Anita Rizzello, Team Lead and Community Safety Case Manager in the University of Toronto’s Community Safety Office (CSO), has been awarded the 2025 Simcoe Hall Vice-Presidential Staff Award. She was recognized for her long-standing contributions to the University’s commitment to safety, well-being, and compassionate support.
Since joining the University in 2018, Anita has supported more than 550 clients through a wide range of safety-related challenges, including some of the most complex and high-risk cases. Anita brings extensive expertise in trauma-informed care, violence risk assessment, and crisis intervention. She is a fierce advocate for victims of violence and a trusted collaborator among units working together to respond to community needs. With empathy, discretion, and tireless dedication, Anita ensures that each individual feels heard, respected, and supported.
Her nominator, Shannon Howes, Director, High Risk, Community Safety and Crisis & Emergency Preparedness, shared “Anita’s approach to the work and her unwavering dedication to service and integrity has helped to foster a culture of care and support within the CSO and within the broader University of Toronto Tri-campus environment, making our community a safer place for all.”
Anita initiated the expansion of the CSO’s self-defence offerings beyond the existing Wen-Do program, developing additional workshops tailored to the unique needs of equity-deserving communities. These included DEFY, a course for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and InPower, a broadly accessible program with a focus on safe commuting, all available across the tri-campus.
Anita has also played a leading role in workplace safety planning, including developing adaptable protocols for spillover violence scenarios that have already proven valuable in high-risk cases and are now used as standard resources in locations such as Simcoe Hall. Her calm demeanour, strategic thinking, and heartfelt commitment have made her a go-to resource in times of need. Anita’s leadership within the CSO has been instrumental in enhancing policies, protocols, and programming that center survivor support and inclusivity.
Her innovation extends to education and outreach as well. Anita developed and managed the CSO’s growing social media presence, curating content on difficult but vital topics such as sextortion, fraud, stalking, intimate partner violence, and cyber harassment. These posts help inform the community while opening doors for collaboration with other campus partners and services.
“Few individuals exemplify the spirit of sustained service excellence as clearly as Anita,” reflected Hana Saleem, Director of the Workplace Investigations Office. “Her contributions have been exemplary and have significantly advanced the University’s commitment to safety and service.”