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PREMIER'S AWARDS

The Premier’s Awards are administered by Colleges Ontario and honour graduates from 24 colleges across the province in seven distinct categories in recognition of outstanding career accomplishments. Presented annually, nominees have attained professional success after graduation, remain actively involved in the community, and make important social and economic contributions locally and abroad.

Categories include Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate.

Humber is proud to have winners in seven consecutive years and 12 winners since 2011.


2023 Premier's Awards Nominees

kenneth

Kenneth Fowler

Apprenticeship

Boilermaker Apprenticeship, 2001
Deputy Mayor, Town of Innisfil

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Carrie Baker (Winner)

Business

Public Relations, 2000
President, Canada Goose

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Deepa Mattoo

Community Services

Fundraising and Volunteer Management, 2007
Executive Director, Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

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Matthew Burnett

Creative Arts and Design

Bachelor of Music, 2014
Music Producer

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Michael Sanderson (Winner)

Health Sciences

Ambulance and Emergency Care, 1977
Chief and Director, Hamilton Paramedic Service

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Lisa Post

Recent Graduate

Bachelor of Community Development, 2023
Mayor, Town of Orangeville

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Anna Simone

Technology

Interior Design, 1977
Founder and Principal, Cecconi Simone Inc.

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Recommend a Premier’s Awards Nominee

If you know a Humber graduate who has experienced tremendous career success in their sector with a direct correlation to their Humber field of study, we would love to hear from you. Share a candidate for consideration by submitting a Premier’s Award Nominee Recommendation Form.

Please consider the following with your recommendation:

  • Have they made a significant impact and/or contribution in their chosen sector?
  • Have they been recognized by their industry or profession (e.g. received an industry award/awards)?
  • Have they helped shape, change or contribute to bettering their profession and/or the lives of others?
  • Are they involved in their community?
  • Have they contributed to their sector and/or communities on a global scale?
  • Was their Humber education instrumental in their career success?

Past Premier's Awards Nominees

Darran Malcolm headshot

Darran Malcolm

Apprenticeship
Arborist Apprenticeship, 2001

Darran Malcolm is an Urban Arboriculture graduate, a former college instructor in his field and a lifelong employee of Davey Tree Expert Co. ...
of Canada where he now serves as Operations Vice President (OVP). Darran joined Davey as a spray technician prior to earning his ticket as an apprentice. He received a series of promotions leading to more senior positions and currently oversees almost a third of Davey’s business. Beginning in 2016, he spearheaded Davey’s diversification into the industrial vegetation management sector, one that now represents 20 per cent of the company’s operations.
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Lisa Kimmel headshot

Lisa Kimmel

Business
Public Relations, 1996

With 25 years in the PR and business sector, Lisa Kimmel has contributed to the advancement of her profession in Canada and abroad. ...
She is Chair & CEO, Canada and Chair, Latin America and Global Women’s Equality Network and Global Managing Director of Edelman’s Sector Specialty Agencies, DJE Holdings. Along with being an agent for change and promoting inclusive and empowering workplace cultures, Lisa champions women and her industry’s evolution through leadership and mentorship. She is a WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Hall of Fame inductee and a YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Award-winner for Corporate Leadership.
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Jacqueline Edwards headshot

Jacqueline Edwards

Community Services
Law and Security Administration, 1994

Jacqueline Edwards began her career with the Correctional Service of Canada and became the first female president of the Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE) ...
initiating important conversations and relationships to reform anti-Black racism in law enforcement. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2021, she received the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s President’s Award of Merit, the highest honour for Ontario police leaders. Jacqueline leads by engaging diverse voices in building bridges between the sector and the community. She serves on several sector boards and committees, advocating and emphasizing the co-creation of change.
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Carson Arthur headshot

Carson Arthur

Creative Arts and Design
Landscape Technician, 2004

Carson Arthur is a globally recognized landscape designer and a renowned figure surrounding green living. ...
As an Outdoor Guest Expert on Cityline for the past decade, he reaches 2.1 million weekly viewers across North America focusing on eco-friendly spaces and a mantra that champions a healthier planet. Carson is the owner and founder of Carson’s Garden + Market and the author of the sold-out Garden Designs for Outdoor Living and the Amazon best seller Vegetables, Chickens and Bees. He leads by example and with integrity as the spokesperson for notable brands and accomplished over 150 unique designs for television projects.
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Mark Cameron headshot

