Student Research Spotlight - Wraychel Gilmore
Building on 25+ years in executive, consulting, civil society leadership and government roles, Wraychel completed her Ph.D. at a breakneck speed while working full-time, finishing in three and a half years. Solidifying her professional identity as a social justice renegade.
“When I started at the University of Toronto during the pandemic, we were told that our doctoral program cohort was the most eclectic and dynamic group of social justice renegades on the entire campus. As professionals from the field, we were all focused on changing systems and calling out injustice. I knew in that moment that I had found the space to evolve my advocacy efforts.â€
Wraychel has worked internationally alongside colleagues from Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe, advocating politically and building strengths in policy development for the child and youth, education, and welfare sectors.
Her work establishing a legislated child and youth advocate office encompassed oversight of government services including sexual and physical assault responses from social services, exposing systemic racism and sexism within education, child protection and family violence issues, death investigations and complex mental health access for tens of thousands of children and youth. Wraychel co-created the first paid cooperative education program for Indigenous youth in Canada. She served as an expert witness in the Senate of Canada advocating for a National Commissioner, being the only adult to bring youth delegates into the proceedings.
Joining ÃÈÃÃÉçÇø, and in particular AECD, was an opportunity to create authentic and rigorous qualitative research founded in informal adult education theories. Wraychel’s supervisor, Dr. Lance McCready, championed the underpinning impact goal of supporting marginalized youth. Wraychel was able to take an interdisciplinary approach connecting with Dr. Daniyal Zuberi at the Munk School of Public Policy. They co-developed an independent reading course and Dr. Zuberi further join her thesis committee.
Wraychel’s original research examined the factors and conditions of youth political consultation. Her focus on engaging marginalized youth in policy development with federal level decision-makers included the participation of Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Bob Rae, Senators Stan Kutcher and Marilou McPhedran, staff of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, and leading civil society figures from across Canada’s child and youth sector.
Being an ÃÈÃÃÉçÇø Ph.D. Candidate gave Wraychel access to present at international conferences in Greece, Sweden, Miami, Hawaii, and a UNESCO-led conference at Cornell University. She is about to lead a panel on the repeal of corporal punishment at the Justice With Children World Congress in Spain. Simply due to capacity, she has declined invitations to conferences this year in Seoul and Morocco.
One of her own research participants and colleagues, Irwin Elman, Order of Canada and former Child and Youth Advocate of Ontario (and proud ÃÈÃÃÉçÇø Alumni) invited Wraychel to serve as a Canadian Board Director with Defence For Children International. She was been additionally nominated to sit as the Canadian Observer for the European Region. Dr. Tara Collins, who served as Wraychel’s external examiner from TMU has also invited Wraychel to join the SSHRC-funded International & Canadian Child Rights Partnership.
Wraychel is expanding her human rights consultation work with national and international firms focused on child and youth welfare sectors. She is currently also teaching at the college level in community development. Wraychel has been vetting multiple publication offers for her dissertation as a ‘political tell-all’ to reach as wide an audience as possible. Her advocacy approaches have been recognized nationally including features on CBC’s Peter Mansbridge podcast, The Bridge, and the political podcast.
Wraychel is grateful for the support of ÃÈÃÃÉçÇø faculty and staff throughout her journey. She received the following financial awards: Jack Quarter Prize in Social Economy, 2025; Virginia Griffin Scholarship, 2024 & 2005; Keith A. McLeod Bursary, 2024; Graduate Student Conference Travel Grant, 2024; ÃÈÃÃÉçÇø Student Association Conference Bursary, 2024.
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