A warm welcome to new beginnings and a farewell to a wonderful past – this is what the University of Guelph-Humber’s Alpha Phi Sigma annual induction event was all about.
The University’s chapter of this prestigious international criminal justice honours society, known as Phi Epsilon, initiated members accepted into the group and new society executives for the 2025-2026 school year on April 4, and celebrated the achievements of the outgoing executive members, with friends and family present.
Outgoing President Caitlin Brodie delivered remarks reflecting on the past year, along with the University’s Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Melanie Spence-Ariemma, Justice Studies Chair Dr. Gary Galbraith, Associate Professor Dr. Laura MacDiarmid, and retired Justice Studies Assistant Program Head and founder of the Phi Epsilon chapter Dr. Glenn Hanna. The Dr. Glenn Hanna Phi Epsilon Scholarship was also awarded to outgoing Vice President of Media & Partner Relations Brianna Bettridge during the event.
“Together, you embody and represent our emerging leaders in criminal justice. Embracing a spirit of inquiry and a commitment to service in the community. May your passion, drive, and integrity continue to inspire others. Keep pursuing your passions, leading with unity and learning from each other,” Dr. Spence-Ariemma told members during the induction ceremony in her inspirational speech.
The Phi Epsilon chapter hosts a variety of events during the academic year to expand students’ learning outside the classroom and provide them with networking opportunities within the justice field. Activities from the past academic year included Coffee with a Cop (a networking event to connect students with police enforcement and engage in meaningful conversations), several events to raise awareness of wrongful convictions, a food drive for the Safe Centre of Peel, and more.
“[Joining Phi Epsilon] builds a sense of camaraderie, especially in the school community. I feel like going into next year will be a lot more holistic or inclusive with everyone that I care about,” second-year Justice Studies student Ashon Vaz said, who’s excited to learn about the law through the society’s events, alongside his friends.
Dr. MacDiarmid is the chapter advisor, with support from the Justice Studies program, but Phi Epsilon is largely student-run, making this chapter a stand-out among the others. With over 150 chapters, this is one of the only two Canadian ones to exist.
The Phi Epsilon chapter recently visited Denver, Colo., for the International Alpha Phi Sigma Conference. Read more about it here.
