WIMTACH’s Mindful Garden Project

Delirium is a serious medical condition that, when

diagnosed early, can be reversed. Catherine

Winckler, founder of MindfulGarden Digital

Health, was inspired by her late mother’s

misdiagnosed delirium to create a nonpharmacological

tool for managing

hospital-acquired delirium. MindfulGarden, now a

Class 1 medical device, reduces the need for

drugs and restraints in hospitals, especially in

ICU settings where delirium affects up to 70% of

patients. Through a partnership with WIMTACH,

the company aims to enhance its platform and

expand its marketing reach with the help of

Student Researcher Oluwafunto Oloyede,

Business School student, who received special

recognition as noted in the WIMTACH article,

posted July 19, 2024:

Especially pleased with the work of Student

Researcher Oluwafunto Oloyede, a student

in Centennial College’s Marketing Research

and Analytics program, Winckler noted that

this work and the work of the rest of the

team exceeded expectations. The Company

has relied on WIMTACH to identify hospitals

and key contacts who are involved in

prioritizing delirium management in patient

care management. The research work of the

WIMTACH team helped Winckler’s team get

a snapshot of current delirium reduction

strategies of top 12 hospitals in the Greater

Toronto and Hamilton area with aims to

eventually use that information to prepare

for market entry initiatives in the Fall. “We

now feel better prepared to take this

invaluable research and start making our

connections,” she said. “[This] research is

actually going to help us to reach out to the

right people to make our case for earlystage

evaluations, saving us so much time

on our go-to-market roadmap.”

Cheers to Oluwafunto on your valuable

contributions to the MindfulGarden project and

this recognition. Special thank you to Professor

Jennifer Tilk for all her involvement in this

WIMTACH project as well.

Read the full article “WIMTACH partners with

MindfulGarden Digital Health to improve the way

delirium is managed” by visiting:

https://wimtach.centennialcollege.ca/wimtachpartners-with-mindfulgarden-digital-health-to-impr

ove-the-way-delirium-is-managed/

Oluwafunto Oloyede

Student, Marketing Research and

Analytics program



Program Updates

Our degree in the next steps! The Honours Bachelor Business

Administration - International Business Management

The Honours Bachelor of Business Administration –

International Business Management (HBBA-IBM) had its 2-

day virtual site visit on September 10 & 11, 2024. The site

visit included two external reviewers and a representative from the

Post Secondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).

The reviewers met with Senior Administration from the academic

division and student services areas, as well as faculty, students,

and program advisory committee members.

In the Reviewers Report from the degree site visit, The Business

School received some incredible feedback. Highlights include:

“It is the view of this panel that the proposed program meets

each of PEQAB’s prescribed benchmarks and standards”

“No significant remedial actions were identified during the

review process nor are there any recommended conditions of

consent.”

This has been a monumental task with incredible efforts from

faculty and our Academic Excellence and Program Quality Team. A

huge thank you and congrats to our degree team for your countless

hours and dedication to this exceptional program. Melissa Jimeno,

Trevor Preston, Debbie Mohammed, Julie Nguyen and Jim

McVittie, this degree is because you! Thank you to all other

Business School faculty, students, and PAC Members who took part

in the site visit as well to Heather Raikou and Gina Marshall. We

are now in the final stages of review from the Ministry and we look

forward to sharing more updates in the near future with you all.

Support Staff Updates

These past few months, The Business School has said

farewell to a few members of our support team: In July 2024,

Success Advisor Rasha Mardini left TBS and moved back to

Qatar to be closer to family. We also said goodbye to Success

Advisor Chagla Tok accepted an opportunity at the School of

Community and Health, effective November 25, 2024. Most

recently, Field Placement Officer Maricar Traballo accepted a

position outside of the college, with her last day on January 3,

2025, as well as Acting Senior Finance Officer Shelly-Ann

Ramsingh accepted a position outside of the college, which she

began in January 2025. Shelly-Ann will continue to support the

school on a part-time basis for January and help bridge the gap

until Betty Liu returns from parental leave on February 3, 2024.

