Alum Anthony Blair reflects on his time at Woodsworth as the college celebrates 50th anniversary

Ever since Anthony Blair earned his bachelor of science in 1992 as a member of Woodsworth College, he has been a steadfast supporter of the college and an exemplary mentor to countless students.

In 2016, Blair earned an Arbor Award for his volunteer efforts, and he is a mentor in the Woodsworth College Alumni-Students Mentorship Program.

Now a federal employee of the Government of Canada and a Citizenship Judge, Blair attributes much of what he learned while at Woodsworth studying in the criminology program for his success. In the following interview, Blair reflects on his time at the university and what Woodsworth means to him on the college’s 50^th anniversary.

What made you want to be part of Woodsworth College?

I spent two years at the Scarborough campus before transferring to Woodsworth. What precipitated this change was a change in my career trajectory. At Scarborough, I wanted to become a doctor, whereas at Woodsworth I wanted to become a lawyer. At Woodsworth, I would be able to study criminology and be in a better position to apply to law school. Though I never applied to law school, the knowledge I gained from attending Woodsworth College has been invaluable as I was able to use this knowledge in arguing and winning a case in the Federal Court of Canada.

What pulled you toward criminology and what did you enjoy most about the program?

As mentioned, I wanted to study law and so I figured criminology would be a great first step to getting there — though I think I was naive going into the program and had no idea what it entailed. However, from the first time I started studying Deviance and Control, Prosecutions and the Courts as well as Young Offenders, among others, I was enthralled. I enjoyed the fact my professors were open and honest in the way they described crime and punishment. For the first time my eyes were truly opened. I started seeing the world in a totally different way. And like they say, once you open Pandora’s box you can never close it.

Were there any professors who left a mark on you? What made them special?

A few professors left an indelible impression on me. Professors who truly stood out were the ones who were able to paint vivid pictures, not only of the past but the present and future. One of my professors mentioned that one of the better things that came out of Etobicoke (I was living in Etobicoke at the time) was the RIDE program*, which was adopted by Ontario. To this day, I remember lessons learned from my various classes.

*Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) is a sobriety-testing initiative used by police in Ontario.

How have you stayed engaged at Woodsworth after graduating?

To whomever much is given, much is required. I have been on the Board of Directors of the Woodsworth College Alumni Association, a mentor, attended convocations as well as contributed financially to U of T. I follow the university on the various social media platforms, posting positive achievements about the university as well as having my email address reflect the fact that I’m an alum of the university.

Why do you continue to volunteer and mentor current students?

I enjoy helping others, so when the opportunity presented itself to become a mentor I gladly accepted. As a matter of fact, I used to work in a counselling and mentorship program after graduating from the University of Toronto. Consequently, I thought it would be appropriate to provide similar services to current students. Not only that, but I also mentor and write recommendations for students and individuals in various spheres.

Meeting new students and having the ability to provide impactful insights to them is extremely rewarding. I also realize I don’t have all the answers, but by being an empathetic listener, I’m able to decipher what the person really and truly needs.

What’s your favourite part about volunteering and mentorship?

The interest shown by mentees is commendable. Not only am I sharing my experiences but I’m also learning from them. My favourite part about volunteering is that I am making a difference. I know in life that sometimes it is not always the most qualified that gets the job but the one who has the fortitude to persevere regardless of the circumstances. Having a cheerleader, a coach, a mentor can help in situations where there are doubts or when someone is at a crossroad in life. Helping at this critical juncture is something I cherish.

What’s your favourite memory from your time at Woodsworth?

I have numerous memories from my time at Woodsworth. I remember eating chicken wings and egg fried rice from one of the vendors parked in front of Robarts. Every day, I would order the same meal and eat it with much gusto. I also had some really terrific classmates, wonderful friends, amazing professors and the most amazing experience of my life. I also remember volunteering at the Career Centre, sharing food with friends, researching at Robarts as well as attending court as part of my studies. I remember having guest lecturers from top tier law firms. Again, too numerous to pick one, so one last thing I can say about my time at Woodsworth is that it was precious.