Hello FIFSW community, my name is Gaja (pronounced Gai-uh, rhymes with Maya)! I have a strong passion for trauma-informed & anti-oppressive practice/mental healthcare. I am also someone who is driven to exist in, foster and nurture community. When thinking of how to do this at FIFSW, I aim to advance equity, inclusion and transparency. By centering these values in my involvement with GSA, I hope to amplify student voices as we work collectively to improve the FIFSW policies, programs, and activities which impact us & future students.

Hi everyone! I’m looking forward to being your secretary this year. I joined the GSA so I could advocate for the student voice and be part of conversations about moving the FIFSW forwards. Two of my main interest areas are student accessibility and creating opportunities for student involvement and feedback.

Before coming to the FIFSW, I completed my undergraduate degree in mathematics and English. I learned about the social work field through my volunteer work with Jack.org and Kid’s Help Phone. I also supported students as an Academic Advisor at U of T. Mental health access and equity is one of my primary interest areas that I hope to tackle as a social worker.

If you have questions about the GSA or want to share any ideas, I would love to talk to you! Feel free to say hi to me on campus or reach out online.

Hello friends! As the GSA Treasurer I will be coordinating finances for extracurricular academic and social events hosted by the lovely GSA team.

My goal is to be transparent about GSA activities and to put student voices and interests first. As your GSA Treasurer, I will oversee the Student Initiative Fund (SIF), as well as official GSA events hosted throughout the year to ensure your elected representatives have the support they need to enhance students' experience at FIFSW. 

Hey, FIFSW students! I appreciate being elected to this platform as the Social Coordinator for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Before beginning my MSW, I finished at York U with my BSW and a certificate in Black Canadian Studies this past June. For the last two years of undergrad, I was on the Social Work Student Association and tried out all the different roles. I am passionate about student voices being taken seriously but also making opportunities for us to share and hold space for each other.

The reason I chose to pursue my MSW and be in the SJ&D stream is to explore what it means to partake in critical social work with a concentrated focus on anti-racist practices. I am interested in learning from the professors but mostly from other students sharing our experiences as we are the next generation of social workers. It is important for me to be sincere and intentional in this field, and I am happy to do it alongside all of you.

Please feel free to connect with me by email, social media, or if you see me on campus. Let's have a great year together, FIFSW!"

Hello to the most wonderful FIFSW community! My name is Judy, and I am very excited to be joining the GSA as your First Year Representative! 😄

My passion entering FIFSW has always been addressing gaps in the Canadian education system through advocacy and research. I run a non-profit organization called "Starts With One," which is dedicated to education equity. Through this initiative, we provide free online e-tutoring to families in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). My continued motivation for pursuing my MSW is deeply rooted in the families I support daily, as well as my commitment to ensuring that all families, students, and individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

As your fellow peer, I am a firm believer in education equity and am committed to ensuring that each and every student at FIFSW has access to the most equitable education possible. I wish to be your advocate, striving to ensure safety, transparency, and, of course, FUN during your time here at FIFSW.

I look forward to connecting with all of you, learning from your experiences, and working together to make our journey at FIFSW as enriching and equitable as possible. If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything, please feel free to reach out. Let's collaborate and create positive change together.

Hi everyone! I am excited to be part of the GSA as a 2nd-year student representative! I identified as a first-generation immigrant from Indonesia. I previously worked as a youth mentor, a financial planner, and on the research development team, where I was involved in managing clients with youth psychological concerns, financial protection assessments for families, and addressing organizational training needs. I also presented in a TEDx Talk titled "Piece of Puzzle" on empowering the young generation with the power of resilience and a growth mindset.

As a 2nd-year student representative, I want to create a platform to listen to students in their final year of graduate school and advocate for their needs and concerns to represent second-year students in the faculty. As this is our last year before graduating, I also want to maximize all the opportunities for the 2nd year students to thrive in their final year.

Hello FIFSW community! 

I am thrilled to serve as your GSA Advanced student representative. My name is Julia E. Falzarano (She/Her), and I bring a passion for supporting children and family mental health and wellbeing from a trauma-informed lens within our community.  

My goal is to initiate the creation of a peer support group and promote community building. I am committed to supporting extracurricular activities aligned with students' interests. I plan to help support connecting advanced standing students with their year two peers.  

At Lakehead University, I led the Social Work Student Initiative, organizing workshops to enhance student wellbeing, foster networking, and promote knowledge building within our profession. With over five years of clinical research experience, I bring expertise in evaluation and analysis.  

In my current practicum placement at the Toronto District School Board, I implement solutions-focused, strengths based, and anti-oppressive mental health practices. I am currently a research assistant at the University of Toronto, a grief and loss hospice volunteer, a member of the Student Advisory Committee at the Ontario Association of Social Workers, and a crisis counsellor at Victims Services of York Region. I intend to draw on my knowledge from these experiences to best represent social work students effectively within the GSA.  

My aim is to continue supporting children and families dealing with community violence, grief, and issues with social and emotional regulation post-graduation. 

Feel free to reach out via email; I am here to listen and advocate for you. 

Booshoo, wachiiye. My english name is Natasha Sakchekapo-Lalande. My spirit name is Agogiishikwe, Strong Sky Woman. Ojijakos niin dodem, Crane is my clan. I reside in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and my first nation is North Caribou Lake. I am a mother first to two beautiful boys. I am honored to be part of this years FIFSW GSA as the Indigenous Trauma & Resiliency representative. I have been working in Social Work since the youthful age of 18. I started my educational career doing my Social Service Worker diploma, then received my Honors Bachelors in Indigenous Social Work, and am now working towards my Master's degree.