It has truly been a pleasure working with Rasha, Chagla, Maricar,

and Shelly-Ann and you all will be missed! We wish you much

success in the next chapter ahead.

Program Coordinator Updates

We would like to welcome new Program Coordinators:

Preiti Momaya (Occupational Health and Safety

Management, effective July 17, 2024), Holly Kaiser

(Marketing Diploma Programs, effective July 29, 2024) and Dr.

Resmi Ann Thomas (Marketing Research & Analytics Program,

effective August 26, 2024). A big thank you to past Program

Coordinators: Professors Ana Caracaleanu (Marketing) and

Patrick Smith (Marketing Research & Analytics Program) for all

their hard work in these roles.

Rasha Mardini

Success Advisor

Farewell!

Shelly-Ann

Ramsingh

Senior Financial

Officer

Farewell!

Chagla Tok

Success Advisor

Farewell!

Maricar

Traballo

Field Placement

Officer

Farewell!

Preiti Momaya

Program

Coordinator

Welcome!

Holly Kaiser

Program

Coordinator

Welcome!

Dr. Resmi Ann

Thomas

Program

Coordinator

Welcome!



Business School Update - Program Strategy

In 2024, the Immigration,

Refugees and Citizenship

Canada (IRCC) implemented

dramatic policy changes to its

International Student Program.

Some of these restrictions include

Study Permit Caps for 2024 and

2025, limiting the number of

international students allowed to

enter Canada, and updates to the

Post-Graduation Work Permit

(PGWP) Program. Starting

November 1, 2024, graduates from

public colleges will only qualify for

a Post-Graduation Work Permit

(PGWP) if they have studied in

fields related to occupations with

labor shortages (immigration.ca).

Only programs aligned with

designated Classification of

Instructional Programs (CIP) are

eligible for PGWP.

With these changes, many

Business School programs no

longer qualify for PGWP which

dramatically impacts our

enrolment and the viability of many

programs across TBS.

The importance of CIP code

alignment can be seen in the

launch of our new Occupational

Health and Safety Management

Program in Winter 2025, approved

for PGWP. This program originally

projected an intake of one section,

has 188 students enrolled as of

January 13, 2025.

The Business School program

strategy is focused on navigating

through this very difficult time for

our School, developing new

programs that align with our

Business School current

compliment, that are CIP Code

aligned. New programs currently in

development include:

• Knowledge Systems and

Governance

• Agribusiness Management

• International Transportation

• Cybersecurity - Leadership

and Management

• Accounting and Computer

Systems

• Healthcare Unit Management

We aim to launch these new

programs in Winter 2026. Thank

you to everyone who has been

working on program development.

The IRCC policy changes have

dramatically impacted our usually

offering of TBS Programs. We will

continue to adjust to keep our

program offerings viable. We will

keep you informed of more details

along the way.

Knowledge Systems and Governance

Agribusiness Management

International Transportation

Cybersecurity - Leadership and

Management

Accounting and Computer Systems

Healthcare Unit Management



Centennial’s New Learning Management System Luminate

In September 2024, the College began its transition from eCentennial to our

new Learning Management System (LMS), Luminate. In preparation of this

transition, The Business School held sessions dedicated to the new LMS at

our Fall Kick-off event (page 27 of this publication). Throughout the Fall semester

our TBS Luminate Champions Professors Vida Barker, Scott Tanaka, Kaitlin

Ladha, and Amanda Miller, provided support, resources, information and

guidance to assist faculty with migration along the way. Starting Winter 2025, all

teaching and learning is supported by Centennial Luminate. Thank you to all our

champions, as well as Associate Dean Jennifer Northcote and the CFDTI Team

for all your continuous support! We are very grateful for their help throughout this

transition. We appreciate everyone’s hard work moving to the new LMS!

