OCAD University Alumni Relations

OCAD University Alumni Relations Welcome to the official page of Alumni Relations & Alumni Events at OCAD University!

Visit our website for the latest on Alumni benefits, events, staying in touch and much more! http://www.ocadu.ca/alumni

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Life Drawing is back October 1st! Join us on campus Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings for 3-hours of non-instructi...
09/24/2026

Life Drawing is back October 1st! Join us on campus Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings for 3-hours of non-instructional drawing with a live model. These sessions are open to alumni, staff, and students for only $15/person. For the full schedule and to sign up, visit our website: https://www.ocadu.ca/alumni/alumni-events

Proceeds from this event series help support OCAD U’s Emergency Bursary Fund.

Image courtesy of the OCAD University Archives

Congratulations to OCAD U Industrial Design alums Marzuq Vohra and Vienna Pighin, Canada’s national winners of the 2026 ...
09/23/2026

Congratulations to OCAD U Industrial Design alums Marzuq Vohra and Vienna Pighin, Canada’s national winners of the 2026 for their invention, Proactive Project. This smart wearable vest provides individuals experiencing sensory challenges with responsive support when stress is detected. They now advance to the international stage of the competition, vying for a place among the international shortlist of 20 projects and opportunity to win the $56,000 global prize. Read more: https://tinyurl.com/25pfw54w

The nomination period for OCAD University's 2027 Honorary Degrees is open, and we invite you to submit your ideas! Every...
09/18/2026

The nomination period for OCAD University's 2027 Honorary Degrees is open, and we invite you to submit your ideas!

Every year at spring convocation OCAD University confers honorary doctoral degrees upon individuals who have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to art, design, civil society, culture, or education, and whose service and achievements reflect the ideals of the University

All members of the OCAD U community, including faculty, staff, students and alumni, are invited to submit a nomination.

Nominations may be made through the online nomination form. The submission deadline is 5:00 pm EDT, Friday, October 16, 2026.​​

For more information, please see the Honorary Degree Policy, as well as the list of Past Recipients, click here: https://www.ocadu.ca/about-ocad-u/governance/senate/honorary-doctorate-nominations

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact David Wagschal, Quality Assurance Officer & Associate Senate Secretary at [email protected].

Image: OCAD U 2026 honorary degree recipients (From top left, left to right: Rita Davies, Joshua Greer, Ash K. Prakash and Tanya Talaga).

As she was digging in her garden, OCA alum Sandy Kowalik kept finding objects from previous owners: bits of china, bott...
09/16/2026

As she was digging in her garden, OCA alum Sandy Kowalik kept finding objects from previous owners: bits of china, bottle caps, coins, marbles, glass, and a few action figure arms. She tossed them all into a bucket and later, in her studio, started arranging them into an assemblage called “What the Garden Couldn’t Swallow.” Every year brought more objects and a new assemblage. These backyard discoveries led Kowalik to research both the origins of the objects and her neighbourhood in her new book, The Alexander Drive Project.

Kowalik blends archival research, resident interviews, and photographs, along with her series of assemblages (2019-2025), to create a portrait of how the neighbourhood came to be and of the people who call(ed) it home.

The Alexander Drive Project is now available. To learn more about the book and Sandy's practice, visit https://islandstudiespress.com

Image 2: What the Garden Couldn't Swallow, 2019.
Image 3: What the Garden Couldn't Swallow, 2024.
Image 4: Front cover of The Alexander Drive Project by Sandy Kowalik.

Join us Wed. Sept. 23, 1 to 2:30 pm, for Behind the Bricks: In conversation with Rick Hill Sr. who talks about the book...
09/16/2026

Join us Wed. Sept. 23, 1 to 2:30 pm, for Behind the Bricks: In conversation with Rick Hill Sr. who talks about the book, Behind the Bricks: The Life and Times of the Mohawk Institute, the story of Canada’s first and longest-running residential school. Part of OCAD U’s NDTC programming.
https://tinyurl.com/3sm6ehs4

A dining table is going to get scratched. And for OCAD U alum Mary Ratcliffe (BDes, Environmental Design, ’11), that’s p...
09/15/2026

A dining table is going to get scratched. And for OCAD U alum Mary Ratcliffe (BDes, Environmental Design, ’11), that’s part of what gives it meaning.

The Toronto furniture designer is interested in what happens to the objects we live with over time. The marks they collect can become traces of celebrations, conversations and everyday life.

It’s a perspective shaped by Mary’s appreciation for craft, materials, and the idea that well-made objects can be kept for generations.

So how did Mary find her way from OCAD U’s studios to building a furniture practice of her own?

In our latest Alum Spotlight, Mary reflects on the experiences that shaped her path and what she’s learned along the way.

👉 Read the full story: https://tinyurl.com/ym63ybtu

On Sept. 25, SILO NIGHTS, curated by OCAD University, at Public Pier presents Canadian premiere of “Breathe” by Faisal A...
09/15/2026

On Sept. 25, SILO NIGHTS, curated by OCAD University, at Public Pier presents Canadian premiere of “Breathe” by Faisal Anwar. “Breathe” transforms the Purple Martin’s 5,000-mile migration from Brazil to North America into a living sky across the Canada Malting Silos. “Breathe” is presented in partnership with The Blackwood Gallery at the University of Toronto Mississauga with special thanks to Goethe-Institut Toronto. https://tinyurl.com/bdfy8zjp

This week! Join OCAD U Alumni Relations and Peter Kingstone to learn about Toronto Arts Council’s Visual Artists Program...
09/14/2026

This week! Join OCAD U Alumni Relations and Peter Kingstone to learn about Toronto Arts Council’s Visual Artists Program: Creation. Space is limited, RSVP to book your seat.

Get the Grant! Information Session with Peter Kingstone
Online
September 16th, 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm
RSVP: https://www.ocadu.ca/events-and-exhibitions/get-grant-toronto-arts-council-information-session
*This event is open to OCAD U alumni, staff, and students.

The Toronto Arts Council’s Visual Artists Program: Creation provides support to visual artists who have a professional independent art practice for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, and materials. Visual Arts includes drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, printmaking, performance art, installation and fine crafts and more. The Visual Artists Program does not include film or video makers: they apply to the Media Artists Program.

Hosted by the Canadian International Professionals Association (C**A), Canadian university alumni based in California ar...
09/12/2026

Hosted by the Canadian International Professionals Association (C**A), Canadian university alumni based in California are invited to connect at an in-person mixer on Saturday, September 26th. More information and RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/4wnyewrf

All Canadian Alumni Event
Saturday, September 26th
2:00pm - 5:00pm

Hangar 24 Craft Brewing
17877 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, California
Free admission; Hangar 24's bar and kitchen open all afternoon on your own tab. Wear your colours.

**A

Public Pier brings food, music, dance and SILO NIGHTS to Toronto’s waterfront Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 18 to Oct.3, ...
09/11/2026

Public Pier brings food, music, dance and SILO NIGHTS to Toronto’s waterfront Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 18 to Oct.3, Public Pier transforms Marina Quay West pier into a free day-to-night art and cultural destination. By day, curated food and drink markets, live DJ sets, beginner-friendly dance workshops & interactive public art installations. At night, SILO NIGHTS, curated by OCAD University, illuminates the Canada Malting Silos with local & international immersive art projections. Public Pier is a collaboration between The Bentway, Harbourfront Centre, OCAD University and Waterfront BIA. https://tinyurl.com/y6b9hasz

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