Abbygayle Welch Knows that Together We are Stronger

Meet One of the Applicants to Lakehead's New Social Justice Program

As a kid, my parents would tell me, "You always stand up for the underdog," Abbygayle Welch says.

Her natural compassion has only grown stronger over the years.

Abbygayle received an entrance scholarship to Lakehead and has been on the Dean's List for four years in a row. Above, her parents watch Abbygayle sign a contract to join the Lakehead's varsity women's soccer team.

"Social justice is really important to me because it helps people who don't have a voice get the resources they need," Abbygayle explains.

This spring, she will graduate from Lakehead Orillia with an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in Criminology.

"Studying criminology has allowed me to better understand society and the true consequences of crime, including the toll it takes on both victims and offenders."

Saying No to Inequality

Abbygayle is already thinking about how she can continue on her path of fostering a world where everybody thrives.

She recently applied to Lakehead's Master of Social Justice Studies (MA in SocJ) program, which has just been launched on the Orillia campus.

It was first established on the Thunder Bay campus in 2016.

"The program attracts great students who care about people and the planet," says Social Justice Studies Student Advisor Dr. Kevin Brooks.

"It gives them a transformative education by teaching them to analyze disparities and take action to change them."

Abbygayle is considering going to law school after completing a master's degree so that she can improve the justice system at the policy level.

The broad interdisciplinary framework of Lakehead's Master of Social Justice Studies degree sets it apart from those offered by other universities.

It gives graduates the tools to advocate, organize, research, and lead in complex social justice spaces. And Master of Social Justice Studies alumni have gone on to make an impact in the health, education, social services, legal, technology, and environmental sectors.

It's also a very flexible degree since a significant number of the classes are available online.

This means that it works for everyone—whether it's a well-established career professional wanting to expand their competencies or a student, like Abby, who's just graduating from university.

Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere

Abbygayle's determination to help others took on a new focus in high school.

"I became passionate about social justice after my grade 11 law class teacher showed us a documentary about Archie Williams."

Williams is an American man who was falsely imprisoned for 37 years. It was only through the work of a nonprofit called the Innocence Project that he was finally freed.

"The trauma he endured really stuck with me," she says. "Archie's story changed what I wanted to do with my life."

Abbygayle's grandmother emigrated from Hungary and worked for a lawyer in Oshawa. "She would've liked to become a lawyer herself," Abby says. "I want to help her live her dream through me." Above, Abbygayle and her grandparents celebrate the Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario award she won in 2022.

Her interest in the challenges faced by the incarcerated has persisted.

For her Lakehead honours thesis, Abbygayle is assessing two Orillia justice services that provide support to individuals who are involved with the law.

It's part of a larger research project being conducted by her faculty supervisor, Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Dr. Debra Mackinnon.

"We want to pinpoint the gaps in these justice services and propose strategies to help them improve," Abbygayle says.

A Role Model to Look Up To

Abbygayle (above) was recruited to play on Lakehead's varsity soccer team. "I toured the Orillia campus and fell in love. It was such a vibrant space and I knew that I wanted to be at a university that's close to nature."

Since high school, Abbygayle has spent her summers working for Their Opportunity.

It's a sports charity that delivers and subsidizes children's sports programs, such as basketball and soccer camps, in underserved communities.

"I love being involved in sports and working with kids," she says.

She's a perfect fit for Their Opportunity—Abbygayle has played soccer since she was four years old and is a member of the Lakehead women's varsity soccer team.

Being involved with a sports charity has allowed her to actively engage in social justice.

"I will always remember the mom who came up to me to let me know what a good role model I've been to her daughter," Abbygayle says.

"Seeing what a difference it makes to kids when they have someone on their side has shown me what we can achieve when we work together."

Are you interested in fostering social justice and laying the foundation for a meaningful career with non-profits, governments, or community partners? Then click here to learn more about Lakehead Orillia's Master of Social Justice Studies degree.