Legacy
Jehangir’s legacy continues through public events, student recognition and the ideas he shared. Explore the memorial lectures, the work supported at Toronto Metropolitan University, and scholarship that engages with his writing.
The Jehangir Saleh Fund
Ideas, creativity and community in Jehangir’s memory.
Established in 2014 at the university now known as Toronto Metropolitan University, the Jehangir Saleh Fund began with a memorial lecture series. It supports student-led public projects that create conversation, connection and social change.
Projects can explore identity and community, chronic illness and disability, or how society understands illness and death. Lectures, panels, installations and performances offer different ways to bring these ideas into public life.
Support his continuing legacy
Explore the projects and awards continuing in Jehangir’s name, or use the university donation link already provided on this website.
The Jehangir Saleh lecture is made possible through a gift from the family of Noorali & Saker Saleh and friends, in partnership with the Arts & Contemporary Studies program, Department of Philosophy and the Faculty of Arts, Ryerson University.
Watch: the Fund and the family’s story
These two videos are embedded on TMU’s official Fund page. Historical lecture recordings are catalogued below with their current access information.
Lecture recordings
- Living Well in the Face of Illness2016. The recording no longer plays at its old address. The 2016 lecture
- Imprisoned Bodies: Liberation in the Midst of Limitation2017. The recording no longer plays at its old address. The 2017 lecture
- Moral Vulnerability in a Time of Political Crisis2019. The recording no longer plays at its old address. The 2019 lecture
The Jehangir Saleh Lecture 2015–2019
The Jehangir Saleh Annual Lecture at Ryerson was established at Ryerson University to honour the memory, life and work of Jehangir Saleh, who died from cystic fibrosis in June 2013. Jehangir was a curious, creative and inspirational philosophy student who dedicated his time and work to the idea of ‘opening up’ and understanding chronic illness, finding strength in adversity and establishing creative and inclusive communities of understanding and support. He was unfailing in seeking to find true meaning in every encounter and relationship and he fostered a strong and deeply memorable sense of shared community among cystic fibrosis patients, families, caregivers and clinicians. His strong sense of shared community extended well beyond those connected to cystic fibrosis or the experience of chronic illness to also include a wide circle of dedicated and diverse friends seeking to learn from life and each other.
This lecture series has been established to continue Jehangir’s work and to explore the following broad themes: the meaning of chronic illness and disability, the social framing of illness as hardship, the human significance of adversity in all forms and, finally, the finding of meaningful ways to overcome adversity, through diverse and creative ways of sharing, music, art, connection and community.
2015
The 1st lecture, October 27, 2015
The Art of Wellbeing: Living with Illness
Professor Havi Carel, University of Bristol
In the archive: Department notice (PDF) · Eventbrite listing · Facebook event · Photo album on Facebook
2016
The 2nd lecture, September 27, 2016
Living Well in the Face of Illness
Professor Kay Toombs, Baylor University
In the archive: Recording (no longer plays) · Photo album on Facebook
2017
The 3rd lecture, September 26, 2017
Imprisoned Bodies: Liberation in the Midst of Limitation
Dr Drew Leder, M.D., Ph.D., Loyola University Maryland
In the archive: Recording (no longer plays) · Facebook event · Related article (2018) · Loyola’s account
2018
The 4th lecture, 2018
The Meaning of Health
Dr. John Russon, University of Guelph
In the archive: Facebook event
2019
The 5th lecture, October 3, 2019
Moral Vulnerability in a Time of Political Crisis
Professor Todd May, Clemson University
In the archive: Recording (no longer plays) · Official event page · Facebook event · Eventbrite listing · Campus events round-up
2022
2023
“Our lives are just stories. And unlike us, these stories will never die.”
Student projects and Kaleidoscope
(Toronto Metropolitan University – Society of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities)
Visit Kaleidoscope →
The Kaleidoscope Undergraduate Arts Conference, hosted by the Society of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities (SASSH) at Toronto Metropolitan University, celebrates student research and creative scholarship in the arts and humanities.
First launched in 2008 as the Arteries conference, the event was re-imagined in 2023 as Kaleidoscope — a vibrant space for undergraduate voices and ideas to come alive through performance, theory, and interdisciplinary exploration.
Among its earliest presenters was Jehangir Saleh, a student in the Arts & Contemporary Studies program who brought deep insight and courage to his work. In March 2008, Jehangir presented a paper examining “disorder” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, weaving together literature and lived experience. His research, often grounded in his journey with chronic illness, sought to expand how we understand the human condition through empathy, creativity, and reflection.
Following his passing in 2013, Jehangir’s family established the Jehangir Saleh Fund at TMU to continue nurturing the kind of curiosity, compassion, and academic excellence that defined his life.
Today, the Kaleidoscope conference honours Jehangir’s enduring legacy — a reminder of how scholarship and spirit can inspire others to see the world through a more thoughtful, hopeful lens.
The inaugural Kaleidoscope event took place in November 2023. Later conferences took place on November 22, 2024 and November 21, 2025.
His ideas in later scholarship
In a 2024 article in Frontiers in Psychiatry, philosopher Michael Butler quotes and discusses Jehangir’s account of repetitive daily treatment. The article draws on his essay Mopping + Kissing + Football: Living With Cystic Fibrosis.
The Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
A separate award initiative recognizes Faculty of Arts students for selfless acts of kindness. University coverage names the family and friends of the Kassam and Saleh families as its donors.
Recipients and award holders
These names appear in university award records. Each entry links to its source; public LinkedIn profiles are included where the identity could be matched. This list reflects the published records located so far and is not a complete all-time roll.
2023–2024 academic year
Jan Wozniak
Psychology · Jehangir Saleh Fund
Recognized January 9, 2025
Anna Skendos
English · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Ashlie Wilson
Sociology · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
James Southey
Environment and Urban Sustainability · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Jordan Le Roux
History · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Nooh Kamaluddin
Geographic Analysis · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Recognized April 28, 2026
Cassandra Didier
Psychology · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Suzette St Pierre
Psychology · Jehangir Saleh Kindness Award
Other public award mentions
Maria B. lists the Jehangir Saleh Kindness Fund award from TMU in February 2026 on a public LinkedIn profile. This is a self-reported listing; university confirmation has not been located. View the award listing on LinkedIn.
For students
Faculty of Arts students, or groups with at least one Arts student, can explore support for a public initiative. TMU publishes the current funding, eligibility and application information.
The Fund in the archive
Browse the announcements, awards coverage, project reports and public posts connected to the Fund.
- The Jehangir Saleh Fund — official TMU page
- Psychology Opportunities bulletin — Jehangir Saleh Fund
- A round-up of 10 Ryerson events you don’t want to miss this month
- Donors and student award winners gather at inaugural Arts Awards Celebration
- A year in review: Celebrating student success
- The Society of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities hosts second annual Kaleidoscope Undergraduate Research Conference
- Resistance and Reinvention: Showcasing Undergraduate Research at Kaleidoscope Conference