“When we have privilege, blessings and skills, it’s our responsibility to better the lives of others” – McMaster WISE adds community service to its mission

People went out of their way to avoid or ignore Christine when they passed her in downtown Hamilton.

But not Zainib Nazir – ignoring Christine would’ve gone against all that she’d been taught by her parents. Christine became Nazir’s friend and then her inspiration for McMaster Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) launching a community outreach project for vulnerable women in Hamilton.

Nazir was in her first year at McMaster studying Life Sciences and volunteering at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton when she met Christine.

“Morning beautiful,” Christine said. Known as “Street Ma”, Christine spent her days at her favourite spot across the hospital’s Charlton campus.

Nazir and Christine struck up a conversation and a friendship followed.

“Christine was a woman who had survived so much – homelessness, neglect, drug abuse, health issues and so much cruelty at the hands of society,” said Nazir who’s now a graduate student in McMaster’s eHealth program. “But Christine didn’t let the world make her hard. She had unrelenting strength.”

On Nov. 11, 2019, Christine was conspicuously absent when Nazir headed into St. Joe’s. “I knew when I didn’t see her that something was wrong.” And then Nazir spotted Christine’s obituary on a handwritten sign taped to a post where they’d catch up while waiting for the traffic lights to change.

Nazir was devastated. She went to a memorial service a few weeks later and was overwhelmed by how many people from all walks of life were there to pay tribute to Christine.

“We were all connected through her. I wasn’t surprised at how loved she was but what shook me was what a powerful impact she’d had on those around her. She wasn’t what society would conventionally call successful – she barely had enough to make ends meet, she had just overcome homelessness and didn’t have a job. But she was kind. She used the time and health she had to be good to people – to live in service of those she loved. She was a beautiful soul.”

Inspired by her friend, Nazir started volunteering with Kemp Care Network while continuing to volunteer at St. Joe’s and working a series of jobs to pay her way through university. She still volunteers at the Hamilton-based hospice as she finishes up her master’s degree in digital health at McMaster. “There’s something very meaningful and powerful to this work. It helps ground me to my purpose and gratitude for all that we have.”

That sense of gratitude was instilled in Nazir at an early age by her parents. They had left everything and everyone behind – family, friends and jobs – when they came to Canada from Pakistan. Like many immigrant families, they hoped to give their children a better life. “It was a difficult move marked by many challenges,” says Nazir. Through it all, her parents stressed the importance of giving back and being of service to others. “When we have privilege, blessings and skills, I was taught that it’s our responsibility to better the lives of others.”

Nazir honoured her parents and paid tribute to Christine once again as co-president of WISE. Established in the 1990s, WISE is an integrated network of academics and professionals in science and engineering fields who support, celebrate and advocate for diversity and equity at McMaster and in the community. More than 100 undergraduate and graduate students attended WISE’s annual research conference, guest lectures and special events last year.

Nazir went to her first WISE event as an undergrad and found her community. “I’m a first generation immigrant Muslim woman. I hadn’t seen someone like me doing research before I joined WISE.”

Nazir went on to serve as co-president during all three years of her graduate studies. “Being a grad student can be isolating. You’re on your own focused on doing your research. WISE offers a sense of community.”

Not only did membership on the executive team grow exponentially during Nazir’s tenure as co-president – the diversity on the team came to reflect the diversity among undergraduate and graduate students at McMaster. In her second year as co-president, Nazir was recognized with McMaster’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenous Reconciliation Student Award for her contributions to WISE and in the community.

Last year, Nazir added a service chapter to WISE. The executive team fundraised throughout the year and then packaged and distributed more than 50 grocery packs and another 50 menstrual product packs for vulnerable women plus gift packs for their children. Nazir hopes community outreach remains an annual tradition for WISE.

Mahrukh Khan – who served as co-president and was the research director for WISE’s 17^th annual national research conference in May – is staying on as president. “WISE is in excellent hands with Mahrukh as president,” says Nazir, who’ll be a senior advisor and mentor to executive members this year. She’s also joined the board of directors for Lotus STEMM, a Canadian non-profit that’s building a networking and leadership platform for South Asian women and girls in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine.

“I love uplifting others,” says Nazir. “My hope is that wherever I go, I can help inspire others. I am willing to do my part to break down barriers for women and anyone who’s had odds stacked against them and ensure they have the resources and opportunities to pursue their dreams.”

Many hands make a difference in the community. The WISE 2025-2026 executive team includes Zainib Nazir, Mahrukh Khan, Hairong (Helen) Dang, Natasha Muravu, Mahnaz Tajik, Namo Shree Ranganathan Rajalakshmi, Aysha Jamal, Sujana Saha, Shelby Prokop-Millar, Emma Hämäläinen, Alessandra, Fajr Elbanna, Zeynep Ruze Cetin, Parmida Ebrahimi, Sriya Dhanvi Mokhasunavisu, Melina Vassallo, Tanya Kumar, Maggie O’Dea, Nicole Twum-Ampofo, Safiya Dina, Anam Ahmed, Eden Daniel, Varusha Sivathasan, Behnoosh Zamanlooy, Vanessa Parise, Linh Tran, Aksaya Ghetheeswaran, Sarah Gamache, Ella Zegarra Brown, Isabella Luebke, Sarah (Seung Ea) Min, Sabrina Viloria, Celine Sebastian, Sanya Khurana, Fatima Haroon, Uthsavi Jayakumar, Jia Dabra and Harleen Jaryal.