Advisor to Canada’s Prime Minister recalls fond memories, impact of Hart House Mentorship Program

Six years ago, U of T grad student Harry Orbach-Miller participated in the Hart House Mentorship Program. Today, the alumnus shares how his mentor inspired him to give back, aim high and pursue an impactful career – hence, his current role in Canada’s highest office.

Through rich, experiential education experiences, Hart House prepares students for the rigours of academia, politics and the law; and supports them in becoming well‐rounded individuals, compassionate leaders and peace-focused global citizens.

The Mentorship Program is a prime example of this student support and Harry Orbach-Miller’s (MPP 2019) story illustrates the lasting impact and enduring value of this exceptional program. He was mentored by Paul Cadario, a recent recipient of the esteemed Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who demonstrate outstanding professional achievements; dedication to civic, charitable and social causes; and extraordinary service to the University of Toronto. Paul, one of the university’s most engaged alumni, was one of the original mentors in the Hart House Mentorship Program.

Today, Harry is a policy advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada and the senior coordinator, policy and cabinet affairs. He is responsible for a wide range of policy areas, including public infrastructure, labour and procurement among others. But from 2017 to 2019, he was earning a Master of Public Policy from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and, starting in 2018, participating in the Hart House Mentorship Program.

The application process for the mentorship program was simple. “You sign up, provide some information about yourself, explain why you’re interested in working with a mentor and then you get paired with someone,” he says, adding, “I got paired with Paul … and it was a great match.”

“The mentorship is primarily focused on grad students. Matches are made based on personal interests and career aspirations. It is quite rare to have this combination,” says associate director of advancement, Peter Wambera.

Harry keeps in touch with Paul to this day. The two recently saw each other in Ottawa. “We've continued the relationship. It is, I think, mutually interesting and helpful for both of us,” Harry explains.

Mentorship is about connecting, sharing insights and giving back

He underscores the value of the program and how Paul assisted him: “The mentorship program was really helpful because Paul was at a later stage in his career than me. It's beneficial to have people who are a few years ahead of you, because they can give you the longer perspective. They offer insights as to understanding different options for your career, how to think about certain problems and realizing the importance of those long-term relationships built over time, over a sustained relationship.”

Harry is both encouraged and inspired by Paul’s long-term commitment to U of T, which was acknowledged, honoured and celebrated at the Rose Wolfe Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. “At the event, Paul spoke about the importance of volunteerism and engagement whereby you can continue to be of service to the broader community long after you were a student,” Harry states. “Continually giving back – this has been installed into me as something that I definitely see myself doing in the future.”

“Paul really opened my eyes”

Harry’s interest in politics and public policy was already sparked by the time he met Paul, but Paul helped him with what he calls “showcasing the horizon of what’s out there,” especially since Paul had worked for the World Bank for nearly four decades. “And to me, that wasn’t something I hadn’t really broached as a possibility – the idea that you as a Canadian can have a great and impactful career at an international organization over a long period of time. So Paul really opened my eyes to the broader options as to a path forward for someone with a public policy degree. That was really helpful.”

Opens up broader U of T experience

Participating in the mentorship program had a profound effect on Harry.

He explains, “This experience with Hart House gave me a more macro-level perspective of U of T. It showed me how broad the university truly is and how many different paths there are to get involved in the school, whether you're supporting an organization like Hart House or the small organizations on campus or activities for students. And that was part of what made me ask myself ‘Are there any other ways to be involved?’”

And Harry became intensely involved. He was active on the search committee for the inaugural director of the newly formed Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and served on the Governing Council, including as the vice-chair of University Affairs Board. He also previously lent his skills to sourcing grant opportunities related to the Good Ideas Fund.

Advice for students: Get involved

He has some words of wisdom for students. Above all, he urges them to participate and engage. “Being involved has brought some of the richest experiences I've ever had. It broadens your horizons to the different things that are out there within your community beyond your own faculty or program bubble. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today without the experiences and lessons learned from the extra-curricular activities that I was involved in.

“There are so many opportunities for students to stretch and grow, whether it's being in charge of grant money or being involved in governance. Those experiences are available at U of T in the different institutions that exist across campus. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of those opportunities while they can.”

Originally published by Hart House