Alexandra McLaren

What Program did you graduate from and when?

Contemporary Art, Design & New Media History, 2014

What is your current title or role? (e.g. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)

Peer Facilitator at OCAD U Student Wellness Centre. This is a dynamic position at OCAD U where I take on the role of a staff member who advocates for students and challenges stigma around mental health, disability and substance use.


Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

While completing my undergrad at the University of Toronto, I was envious of my friends who went to OCAD U down McCaul street. OCAD U had a smaller campus, stylish people, queer-friendly, invested in social justice. Just sitting in Butterfield Park as a visitor made me feel inspired.
 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

I supervise the Peer Wellness Education team of student and alumni volunteers. The Peer Wellness initiative creates health outreach for the OCAD U community. Additionally, I manage the SWC Social Media, facilitate workshops, collaborate with other departments, and organize Peer Wellness Parties.

My personal practice is Creative Writing, Collage and Photography. I’ve been fortunate to merge my personal practice into professional with the Peer Wellness Journaling Club which is a safe space for students to cultivate mindfulness into their creative writing practice.


How did you get started in your career?

At OCAD U I was elected to be the Graduate Representative for the OCAD Student Union (OCADSU). A lot of doors opened professionally for me that I didn’t know existed, including being a Senate Student Representative on the OCAD U Board of Governors, sitting on multiple committees and discussions with former President, Dr. Sara Diamond.

The majority of the work I was doing for the OCAD SU was focused on creating a safe space for students to have difficult conversations about mental health, addiction, and disability. OCADSU showed me that I had the ability to change things on a systemic institutional level.

A curator for Spectrum – an exhibition that brought multi-disciplinary artists together who were challenging mental health stigma and using our platform to connect students with community health resources. It was great to administrate and create something with impact. My co-curator Simone Rojas-Pick and I won the Diversity & Equity Award for Spectrum.

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

I was competitive in grad school and fell into the internship world with some naivety. Like many people, I was eager to build my resume and gain professional experience in my field. I realized quickly how hard it was to juggle my unpaid internship with my paid job. Internship demand a lot of energy and emotional labour - sometimes it’s better to walk away from opportunities that drain you.

Whereas I feel very differently about volunteering. To me, it feels good to be able to contribute back to my community in ways that align with my values. Volunteering is meaningful: we do it to grieve, help others, give back, protect our communities, create a better world.

I believe students should be paid for their work and that we need to normalize doing a non-glamorous working-class job for a paycheque. As with all experiences, you will realize in time just how much you are always learning.


What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

I enjoy seeing students succeed, honouring someone’s growth, seeing their progress and reflecting on that with them. It is never my intention to change who they are. Some of the biggest successes of my work include helping a student study for the Canadian Citizenship Test and celebrating when they passed. Seeing students be nominated for Student Recognition Awards. Learning how to make someone’s family recipe at Cooking Club.

It’s very challenging to see students in the depths of despair and grief. While I’m capable of supporting that, some problems in life and circumstances are truly heart-wrenching. It’s important to hold space for all those feelings and emotions without fixing them.

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

Knowing what I know now, I would’ve put myself out there more. I didn’t realize how kind and supportive OCAD U was when I was there. I felt very alone. Being at OCAD U taught me to nurture professional relationships, foster a sense of community, think-critically about diversity and equity, be anti-racist, question the status quo, and generally, how to listen better. My dad says “you have two ears but only one mouth.” OCAD U demanded attention from me to listen and it confronted me in ways that made me listen before speaking.

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?

Self-care – reading, getting my basic needs met, making time for daydreaming. For me, self-care is calling attention to what you’re already doing. I’m always learning and taking in diverse information through radio, documentaries, podcasts, non-fiction books, newspapers, etc.

Creating my own financial security and developing financial literacy is ongoing but the key to living independently without assistance. Having that stability gives me the privilege to participate in my personal practice.

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

To continue learning, taking courses, building on my knowledge of the land and indigenous Canada. Maybe return to Production and make a film. Professionally, I want a work-life balance. I plan to continue to do my job well, take a sabbatical and have the freedom to go up North. Personally, I want to see the gender wage gap close.