Shane Joy: A First-Gen Trailblazer at the Heart of Victoria University

^{Shane Joy Vic 2T5 in the E.J. Pratt Library, where he did much of the research on his senior thesis on Egerton Ryerson. (Photos by Neil Gaikwad)}

By Leslie Shepherd

Shane Joy Vic 2T5 isn’t just a recent graduate of Victoria University in the University of Toronto—he’s a trailblazer, a mentor, a historian and a changemaker.

The first Victoria College student to receive the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholarship—often called Canada’s equivalent to the Rhodes—Joy leaves behind a legacy of academic excellence and leadership.

As a history major, Joy tackled complex legacies in his ambitious senior thesis on Egerton Ryerson, the founder of Victoria College and a reputed architect of the residential school system. His research reflected the depth and nuance that defined his academic journey: thoughtful, courageous and committed to truth.

But Joy’s influence extended well beyond the classroom. He served as president of the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council, residence don, student representative on the Board of Regents and chair of the Student Projects Fund. He was co-director of finance at Caffiends, helped organize Orientation Week twice, and served on the Victoria University Black Excellence and Inclusion Committee.

“Being VUSAC president was the most challenging role,” he said. “You’re managing so many different interests, and you have to make tough decisions while staying grounded in your personal convictions.”

His most fulfilling role? Serving as a don in student residence. “I had hoped to make a difference on VUSAC, but the impact isn’t always visible. As a don, you see it. You see students grow, struggle, succeed—and you’re part of that.”

Mentorship played a key role in shaping Joy’s time at Vic. From his first year, he was supported by faculty mentor Professor Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, who helped him build connections across campus and beyond. He also developed a meaningful relationship with Victoria University President Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen. “She was always willing to share her wisdom and help me grow,” he said.

So why did such a promising student choose Victoria University in the first place?

It started with a quiet campus tour in 2020, during the early days of the pandemic. “In addition to the buildings, Vic has a really beautiful campus and it’s gotten even greater since,” said Joy, who graduated this spring.

But it wasn’t just the architecture that drew him in. Joy, a first-generation university student, was motivated by the financial support available at Vic, much of it made possible by alumni donors.

“My parents never went to university; my father didn’t graduate from high school,” Joy said. “Without the scholarship I received from Vic, it would have been immensely difficult, if not impossible, to attend university without significant financial difficulty.”

Another deciding factor was the Vic One program, which offers first-year students small seminar-style classes and close connections with faculty. “That program helped me form lasting relationships and set the tone for the rest of my university experience,” he said.

One of the defining pieces of Joy’s time at Vic was his thesis on Egerton Ryerson. Sparked by the removal of Ryerson’s statue at what was then called Ryerson University and his portrait at Vic U in 2021, Joy wanted to understand the full story. His research took him to the E.J. Pratt Library and the United Church of Canada Archives, where he uncovered Ryerson’s reciprocal engagement with, and early advocacy for, Indigenous communities and his later role in shaping residential schools.

“That contradiction was something I wanted to explore in depth,” Joy said. “Nuance is very important as a historian. He was a complex person.”

Next, courtesy of the McCall McBain Scholarship, Joy will head to McGill’s Max Bell School of Public Policy to explore his interests in Canadian national security, particularly in the Arctic. Law school may follow.

The McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies. The scholarship covers tuition and fees, a relocation grant, options for summer funding and a living stipend.  Every scholar is matched with an experienced mentor, an executive coach and advisers.    

The scholarships were announced in February 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, through a landmark gift of $200 million. At the time, it was the single largest gift in Canadian history. Based on their work over the years with some of the top scholarships around the world–such as the Rhodes Scholarships in Oxford, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in Cape Town, and the Kupe Scholarships in New Zealand–they felt Canada needed a comprehensive master’s-level scholarship that builds on, but is not limited to, academic excellence. 

Joy doesn’t hesitate when asked what makes Vic special? “There’s a strong spirit of mentorship here. If you try, you will find someone to guide you. And you’ll feel like you belong.”

Shane Joy will speak about his senior thesis on Egerton Ryerson at a National Truth and Reconciliation Day event at Victoria University on Sept. 30.