Ian Sakinofsky was a long‑serving faculty member at Toronto Metropolitan University, widely recognized for his deep commitment to collective bargaining and the rights of academic staff.
Born and educated in South Africa, he taught there before immigrating to Canada and joining Ryerson (now TMU) as faculty in 1991. He quickly became an influential member of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA), serving on the Negotiating Committee and later the Executive. His tireless advocacy for workers’ rights helped shape his institution and the broader post-secondary education community.
He received the CAUT Dedicated Service Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to academic staff associations. He was also honoured with the TFA Distinguished Service Award in 2009 for his outstanding service, and the 2013 Lorimer Award from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations for his work on behalf of faculty in Ontario.
Ian is survived by his partner, Sophie; his son, Lucas; his daughter‑in‑law, Stephanie; and his granddaughter, Maeve, along with extended family, colleagues and friends in Canada and abroad. He is deeply missed by his students and remembered with gratitude for his lasting contributions to research and teaching.
