The distinguished Professor Anthony Richmond joined York University in 1965, where he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Department of Sociology, served as its graduate program director and was a founding member of York’s Centre for Refugee Studies.
His academic interests included race relations, migration studies, refugees and refugee policy. His work influenced revisions of Canadian federal immigration policy in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1980, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and despite retiring in 1989 he kept actively engaged until 2008. A lifelong Quaker, was known for his civility, lack of pretense, sense of fairness, commitment to scholarly life, and encouragement of his students.
A day before their 65th wedding anniversary, Anthony unfortunately passed, and his wife Freda Richmond lost the love of her life. Shortly thereafter, to overcome the grief while keeping Anthony’s memory alive, she made a current gift and future bequest to create a special memorial Scholarship in his name that pays tribute to his life’s work and their passion for helping others.
“Scholarships like these make a world of difference, not just in honouring the memory of someone so beloved and integral to the York community, but also to the students who receive them”
Dheman Abdi, 2023 Anthony Richmond Scholarship recipient
Now 6 years after his passing, the annual Anthony Richmond Scholarship already helped four York graduate students conducting research on interactions between forced migration and environmental changes.
The 2023 recipient of the Anthony Richmond Scholarship was Dheman Abdi, a political science MA student researching the intricate connections between the politics of migration and anthropogenic climate change in the Horn of Africa.
As a first-generation Somali-Canadian student, researching this region holds personal significance to her.
“I’m the second person in my immediate family to graduate,” says Dheman. “I’m also the second person among my extended family to graduate with a master’s degree, so I’m very honoured that my research is helping fill a gap in the literature in the Horn of Africa.”
The scholarship helped Dheman with finances during a transition from working full-time to returning to school. “Starting grad school, even when you’re confident in your research, can be daunting. Receiving the scholarship was a great affirmation that I was heading in the right direction,” she says.
Elated to receive the award, Dheman, shares her appreciation for Professor Richmond’s notable contributions to refugee studies, and Freda’s dedication to helping future students.
“Scholarships like these make a world of difference, not just in honouring the memory of someone so beloved and integral to the York community, but also to the students who receive them,” says Dheman. “I know there are so many ways to honour someone who has passed, but this gift really nurtures the next generation, and I am truly thankful.”