Our New Student Portal

As we transitioned from eCentennial to the new LMS, The Business School’s

Student Portal found a new home as well. The student portal is now accessed

through Sharepoint site, with a link found on the MyCentennial landing page.

Thank you Navisha Patel for all her work in building the new site.

Some key features available on the portal include:

• Getting Started Student Checklist

• Student Success Guide: Includes departmental information, success tips,

communication strategies, instructions on understanding model routes,

college policies, grading system, student life, and IT services.

• Key Contacts: CALCS, International Services, Library Services, Financial

Aid, and Enrolment Services.

• Supports and Resources: PLAR, grade appeal process, important dates,

health and wellness resources, and the Online Learning Toolkit.

• Access to CASS (Centennial Access to Student Services)

• Degree Audit Student Guide

• Field Placement Portal

• Success Advisor Pages

o Program Model Route Access

o Appointment Booking: Schedule online or in-person meetings with

your advisor.

CFDTI provides training and

support

The Luminate Support Team

luminate@centennialcollege.ca

BlackBoard help for instructors

https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra

Centennial Help Videos

https://www.centennialcollege.ca/aboutcentennial/centres-and-institutes/centre-for-faculty-d

evelopment-and-teaching-innovation/migrating-fromecentennial-to-luminate

Additional Resources:

Getting Ready for Winter 2025:

• eCentennial / Luminate "Cheat Sheet" (Word doc)

• Getting Ready for Winter 2025 (presentation

slides) (PDF file)

• Getting Started with Luminate (Word doc)

Important Reminder

Faculty access to eCentennial ends on February

28, 2025.

And New Faculty & Staff Portal

on its way too!

Heads up!... Our Business School Faculty

and Staff Portal will also be relocating to a

new site on Sharepoint as well! More

information will be coming soon!



Scholarly Activities

Faculty at Toronto Global Forum

“The Toronto Global Forum was launched in 2006 and gathers

international thought leaders across business, government and

civil society to discuss the major challenges, and subsequent

opportunities, the world economy is facing today. As countries and

industries seek ways to enhance environmental and economic

resilience and foster societal development, the conference

explores and debates these topics through an international lens,

spanning topics including AI, Marketing, Geo-Politics, finance,

energy, natural resources, infrastructure and healthcare. The

event acts as a platform where organisations and institutions can

connect with a focus on potential partnerships, investment

opportunities and future collaboration.” -Professor Tulsi Dharel

Retail Council of Canada Conference

On September 12, 2024, Professors Ana Caracaleanu, Past

Program Coordinator of the Marketing Diploma, and Pamela

Richards, Program Coordinator of Fashion Business &

Management, and Associate Dean Steven Khan took part in the Retail

Council of Canada (RCC) conference at the Delta Hotel by Marriott

Toronto. The RCC conference is a leading industry event for retail and

marketing, offering a variety of sessions including: Mastering the

Customer Experience Economy, The Influence of Gen Alpha, AI-

Powered Personalization, Multicultural Market Growth, The Future of

Physical Retail, and Brand Identity and Differentiation Strategies.

Learn more at: rccretailmarketing.ca

TBS Professor judge for CMA Awards

Professor Tulsi Dharel was selected

by the Canadian Marketing

Association as a multi-disciplinary

judge for this year’s CMA Awards. Tulsi

was responsible for reviewing the best in

Canadian Marketing alongside leading

marketing professionals in Canada.

Other Highlights:

• CMA recently released Tulsi’s podcast.

Listen HERE.

Sip, Shop & Celebrate

On November 21, 2024, members of the Centre for

Legal and Administrative Studies department took part

in the 10th annual Sip, Shop & Celebrate event,

hosted by the Scarborough Women of Philanthropy, at

the Centennial College Event Centre. The event

raised funds in support of Scarborough Health

Network (SHN), helping to enhance healthcare for our

hospitals in our community. Learn more at

www.shnfoundation.ca



Recognition & Achievements

Professor Tulsi Dharel

recognized with “King Charles

III Coronation Medal”

The Business School would like to congratulate Professor

Tulsi Dharel who was awarded the “King Charles III

Coronation Medal” in recognition of his dedication to

promoting Multiculturalism and leadership within the Canadian

Multicultural Council (CMC).

