Celebrating Vic’s Emerging Leaders

^{Hyacinth Gawne and Jean-Paul Bevilacqua. (Photos by Neil Gaikwad)}

By Jennifer Little 
 
Jean-Paul Bevilacqua Vic 0T9 and Hyacinth Gawne Vic 1T4 are winners of the 2024 Victoria College Emerging Leader Award. The award recognizes graduates, 40 years of age or under, who have excelled professionally or who have notable accomplishments in their professional work or volunteer service. 



Jean-Paul Bevilacqua: Champion of Justice and Mentorship 

From the halls of Victoria College, to the sets of MTV and then to the classroom, Jean-Paul Bevilacqua has built a career marked by purpose, compassion and an active commitment to the next generation. His impact has earned him the Emerging Leader Award for Vic alumni. 
 
Bevilacqua studied in Vic One’s Northrop Frye Stream and earned a double major in semiotics and drama in 2009. After graduating, he spent four years as a panelist on MTV Canada’s 1 Girl 5 Gays. 
 
“It was a really cool thing to do in my early 20s!” he said. The show gave him a national platform to talk openly about issues affecting the LGBTQ community, including identity, relationships and politics, and helped him get comfortable speaking in public and sharing ideas with a wide audience. 
 
Bevilacqua’s time with MTV, in addition to early volunteer work with the LGBT YouthLine, Rainbow Health Network and the Inside Out Film Festival, deepened his commitment to advocacy. “I quickly learned that the legal system was a powerful tool for change and empowerment,” he said.  
 
As a result, Bevilacqua pursued a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2016. He began his legal career with the Ministry of the Attorney General followed by time as a clinic and course director at Osgoode Hall. There, he worked closely with students to develop essential conflict-resolution skills. In his current role with the Ontario Justice Education Network, Bevilacqua creates and facilitates programs that educate youth about justice and empower them to navigate the legal system.  
 
Bevilacqua has supported students and recent alumni since 2021 through the Victoria University Alumni Mentorship Program. “Mentoring allows me to give back and help students consider a career in law,” he said.  
 
He also recently joined the Victoria University Senate Executive Committee. “It’s been exciting to hear about the growth and new initiatives happening for Vic students,” he said. “Any opportunity I have to help and support Vic’s growth is something I’m going to jump at!” 
 
 
Hyacinth Gawne: From Flemingdon Park to Queen’s Park 
  
Hyacinth Gawne grew up watching her mother offer kindness and support to everyone around her. “She would drop everything for someone if they needed help,” said Gawne. “I learned early to be kind and help others when possible.”  
 
Today, she’s putting those early lessons into action, helping others through her work in Ontario’s public sector and her dedication to volunteerism. Victoria College has recognized her work by giving her an Emerging Leader Award. 
  
After earning a BA in political science and English, Gawne began her career at the Law Society of Ontario, where she supported equity initiatives and policy development. She then moved to the Ontario Public Service where she held a number of progressively senior roles from branch co-ordinator to manager. Gawne spent the lion’s share of her OPS career at the Ontario Treasury Board, where she provided strategic policy and fiscal advice to key Cabinet committees. Today, Gawne is manager of Rapid Transit Program Delivery at Metrolinx. In this role, she supports the implementation of standardized policies and procedures across transit expansion projects such as the Ontario Line.  
  
Beyond her work in the public sector, Gawne is committed to mentoring students as part of Vic’s Alumni Mentorship Program and serves on the Board of Governors at Toronto Metropolitan University. She also held leadership roles at Equal Voice and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada. In addition, she advocated for social housing tenants in Flemingdon Park, her former neighbourhood. 
  
“If you’re in a position to help, you have a responsibility to do so,” said Gawne.