THEN AND NOW

Rachellá Valdez (Toronto), a 2008 initiate, has been an active member of the Toronto Alumnae Chapter since 2012. About a year after her graduation in 2021, Ava Wombwell (Toronto) also joined the alumnae chapter. The two were both Gamma Phis at the University of Toronto’s Alpha Alpha Chapter. Rachellá studied international relations and Ava’s degree is in women and gender studies. Postgraduation, Ava is a manager for a Canadian fashion brand, and Rachellá is a marketing assistant manager and freelance associate editor. Though these two sisters weren’t in the chapter at the same time, they shared some similarities in their experiences on campus.

Rachellá Valdez

Ava Wombwell

FAVORITE GAMMA PHI BETA MEMORY AS A COLLEGIAN?

Rachellá: My favorite memories are our themed socials and just hanging out with my sisters during my free time. We would have “Jersday Thursday” and watch “Jersey Shore” in the basement and paint each other’s nails.

Ava: It’s definitely a tie between in-person recruitment September 2019, which was my last in-person recruitment, and Big Sister Little Sister Reveal!

WHAT WAS A POPULAR RECRUITMENT TREND?

Rachellá: Houses would list where sisters worked and what their discounts were, and we put balloons on the ceiling.

Ava: Balloon letters and photo walls.

COMMON SLAG WAS…

Rachellá: LOL, lit and szeen. Toronto has its own specific slang it’s hard to explain.

Ava: Slay and IYKYK (if you know you know)

HOW DID YOU COMMUNICATE WITH LOVED ONES BACK HOME?

Rachellá: BBM (BlackBerry messenger) was the thing to have! Instagram, Facebook and Twitter were just starting to come out. MSN messenger was a big thing too.

Ava: Texts, phone calls and social media direct messages.

WHAT MUSIC WERE/ARE STUDENTS LISTENING TO?

Rachellá: Top 40 and a lot of Jay-Z and Kanye.

Ava: Hip-hop, rap and electronic dance music (EDM).

Do you know two sisters who initiated at the same chapter, just with seven or more years between them? Email TheCrescent@gammaphibeta.org for a chance to see them featured on this page in the future!