The Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry was delighted to welcome alumni back to campus for the 2026 Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 20. Held in the Chem Common Room—a space filled with memories for generations of students—the reunion provided an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with classmates, revisit familiar surroundings and see how the department has evolved over the years.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the strong representation from the Class of 1979. It was wonderful to see so many classmates gathered together once again, sharing stories, reminiscing about their time at the University of Toronto and catching up on decades of accomplishments and experiences. Their enduring friendships and connection to the department served as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of the ChemE community.
Guests also had the opportunity to tour the department’s renowned Unit Operations Laboratory. The tour was led by Professor Ariel Chan, who provided alumni with insights into the lab’s current teaching and research activities while highlighting how engineering education has changed over the years. Assisting with the tour were Chemical Engineering students Francesca Ianes and George Zimmerman, who shared their perspectives on student life and learning in the department today.
A special thank you to the many student leaders who volunteered their time to welcome alumni, answer questions and share their experiences as members of the department’s vibrant student community:
- Chem Club: Ying Ying Tjong and Harry Xu MC’d the event.
- University of Toronto Chemical Vehicle Team (UTCV): Mariam Itani and Danai Lari connected with alumni and shared updates on the team’s activities and achievements.
- Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (CSChE): Jeslyn Winoto, Ryan Xu, Mohammad Aziz and Calton Louis Paul
- ChemE Cube (video presentation): Daisy Huang and Rebecca Tam
Events like the Chemical Engineering Alumni Reunion demonstrate the strength of the department’s connection across generations. Whether meeting up with old friends again, exploring familiar spaces, or meeting the next generation of engineers, alumni were reminded that they will always have a home in ChemEng.
We thank all of our alumni who joined us and look forward to welcoming them back again in the years to come!
View the full photo gallery from the day here.