Tulsi would like to extend his sincere appreciation to the

political and cultural leaders who nominated him for this

esteemed honor.

Professor Anita Agarwal Nominated for the 2024 Premier’s Award

The Business School would like to

congratulate Professor Anita

Agarwal who was one of seven

outstanding alumni to be nominated for the

2024 Premier’s Awards — an annual event

run by Colleges Ontario that celebrates the

incredible achievements of college

graduates from across the province. The

winners were formally announced on

November 25, 2024, at the Sheraton Centre

Toronto Hotel.

“I would like to express my heartfelt

gratitude to Centennial College for the

honor of being nominated for the

Premier's Award. This recognition is not just

a personal achievement, but a testament to

the incredible community and support that

Centennial provides to its students and

alumni. Centennial College has always

been at the forefront of education, fostering

an environment that encourages innovation

and excellence. The dedication of the

faculty and staff, along with the vibrant

student body, creates a unique atmosphere

that empowers individuals to pursue their

passions and make meaningful

contributions to society. I truly believe that I

would not have acquired the real-world

skills I needed to succeed in business had I

not attended the e-commerce program at

Centennial in 2001.

Being recognized alongside other

distinguished nominees is truly humbling. I

am inspired by the stories of my fellow

alumni who have made significant impacts

in their respective fields, showcasing the

diverse talents nurtured at Centennial. This

nomination serves as a reminder of the

importance of education in shaping our

futures and the role we can play in uplifting

our communities. Thank you once again,

Centennial College, for this incredible

honor. I look forward to continuing to

represent our institution and inspiring future

generations to reach their full potential.

In addition to the Premier's Award

nomination, in September of 2024, Anita

also won the "Awards of Excellence" as

"Gemstone Jewellery Designer of the Year"

and "Manufacturer of the year".



Holly Main receives Board of Governors’ Award of

Excellence for Distinguished Support Staff

The Business School would like to congratulate Holly

Main, Administrative Support Officer (The Dean’s

Office), on receiving the 2024 Board of Governors'

Award of Excellence for Distinguished Support Staff.

“Each year, Centennial College’s Board of Governors

recognizes the exceptional work carried out by people and

teams throughout the college. This year, recipients were

honoured at a special awards reception on December 12,

2024, at Centennial College’s Event Centre. The committee

was thoroughly impressed by the dedication, innovation and

excellence demonstrated by all the nominees, and it was

truly inspiring to see the caliber of work being recognized.

Our 2024 award winners demonstrated outstanding talent,

perseverance and hard work, earning them well-deserved

recognition and inspiring us to strive for excellence in our

pursuits. Each winner’s contributions to the College are

deeply valued and appreciated.”

More information and full list of award recipients available at

centennialcollege.ca

Professor Rick Atkinson named a Fellow of

Distinguished Financial Services (FDFS) for a

second year by the Knowledge Bureau

The Business School would like

to congratulate Professor Rick

Atkinson who was named a

Fellow of Distinguished Financial

Services (FDFS) for a second year

by the Knowledge Bureau.

“These Distinguished Fellows are

honored for their distinguished

services as influential thought

leaders, who have demonstrated a

commitment to the noble cause of

teaching and writing by engaging

others in the high standards of

knowledge they share. In doing so,

they have also demonstrated an

extraordinary commitment to shaping

the future of the tax, accounting and

financial services industries.”

Learn more at

learn.knowledgebureau.com

Celebrating 20-year

industry milestone


congratulate Professor Steve

Bishop on his 20-year milestone

with Canadian Institute of Traffic and

Transportation (CITT). Steve worked

with the CITT organization for

approximately 18 years

as a facilitator and

course developer

and the team at

CITT and was

recognized the

CITT 2024

Ontario CCLP

Certification

Celebration.


