UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
UCDSB Student Honoured for Inclusive Leadership

Maheen Riaz, a Grade 12 student and Student Trustee with the  Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), has been named one of two recipients of the Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship, awarded jointly by the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO. Her work to create Multi-Faith Rooms in schools across the board is being recognized as a powerful example of inclusive, student-led change. She's winning this award for her work to support the further creation of Multi-Faith Rooms in schools across the UCDSB.

Maheen's initiative was inspired by her own experiences navigating identity within a school system that is continuously evolving to adapt to the rich diversity of its students. She envisioned helping students and staff further understand the importance of spaces where students of all faiths could feel safe, and respected. She researched best practices, consulted equity workers, collaborated with administrators, and gathered feedback from her peers at student senate and equity committee meetings. The result? A permanent Multi-Faith Room at her secondary school, Brockville Collegiate Institute, and the beginning of a movement that is inspiring other schools in the district to do the same.

"When I entered my role as Student Trustee, I had no idea what I was in for," said Maheen. "All I knew was that I wanted to help bring awareness to those like me - students who felt the quiet weight of being different in spaces that weren't made with them in mind. That's what fueled my Multi-Faith Room initiative. To see that initiative not only come to life, but be recognized and awarded, felt so surreal. It wasn't just a win for me - it was a win for every student who ever felt out of place."

Maheen's leadership sets a strong precedent for equity-driven policy and demonstrates how student voices can guide cultural change in education. Her efforts reflect the spirit of this scholarship: recognizing outstanding initiatives that leave a lasting, positive impact on students.

In the fall, Maheen will attend the University of Ottawa, pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Social Science in International Studies and Modern Languages. She plans to stay active in leadership roles through student government and global youth networks.

Congratulations, Maheen - and thank you for reminding us how powerful one voice can be.