Mark Cameron (Winner)

Health Sciences
Primary Care Paramedic, 1989

Mark Cameron is an advanced care paramedic who has trained physicians, nurses and many of Ontario’s advanced care paramedics. ...
His humanitarian work has been recognized by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, as well as the Canadian and British governments. He has worked in the Ukraine to assist in lifesaving care with orphaned children and provided emergency care and vaccinations to over 1.4 million children in Syria that eradicated a polio outbreak from spreading across Europe. Cameron has received the Meritorious Service Medal and two Governor General Medals of Bravery for his extraordinary humanitarian service.
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Mason Victoria

Recent Graduate
Bachelor of Music, 2017

Conductor, arranger and sound designer Mason Victoria captivates audiences and listeners with a unique talent and maturity far beyond his years. ...
The MARTY Award and Ron Lenyk Inspiring Youth Arts Award winner received honours for his contributions to a thriving art sector locally while his original compositions have reached as far as Los Angeles and Tokyo. At age 19, Mason was invited to conduct his large ensemble music in New York with the New Music Jazz Orchestra. He has performed alongside JUNO-winning artists and as Artistic Producer at Spectrum Music, he’s developed thought-provoking concerts that explore the world around us.
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Michael London headshot

Michael London

Technology
Interior Design, 1998

Michael London is a multi-award-winning luxury interior designer and the owner of Michael London Design. ...
Through his unique style and innovation, he has earned an ARIDO (Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario) award and two ARIDO President Citation awards, in addition to two BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association) awards. London’s sought-after work spanning a 20-year career includes high-profile commercial projects inspired by iconic luxury brands and private residences, situated within prestigious communities from Toronto to New York. A minority in his sector, London remains a champion for bringing diversity to design.
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Manvir Grewal

Apprenticeship
Electrician - Construction and Maintenance Apprenticeship, 2010

Manvir Grewal is the President of Buzzbolt Electric Limited, an electrical services firm specializing in residential, commercial and design/build applications. ...
Grewal earned his Master Electrician license by the age of 25, one of the youngest electricians in Ontario to achieve this standard in the profession. With proper training and ambition, the idea of personal ownership for Grewal was never in doubt. From an early start in his apprenticeship, Grewal displays a determination to extend his reach and expand the possibilities of his profession, while molding future electricians in the process.
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Rumeet Billan

Business
Human Resources Management, 2006

A learning architect, award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, humanitarian, and CEO ...
of Viewpoint Leadership, Dr. Rumeet Billan focuses on what she would describe as social capital - the idea of becoming our best selves. Renowned for her motivating and informative speaking engagements, she helps businesses and organizations draw upon the potential of their teams. Billan has been instrumental in building schools in Kenya, Sierra Leone and Ecuador and has been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award, Women’s Executive Network twice, and most recently, one of Canada’s Top 100 Power Leaders and Canada’s Top 10 Power Women.
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Baldev Mutta (Winner)

Community Services
Social Service Worker, 1990

Baldev Mutta is the CEO of Punjabi Community Health Services, an accredited charitable not-for-profit organization ...
making a significant impact serving and empowering families and individuals who are often marginalized and oppressed. With affiliates across Canada, Mutta’s success and standing as an industry leader stem from his knowledge and ability to identify needs, address gaps and determine culturally relevant solutions, imparting his wisdom to support like-minded organizations. Mutta’s work has garnered several activist, community and excellence awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, while his program offerings range from settlement services to addictions and mental health.
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Dione Taylor headshot

Dione Taylor

Creative Arts and Design
Music (Voice), 2003

Dione Taylor is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Regina, Saskatchewan, with a ‘PrairieBlues’ sound comprised of Roots, Blues, Gospel and Americana. ...
Successfully releasing four albums, her latest project “Spirits in the Water,” received nominations for two Independent Blues Awards, three Maple Blues Awards and Blues Album of the Year at the JUNOS 50th anniversary event. She has performed for presidents, royalty and music icons, while her expressive songs share lived experiences, history and perspectives of racial inequality, women’s rights, perseverance, freedom and injustice. She serves as a mentor to young artists, conveying messages of staying true to yourself.
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Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey headshot

Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey

Health Sciences
Nursing, 1983

Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey is a Licensed Registered Psychologist, Licensed Registered Nurse Practitioner and educator ...
who provides a cross-section of expertise in the health care space. As Principal & CEO, Leavey Consulting Inc., she is a clinician, advocate, researcher and virtual health expert who provides local and global community development strategies for resource-challenged regions. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Western Ontario, the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and the Sovereign Medal for her international medical and mental health volunteer support in Haiti and Bangladesh, and education and research in over 13 countries.
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Eloise Ambursley headshot

Eloise Ambursley

Recent Graduate
Graphic Design, 2017

Eloise Ambursley’s young career proves that there is no set script for the entrepreneur. ...
A graduate of graphic design, her road ahead would appear predictable. Instead, a course in entrepreneurship set her on a path to work with start-up leaders and dreamers. Soon, she became one, too. Since the launch of Oat Canada, the sugar-free oat milk product reached close to 1,000 stores in the first year of business. Featured in BlogTO, the company also found success on Dragon’s Den, with each Dragon prepared to invest $100,000 in exchange for a ten per cent stake. As the business moves forward, Ambursley continues to draw on her creative skills.
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David McPhail

Technology
Electromechanical Engineering Technology, 1988

In a field built upon revolutionary transformations, a 30+ year veteran of smart manufacturing, David McPhail, not only keeps pace with rapid change, he sets it. ...
A graduate of Electromechanical Engineering Technology, his reputation as an industry trailblazer is confirmed by his numerous awards and prominent roles and is supported by the sheer number of thought leadership pieces published over the years. He combines entrepreneurial ambition, an expansive skill set and an ongoing commitment to create not only the most efficient, data-driven manufacturing systems but to design them in a way that ensures accessibility for manufacturers of all sizes.
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Michael Hunter

Apprenticeship
Apprentice Cook, 2006

Chef Michael Hunter is the co-owner of Antler Kitchen & Bar in Toronto’s Dundas West, home to some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants. ...
Defined as cuisine rural to its roots, celebrating Canadian culinary delights, Antler has earned its due reaching Canada’s 100 Best list, Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants list and Post City Magazine’s Top 50. Hunter has cooked at restaurants and festivals around the globe, sharing Canadian flavours with industry influencers. He is considered a pioneer and trendsetter for his utilization of regional ingredients, and maintains a firm belief in supporting local farmers and suppliers.
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Tenniel Chu headshot

Tenniel Chu

Business
Professional Golf Management, 2000

Tenniel Chu is the Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, the Guinness World Record holder of the Largest Golf Facility ...
and Spa Resort, and host to the Largest One Day Golf Tournament. Maintaining a vision of bringing China to the world and the world to China, Mission Hills accommodates 20 million visitors per year and stands as a leading golf brand and global pioneer in the hospitality, sports and leisure industry. Tenniel earned the title of Most Powerful Person in Asian Golf for six straight years by Golf Inc., and World Chinese Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016 and 2017.
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Marcia Brown headshot

Marcia Brown

Community Services
Liberal Arts and Sciences, 1987; Early Childhood Education, 2006

Marcia Brown is the Executive Director and Founder of Trust 15, a youth community support organization in her home community of Rexdale. ...
Trained as an educator, Brown built Trust 15 by canvassing her neighbourhood with flyers and creating an after-school program for 15 girls at a local community church. Today, as head of the organization, she provides critical mentoring opportunities to hundreds of boys and girls and their families. Brown is celebrated and awarded as a community leader, activist and enabler, and is a resilient advocate for youth in need of self-confidence and self-esteem.
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Nathalie Younglai headshot

Nathalie Younglai

Creative Arts and Design
Television Writing and Producing, 2006

Nathalie Younglai is a director and writer behind some of Canada’s most notable television shows and series ...
including season two of CBC’s number one new drama, Coroner, and Dino Dana, which earned her 2019 Canadian Screen Award and Daytime Emmy nominations. At the forefront of a movement for greater inclusivity in Canadian film and television, Nathalie founded BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) TV & Film in 2012. In 2019, she earned the Trailblazer Award at Reelworld Film Festival Toronto, empowering emerging Indigenous and racialized storytellers whose work sparks positive social change.
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Peter F. Dundas headshot

Peter F. Dundas (Winner)