Connected

Kicking off the academic year

On August 26, 2024, The Business School hosted its annual

Fall Kick-Off event, held in-person at the Centennial

College Event Centre. We had an exciting agenda, with

remarks by Dr. Craig Stephenson, President & CEO, Centennial

College, Dean’s Welcome by Barry O’Brien, Dean, The Business

School, and sessions dedicated to Luminate – Centennial’s new

Learning Management System (LMS). The Luminate sessions

provided the first steps as we transition to Centennial’s new LMS.

Thank you to Associate Dean Jennifer Northcote, TBS Luminate

Champions Professors Vida Barker, Scott Tanaka, Kaitlin

Ladha and Amanda Miller, and the CFDTI Team, as well as who

assisted with the Luminate sessions during the event and to all

the faculty and staff who took part!

Luxury Fashion Brand Management workshop

with high school teachers and counselors

On December 2, 2024, the National Recruitment team hosted a

Brunch, Spa, and Wellness Day for Teachers and Counsellors at

Centennial College. They invited teachers, counsellors and

community partners to experience our transformation with an exciting day

of professional development to highlight what’s trending in our industries,

and to highlight the how we are at the forefront of servicing industries,

communities, and people. The event was designed to engage and excite

teachers, guidance counsellors, and community counsellors, and for them

to bring that energy back to the

prospective students they support. TBS

joined and participated in engaging

discussions but also hosted a workshop

with the Fashion Business Management

Faculty titled, “Luxury, Fashion, and

Business with The Business School”,

coordinated with Pamela Richards,

Stephanie Herold Pomedli on Workshop

Design and led by Shawna Whish.

Fireside Chat with TBS Alumni

Nigara Shaheen at Centennial

Connects

The Business School would like to give a

shoutout to Nigara Shaheen, 2023

Centennial College International

Development alumnus and Paris Olympian

(Judo), who was featured at the college-wide

event, Centennial Connects, at Centennial’s

first-ever “Fireside Chat”. The

chat focused on Nigara’s

story of overcoming

adversity to pursue her

dreams, digging deep

within to ‘level up’ and

rise to the challenge,

and demonstrating

incredible resilience.

Thank you for sharing

your inspiring story!


Featured

Faculty Research Spotlight: Digital Engagement

Strategy Professor Presents at Danish Institution

In November 2024, as part of my ongoing

research in influencer marketing, I had the

opportunity to present at Erhvervsakademi

Aarhus (Business Academy Aarhus) in Denmark.

As a Professor and Program Coordinator in Digital

Engagement Strategy at Centennial College, I

shared insights from my independent research

initiatives with an international academic audience.

This self-funded academic endeavor reflects my

commitment to staying current with global

marketing trends and enhancing our pedagogical

approaches. Participating in international

academic discourse helps inform my approach to

program coordination and advancing student

learning methodologies in the Digital Engagement

Strategy program.

My presentation highlighted findings from several

research streams:

• Brand analysis examining e-commerce,

fashion, beauty, and direct-to-consumer

enterprises across the Americas

• Longitudinal examination of influencer

marketing simulation data

• Qualitative research including observational

studies and in-depth practitioner interviews

The presentation was part of an International

Lecture Series that brought together academics

exploring contemporary marketing topics such as:

• AI integration in marketing strategy

• Thesis development methodologies

• No-code AI solutions

• Emerging influencer marketing frameworks

Article by Jason Beaulieu

Professor, Digital Engagement Strategy


Connected

Festive fun!

On December 13, 2024, The Business School hosted its annual Festive

Sweater Party and Holiday Potluck. The prize for most festive attire went to

Professors Vickie McInnis and Steve Bishop, decked in matching

Christmas tree onesies. Thank you to everyone who contributed lots of tasty

food and festive spirit to ring in the holidays!

More fun times!

In December, The Business School’s Business and Management Team enjoyed a dinner out

together to ring in the holidays.

