Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS staff receive Long Service Awards for 25+ years of service

Published on: April 16, 2026

Group photo of staff received Long Service Awards

The people who make up Information Technology Services each carry a piece of the University of Toronto’s technological history. Together, their stories reflect how deeply technology is woven into the fabric of the university and how far it has come. Some have been part of this journey since before the dot-com boom, witnessing firsthand the evolution of digital innovation on campus.

On April 6, Chief Information Officer Donna Kidwell hosted a Long Service Awards gathering to celebrate the achievements, dedication and valuable contributions of ITS staff who have dedicated 25 or more years to the university.

Meeting around a table for a morning of great conversation and snacks, the group of 12 awardees shared a mix of fascinating and humorous reflections on their time at U of T, offering a glimpse into how the institution and its technology have transformed over the decades. Peter Ip recalled introducing the university’s first email system and helping design the original UTORid! Tarrah Gledhill showed off her very first TCard, issued in 1999 — a tangible reminder of how far campus systems have come.

Awardees also reflected on what first brought them to ITS and what inspired them to stay. For John Bassani it was the casual attire (shorts in the summer!) and generous winter holidays that caught his eye. For Sean Despres, who returned to ITS after a short period in the private sector, it was something deeper: “The goal isn’t just to make money — it’s to make a change.”

Having spent her own career in higher education, Donna echoed this sentiment: “There’s almost no part of society that the university doesn’t touch, which makes it a glorious place to spend our careers. I am honoured to get to do that with others who have also made that choice.”

Congratulations to this year’s Long Service Award recipients on reaching this important milestone in their service with ITS and U of T!

  • John Bassani
  • Tammy Chan
  • Svetlana Opachevsky
  • Peter Eden
  • Kelly Jay
  • Paul Kern
  • Evgueni Martynov
  • Nicky Lai
  • Tarrah Gledhill
  • Joanne Sukhai
  • Peter Ip
  • Joseph Lam
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