Mirela Todorovic Memorial Fund
March 26, 1987 – February 22, 2025
Mirela Todorovic was full of creativity, resilience, and a killer sarcastic wit; her life was defined not by limitation, but by limitless imagination.
Born on March 26, 1987, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Mirela’s story began with extraordinary strength. After being placed for adoption, she was welcomed into the loving arms of her parents, Mirko and Nelly. In 1991, the family emigrated to Canada, where they built a life rooted in love, culture, and experiences. Mirela shared an especially close bond with her parents, who ensured she had every resource, encouragement, and opportunity to flourish. Born with cerebral palsy, Mirela transformed lived experience into artistic fuel. She approached the world with honesty, depth, and fearless creativity, using her voice to illuminate perspectives too often unheard. Her disability was not a boundary—it was part of the lens through which she created powerful, necessary work.
A lifelong learner and accomplished scholar, Mirela graduated from Martingrove Collegiate Institute in 2007 before earning diplomas in General Arts & Science and Media Communications from Humber College. At Humber, she thrived—receiving multiple academic achievement awards that reflected both her brilliance and dedication. She later completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Media Studies through the University of Guelph, further sharpening the voice that would become her legacy.
In 2024, Mirela was awarded the prestigious Penguin Random House Canada Emerging Writers Scholarship—an affirmation of the literary promise she had long embodied. She used the scholarship to pursue graduate studies in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire, where she was completing her Master’s degree at the time of her passing.
An established scholar and published author, Mirela released her first book of short stories and poems, There’s Tofu in This, in 2014. Her writing blended wit, insight, and emotional truth, reflecting the sharp mind and generous spirit she carried into every room. She dreamed of a lifelong career in writing—and she was well on her way.
Outside of academia, Mirela’s joy was found in creation and connection. She loved writing and making art, immersing herself in a compelling television series, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. Her beloved cats, Mirko and Cappy, and dogs, Zooey and Franny, were constant companions and cherished members of her family. Her artwork continues to live on through her creative platform, @brushonwheelsart.
Mirela will be remembered for her quick wit, her unwavering voice, and her fierce dedication to artistic expression. She believed deeply in representation, equity, and the power of storytelling to shift culture. The Mirela Todorovic Memorial Fund has been established to honor that belief. This fund exists to continue Mirela’s legacy of amplifying voices—particularly those who are misrepresented, underrepresented, or excluded in social spaces, media, and the arts. Through this work, her spirit of advocacy, creativity, and courage will continue to shape the world she so passionately wrote for.