The Business School hosted its annual Halloween costume contest on October 31, 2024. The prize for the

best costume went to our Fortune Teller Diana Daniels! Honourable mention to Lego Radu Cureteanu as

well as Geordi La Forge (aka Jason Burke) and his son Yoda who stopped by later in the day.


Connected

Volunteering in the Community:

Feed Scarborough

Centennial’s recognition

continues!

The Business School’s Business and Management team has

been volunteering their time for a day each semester at Feed

Scarborough to support our community. Faculty and staff

worked in the kitchen preparing meals, organized the fridge, labelling

containers and providing needed support.

During the December 19, 2024 visit, volunteers provided incredible

support in vital areas including: Preparing skids of food for our food

banks, ensuring deliveries to Clairlea and Rouge Park are wellstocked

and ready to go; Assisting in the kitchen by preparing 200

meals for our Healthy Meal Program, which included cutting 6 sacks

of carrots and 5 sacks of potatoes, each weighing approximately 18

kilos; Organizing the loading and unloading area before starting,

ensuring a smooth workflow throughout the day; and Sorting produce

and potatoes by category while following the FIFO (First In, First Out)

protocol, helping us maintain food quality and safety. Thank you to

everyone who came to take part and for your ongoing efforts in

supporting the community.

Centennial named among the Best Employers for

Diversity by Forbes Canada's Best Employers for Diversity 2024

were ranked through a survey of 40,000 professionals across all industry

sectors. The evaluation was based on recommendations given by employees

themselves, public recommendations, and reviews based on diversity-related

topics such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability. The Forbes

ranking reinforces Centennial's reputation as an organization that celebrates

diversity and fosters an inclusive workplace. Read more HERE (CCthisweek -

July 11, 2024).

More information at: scarboroughfoodsecurityinitiative.com

Happy Retirement!


say a big congrats to Professor

Paul Pinkus on his recent

retirement! Paul has been part of

Centennial College team for the past 6

years and has taught many courses

from the Business and Management

cluster.

Paul is an engaging and knowledgeable instructor, sharing

his subject matter expertise and experience with our

students. Thank you for the positive impact you have had on

our past and current students. We wish you all the best in

your next chapter!

A-Building Expansion Project earns 2024 FSC

Leadership Award Centennial College, DIALOG, Smoke

Architecture and EllisDon together collected the FSC Leadership Award from the

U.S.-based Forest Stewardship Council for our stunning mass timber A-Building

Expansion Project at Progress Campus. FSC is a nonprofit that promotes

environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous

management of forests. (CCthisweek – October 24, 2024).

Centennial named top college in paid student

research activity Centennial consistently ranks as one of the Top 50

Research Colleges in Canada by Research Infosource, and we’ve once again

made the grade. This year we notably rank number one for providing paid

student internships in applied research, and 20th overall for research revenue.

We've engaged 599 student researchers through Centennial Innovates, the

Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship department. (CCthisweek –

December 19, 2024).


In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Dr. Edward Perry

1967 - 2024

It is with great sadness that we mourn the sudden passing of colleague and friend, Dr. Edward

Perry. Edward was a talented and passionate instructor and we were fortunate to have him at The

Business School for a short while.

Our condolences to Dr. Robin Yap, his husband of 32 years, and their loved ones, during this

difficult time. Robin also taught with us recently.

“Together Edward and Robin continued exploring the world, expanding their minds through

academia having completed an MBA and finishing an MACP and EdD, and created a home

that was filled with thousands of books, countless business ideas, and bountiful plans for each

five year increments of their life together punctuated by the wedding renewal of their vows at

each five-year mark. They co-created university textbooks, spoke at conferences together,

written peer-reviewed articles and garnered research grants with intention to share their

insights to others. Their life together was intertwined and interwoven, as it was destined to be

with that first realization that Edward’s dad’s birthday was the same day as Robin’s mom’s

birthday, and Edward’s mom’s birthday was the same as Robin’s dad’s birthday.

