TMU appoints The Honourable Mary Lou Benotto for external review

Today, Toronto Metropolitan University announced the appointment of The Honourable Mary Lou Benotto as external reviewer for the September 19 security incident in George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre during a Dais Democracy Forum event.

The university is engaging Benotto as an independent expert to undertake a thorough, judicious review of the incident in a manner that respects the seriousness of the situation. Her review will focus on the actions of security personnel, the disruption and TMU's policies, procedures and practices during events on campus.

A report and recommendations will be submitted to the vice-president, administration and operations, who oversees TMU's Community Safety and Security (CSS) portfolio; it will also be made public and shared with the TMU community at the conclusion of the review.

About The Honourable Mary Lou Benotto

A graduate of McGill University and Law School, The Honourable Mary Loy Benotto has enjoyed a distinguished career in law and public service.

She retired from the Court of Appeal for Ontario in 2024. She sat on the Superior Court of Ontario for 18 years before her elevation to the Court of Appeal. While on the Court of Appeal, she was the long-time chair of the Family Law Rules Committee. During her 28 years on the bench, she presided over long, complex trials in civil and criminal law including multiple complex jury trials, and authored multiple judgments including jurisprudential decisions in civil, criminal and family law.

She is the recipient of multiple awards including the Law Society Award for Excellence in Family Law named in her honour. She has also authored texts, numerous articles and papers, and is a frequent lecturer and teacher.

Resources and support available to community members

Community members who may need support in managing their well-being are encouraged to access the many supports available to them:

• Students can access well-being services and support through the Centre for Student Development and Counselling.
• Student Care offers support to students navigating a variety of complex factors while they study, including financial and academic as well as physical and mental health challenges. Students are encouraged to connect with them at [email protected].
• For concerns about safety, we encourage you to reach out to the Community Safety and Security (CSS) team at [email protected] - personal safety planning is also available; should you wish to use these services, please contact [email protected].
• Faculty and staff members affected by these troubling events can connect with the Employee and Family Assistance Program for counselling and other supports.