Health Sciences
Ambulance & Emergency Care, 1981

Peter F. Dundas is Chief of Peel Regional Paramedic Services in Ontario. For almost 40 years, ...
he has forged a distinguished career from front-line paramedic to senior leader. He leads a team of 650 health professionals that serves 1.4 million people and responds to over 150,000 calls a year. His leadership has resulted in new initiatives to improve patient outcomes, such as drone delivery of automatic defibrillators in rural communities and improving engagement with communities that lack access to primary health care. Dundas has inspired many young paramedics and touched the lives of thousands in their time of greatest need.
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Theo Willert

Recent Graduate
Electromechanical Engineering Technology, 2015

Theo Willert is a Corporate Automation Engineer for Magna International. Trained in Electromechanical Engineering Technology, ...
Willert helped to develop automated test equipment for automotive seats while still a student at Humber College. Willert’s skills in mechatronics have earned him gold medals at trade and technology skills competitions at the Ontario and Canada levels. He also earned Canada’s first bronze medal in mechatronics and the Best in Nation Award at the WorldSkills competition. Today, Willert is a mentor for up-and-coming talent in the skilled trades and is known as an elite manufacturing technologist on the international stage.
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Dan Menchions

Technology
Interior Design, 1986

Dan Menchions co-founded II BY IV DESIGN in 1990. ...
From humble beginnings, the celebrated, self-made firm has grown from a small operation based out of a 1200 sq. ft. workspace, to nearly 50 professionals contributing to a global design industry. Credited with over 400 design awards, the studio has been recognized as ‘Designers of the Year’ more than any Canadian firm, and operates out of their Toronto, New York, and London offices. Their international portfolio features iconic spaces, as well as contemporary furnishings, lighting, and accessories, establishing a level of respect and credibility amongst the design profession.
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Jason Parsons headshot

Jason Parsons

Apprenticeship
Cook Apprentice, 1992

Jason Parsons is Executive Chef of Peller Estates Winery Restaurant, a premier dining experience in Canada. ...
Parsons brings 25+ years of culinary experience to the kitchen, gathered from some of the world’s most renowned chefs and restaurants, including six Relais & Châteaux properties, two Michelin Star restaurants, and Leading Hotels of the World destinations. An iconic figure for Canadian and wine cuisine, Parsons has cooked twice at the James Beard House, known as “the cathedral of food”, in the Kitchen of Chef Gordon Ramsay, and for 15 years, been a guest chef expert on Cityline reaching the homes of millions.
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Kelli Saunders headshot

Kelli Saunders

Business
Marketing, 1985

An award winning entrepreneur and leader, Kelli Saunders is an influential voice in the logistics, supply chain and 3PL industry. ...
With over 30 years of experience, her pioneering spirit and industry expertise has grown her business into a successful multi-million dollar, multi-national organization. Believing in the power of “pay it forward”, Kelli has spoken at industry panels and conventions aiming to advance the role of women in leadership positions and educate about careers in logistics. She has received numerous industry awards, most recently the 2016 OWIT-Toronto’s Women Exporter of the Year and 2017 WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100.
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Jamil Jivani headshot

Jamil Jivani

Community Services
General Arts and Science, 2006

Jamil Jivani is a lawyer, activist, professor and author, whose work centres on issues impacting youth, and low-income families. ...
He founded the Citizen Empowerment Project to empower underrepresented communities to engage with national legal and policy issues such as police carding and voter turnout. A Yale Law graduate, he was named the 2015 Young Lawyer of the Year by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers. In 2018, Jivani authored Why Young Men: Rage, Race and the Crisis of Identity, a critically acclaimed book recounting his experiences and using them to open discussions around finding a solution to these issues.
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Debra DiGiovanni headshot

Debra DiGiovanni

Creative Arts and Design
Comedy Writing & Performance, 2000

Debra DiGiovanni is an award-winning stand-up comedian who rose to fame on MuchMusic’s “Video on Trial” ...
She has since shot comedy specials for CTV and Comedy Network, and performed in venues around the world. She was a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and has released a DVD special titled “Single, Awkward Female”. DiGiovanni has performed at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival ten times and was the first solo female ever toured by the Festival in 2014. She was awarded a 2009 Gemini for Best Comedy Performance and won three Canadian Comedy Awards in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
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Allan Cole headshot

Allan Cole (Winner)

