Alumni Digest.

Ideas · Alumni Digest original

Seven alumni share six YWCA honours

Toronto's 2026 Distinction Awards recognized work in climate justice, midwifery, labour, immigration, law and corporate leadership by U of T graduates. Published in Alumni Digest as verified reporting from the University of Toronto.

Toronto's 2026 Distinction Awards recognized work in climate justice, midwifery, labour, immigration, law and corporate leadership by U of T graduates.

In the September issue
A group of 2026 YWCA Toronto Distinction Awards posing for a photo.
The seven alumni honoured at the 2026 YWCA Toronto Distinction Awards. Photo: Awesome Photography. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.

The context

Where the work begins

Seven U of T alumni received all six 2026 YWCA Toronto Distinction Awards. Juana Berinstein and Ellen Blais shared the health award for their work at the Association of Ontario Midwives, including support for Indigenous birth practices. Kehkashan Basu received the young leader award for the Green Hope Foundation, which she founded at 12.

The takeaway

What follows

The other recipients work in very different settings. Jenny Ahn was honoured for labour advocacy; Sara Asalya for advancing immigrant women's inclusion. Lawyer Janice Rubin was recognized for addressing workplace harassment. Chinyere Eni received the corporate leadership award for helping women from underrepresented communities advance in their careers.

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