Making Space

Pam Shainhouse (BA ’91) doesn’t tell her story in tidy soundbites. She doesn’t call herself a survivor, a trailblazer or a philanthropist – though she is all of those things. Instead, she speaks with the matter-of-factness of someone who has lived through enough upheaval to know that life rarely fits into neat categories. “I’ve never been afraid to start over,” she says. “Sometimes you don’t have a choice.”

At York, you had a conversation. I found it empowering

That refusal to flinch in the face of reinvention has defined Shainhouse’s life. In her early 30s, newly separated and raising three young children on her own, she decided it was time to reclaim her independence. “I needed to do something for myself,” she says, a sentiment that underscored her decision to enrol at York University, after dropping out of Western University years earlier. The experience offered her more than just an education – it gave her respect and a sense of purpose during a tumultuous time. “You walked in and weren’t lectured,” she recalls. “At York, you had a conversation. I found it empowering.” She completed an undergraduate degree in health and society and business sociology in just two years, often studying late into the night after putting her kids to bed. “It was a tough time,” she says. “But I loved every minute.”

Her graduation in 1991 was marked by an unforgettable moment: receiving her degree from jazz legend Oscar Peterson, who was serving as York University’s chancellor at the time. “I broke protocol,” she laughs, recalling how she reached out to shake his million-dollar hands despite being told not to at the start of the formalities. “But I couldn’t help myself.”

By 37, Shainhouse had already established herself as a capable leader when she became the youngest chair of the Hadassah Bazaar, a cornerstone of Toronto’s Jewish community and one of the largest one-day fundraising events in the world. The bazaar, organized by Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW), raised millions over its decades-long run to support causes such as health care, education and women’s welfare in Canada and Israel. It was a massive undertaking, requiring meticulous planning and coordination among hundreds of volunteers.

Shainhouse approached the challenge with determination and resourcefulness. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” she says with a laugh, describing how she and her team learned fundraising on the fly.

Her success at the bazaar left an impression on others, including one hospital president who later remarked, “If you can do that, you can do anything.” It was validation of her ability to manage large-scale projects and inspire those around her – a skill she would carry into her later fundraising efforts for institutions including Etobicoke General Hospital and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

But it was a tragedy that reshaped everything. In 2006, Shainhouse’s daughter Alli died of Hodgkin lymphoma at just 26 years old. The loss was devastating, but became a turning point in Shainhouse’s life. “Mom,” Alli had told her before passing, “you have a job to do – you have to be out there helping people with cancer.” Those words stayed with her. “I wasn’t allowed to give up.”

In Alli’s memory, Shainhouse founded Alli’s Journey, a charity supporting young adults with cancer through initiatives such as “comfort bags,” designed for patients undergoing treatment. These bags are tailored for individuals who often find themselves in an uncomfortable limbo: too old for pediatric care at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, yet navigating a health-care system and support networks that are often not fully equipped to address the unique needs of adolescents and young adults facing cancer treatment.

That same year, Shainhouse also launched Allistyle, a fashion brand inspired by Alli’s struggles with body image during treatment. But Allistyle wasn’t just about inclusivity – it was also about sustainability. The brand used eco-friendly fabrics such as bamboo viscose to create stylish clothing for curvy women while reducing its environmental footprint. 

In 2012, Allistyle debuted at Toronto Fashion Week with Canada’s first size-inclusive runway show, marking a significant shift in the industry’s approach to size inclusivity and sustainable fashion. “We weren’t trying to make a statement,” Shainhouse says. “We were just filling a gap.”

Now in her 70s and living with exostosis – a rare hereditary bone disease that has required more than 20 surgeries – Shainhouse continues to advocate for accessibility and inclusion through her consulting firm, the Shainhouse Group. Her lived experience has shaped her perspective, giving her both insight and determination to push for meaningful change.

“When you are a woman with a disability,” she says firmly, “you know how to advocate for accessibility.” ■