Toyota has been a long-standing supporter of various initiatives at McMaster University. Here are five ways their support has benefited students and faculty.
1. Community outreach
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) has invested $75,000 toward initiatives in the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science to break down barriers for underrepresented youth in STEM.
Initiatives within the Faculty of Engineering include: Black Outreach STEM Series (BOSS), which empowers Black youth through culturally relevant workshops; Early Engineers, a program that fosters engineering play for toddlers to kindergarten; and Girl Guide Workshops, free virtual modules designed by Faculty of Engineering students which provide those who participate with an Ontario Women in Engineering achievement badge.
Science programs include: Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified (FREED), a hands-on outdoor research event for BIPOC undergraduates; McMaster Equitable Pathways to Learning University Science (MePLUS), a year-long mentorship for Black, Indigenous and Latinx high school students facing barriers to science education; and Elevate, a Grade 10 event promoting confidence and inclusion through engaging science activities and role models.
The impact of Toyota’s investment is significant, with programming reaching:
- 36,000 Girl Guides
- 4,500 self-identified Black STEM learners
- 700+ families of young children
- 30+ community organizations
- 7 library systems
- 8 school boards
- 100s of student leaders on campus
Sustained, thoughtful outreach that addresses historical barriers, demystifies STEM and the university experience is a priority for the Faculty of Science. We are deeply grateful for the support from Toyota, which enables us to design and deliver impactful, accessible programming for equity deserving students in our communities.
2. Co-op opportunities
Sixty students have completed more than 100 work terms with Toyota, gaining hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing and related fields.
Jane D’Souza, a Computer Engineering and Management student, was named a McMaster Faculty of Engineering Co-op Student of the Year (Undergraduate) after her co-op at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada. During her experience she contributed to the RAV4 launch by leading equipment installation and modification projects.
3. On-campus engagement
In November, a contingent from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada including alumnus Bob Ruggieri, Mechanical & Management ’97, Vice President, Manufacturing, Melissa Onafrychuk, Manager, External Affairs, Compliance & DE+I, Chris Maltby, Senior Engineering Manager and Lynn Hall, External Affairs Analyst, spent a day touring campus spaces and networking with students.
They met clubs and teams’ members from McMaster Baja Racing, McMaster Solar Car Project and Mac Formula Electric in the Hatch Bay Space and learned about the vehicles they’ve built for competition.
At the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute, Director Stephen Veldhuis showcased the state-of-the-art equipment for applied research and innovation with a team that offers design services and training opportunities.
4. Electrification and clean mobility
Enedym Inc., a McMaster spin-off company led by Canada Excellence Research Chair (laureate) Ali Emadi, has a long-standing strategic collaboration with Toyota. Enedym is collaborating with Toyota Tsusho Canada Inc. to design and develop next generation switched reluctance motors and inverters.
These magnet-free electric motors will power small commercial vehicles — such as airport tuggers — transitioning them from diesel to battery power. This initiative supports global efforts toward cleaner transportation.
5. Research collaborations
Toyota’s many branches maintain long-term research collaborations with McMaster. These include partnering with Civil Engineering on connected and autonomous vehicle projects that use advanced machine learning to improve real-time traffic management during large-scale disruptions. They have also worked with the McMaster Centre for Software Certification and recently teamed up with McMaster engineers and biochemists to move a promising new food-safety technology from the lab to the marketplace.
Toyota’s commitment to McMaster goes far beyond financial support — their partnership fuels community outreach, creates transformative student experiences and drives research that shapes the future of mobility and sustainability.