You meet Edward as a quiet presence. He observed first then responded with succinct and

exacting words geared for the relationship he intended to have; having a keen understanding

of the human behaviour. He laughed and shared anecdotes through the eyes of an evercurious

child. He was a teddy bear to some and a force to reckon with to others. His smile

embraced you with complete acceptance, and his embrace was complete assurance that

you’ve made a loyal friend.”

- Words from Edward Perry Obituary

Edward’s memory continues to live on, with many beautiful moments and stories captured at

edwardperry.ca. For more information or to donate to the Edward Allen Perry Memorial Scholarship

Fund, please click HERE. Edward will be deeply missed by all who knew him.


Upcoming Events

January

8

Start Date - 14 Week Winter

Semester)

15

January

PLAR Application Deadline/

Course Change Deadline for

most programs (Winter 2025)

22

January

Withdrawal with partial refund

deadline (Winter 2025)

17

February

Family Day - College Closed

24-28

February

Engagement Week (Reading Week) - Winter 2025

March

7

TBS Mid-term Grades Deadline

(Winter 2025)

14

March

Withdrawal without academic

penalty (Winter 2025)

17

April

End Date - 14 Week Winter

semester

18

April

Good Friday - College Closed

23

April

Winter 2025 Grades Deadline

May

1

Transfer Credit Application

Deadline (Summer 2025)

May

5

Start Date - 14 Week Summer

semester

May 12

PLAR Application Deadline/

Course Change Deadline for

most programs (Summer 2025)

19

May

Victoria Day - College Closed

May 20

Withdrawal with partial refund

deadline (Summer 2025)

June 23-27

Engagement Week (Reading Week) - Summer 2025

July

1

Canada Day - College Closed

July

4

TBS Mid-term Grades Deadline

(Summer 2025)

Academic and Planning Calendar available at https://www.centennialcollege.ca/student-life/enrolment-services/academic-and-planning-calendar/

Thank you to all those who shared their stories, content, and

photos for this issue of Business Connected:

Anita Agrawal

Nabeel Al Jahan

Ida Sarah Angeles

Brian Atkinson

Rick Atkinson

Vida Barker

Jason Beaulieu

Steve Bishop

Tracey Bissett

Yagiz Boran

Natalie Chinsam

Diana Daniels

Mary Devine

Tulsi Dharel

Sandy Di Felice

Abrahim Farah-Neto

Angela Fernandes

Camille Jimenez

Melissa Jimeno

Leona Jones

Holly Kaiser

Mike Karanja

Steven Khan

Nicole Koss

Holly Main

Jasmine Mather

Vickie McInnis

Jennifer Northcote

Barry O’Brien

Chirag Paresh Sheth

Navisha Patel

Sharon Pope

Tahmina Qassem

Pamela Richards

Justin Rochester

Galuh Savitri

Vida Shehada

Shlok Shetty

Kerri Shields

Rathika Sitsabaiesan

Mauro Spies

Amanda Stone

Sabhya Subedi

Robert Tanha

Jennifer Tilk

Lyle Van Every

Shawna Whish

Elizabeth Williams

Sana Zargar

Maggie Zeng

With contributions and assistance from other areas of Centennial College, including:

Marketing and Communications (Special thanks to Marie Joseph and Mark Toljagic), Marianne Botres from Career

Services & Co-operative Education, and Jessica Vella from Strategic Initiatives and External Relations (SIER)

Published by

Centennial College

The Business School

P.O. Box 631, Station A

Toronto, ON M1K 5E9

Managing Editor

Barry O’Brien

Editor and Designer

Holly Main

Cover Design

Centennial Marketing and Communications

To submit to Business Connected, please

email hmain@centennialcollege,ca

Stay connected!

CentennnialTBS

@CentennnialTBS

Centennnial_TBS

Email: business@centennialcollege.ca

centennialcollege.ca

RITM0017069

The Business School - Business Connected - Winter 2025 Edition

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