Health Sciences
Funeral Service Education, 1978

Allan Cole is President and Owner of MacKinnon & Bowes Ltd., Canada’s specialist in international repatriations of deceased persons. ...
Cole was the first (and remains) Civilian Mortuary Affairs Director for the Department of National Defence and the RCMP, serving his country by overseeing the repatriation of fallen Canadian soldiers and heroes who lost their lives protecting Canadian freedom. Cole is fundamental in disaster preparedness efforts alongside government institutions, and in the face of the 1980’s AIDS epidemic, created a protocol for those who had died with this and other infectious diseases.
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Keon Lee headshot

Keon Lee

Recent Graduate
Paralegal, 2013

Keon Lee currently serves as a Justice of the Peace at the Ontario Court of Justice, a position he attained in August 2017 after only four years working as a licensed paralegal associate. ...
Following a career as a social service worker, Lee returned to school to pursue his paralegal education, working at Anderson Sinclair PC since 2013. Lee is a long-serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces as a Cadet Instructors Cadre Officer, and has also been volunteering with various youth-oriented organizations for the past 16 years, including Canadian Cadet Organizations and the Boys and Girls Clubs.
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Darius Mosun

Technology
Mechanical (Manufacturing) Engineering Technology, 1990; Business Management, 1999

Darius Mosun is Chair and CEO of Soheil Mosun Limited (SML), one of the world’s leading custom architectural fabricators. ...
Working with renowned architects and designers, they are dedicated to one of the most demanding tasks in the commercial world - turning their concepts into reality. Utilizing industry professionals, including toolmakers, machinists, welders, model makers, etching artists and industrial designers, SML has contributed to projects like the window frames for the Peace Tower and the Library of Parliament in Ottawa, ornate work at the Baha’i Temple in Haifa, Israel, and the elevator interiors of the Central Market towers in Abu Dhabi.
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Neil Parmenter

Business
Public Relations, 1994

As President and CEO, Canadian Bankers Association, Neil Parmenter is known as the voice of the banking industry ...
and is responsible for communicating the perspectives of the industry to all levels of government, regulators, stakeholders, media and the public. Parmenter plays a leading role in the development of public policy on financial services, helping to contribute to a sound, successful banking system that benefits Canadians and Canada’s economy.
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Theresa Fraser headshot

Theresa Fraser

Community Services
Child Care Worker, 1983

A Professor and Child and Youth Care (CYC) Curriculum and Faculty Development Consultant in the Ontario college sector, ...
Theresa Fraser has become a national leader and advocate for the CYC practice. She has been honoured with several awards recognizing her lifetime contributions to the field of play therapy and youth mental health, including most recently, the Monica Herbert Award by the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy to honor her lifetime contributions to the field of play therapy and mental health in Canada. She also received an award in 2017 for Excellence in Treatment Foster Care.
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Gord Gillies headshot

Gord Gillies

Creative Arts and Design
Radio Broadcasting, 1983

Over his 35 year career, Gord Gillies has gone from a radio broadcaster in Salmon Arms BC, to Calgary’s 1988 winter Olympic games ...
to receiving a Prairie Region Lifetime Achievement Award by RTDNA Canada for his contributions to broadcasting and community. Gord is an award-winning anchor for his coverage of the 2013 floods in southern Alberta and the 2015 Alberta provincial election. Recently, after 25 years as News Anchor with Global Calgary, Gord has made a move back to his radio roots as the morning show host at Newstalk 770 AM in Calgary – the city’s longtime AM news station.
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Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey headshot

Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey

Health Sciences
Nursing, 1983

Dr. Jo-Ann Elizabeth Leavey is a registered psychologist and Nurse Practitioner. ...
A recent recipient of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and Sovereign Medal, Dr. Leavey has spoken and volunteered in more than 13 countries, promoting improvements to public and environmental health, access to health care for disadvantaged people, and conditions for youth and others living with mental health problems. Her book entitled, Living Recovery: Youth Speak Out on “Owning” Mental Illness includes her recovery model ELAR (Emergence, Loss, Adaptation and Recovery) a guide through which a person, group, and/or community, can move through a process of healing.
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Justine McNeil

Recent Graduate
Child and Youth Worker, 2014

Justine McNeil is a passionate young motivational speaker, sharing her personal stories of living with depression and anxiety, advocating for mental health and breaking down stigma. ...
With powerful insights gained from her personal journey of mental illness, she provides inspirational messages of strength and resiliency to audiences of all ages. Leveraging the power of her international philanthropic experiences she also works to create awareness of social and global causes, speaking to various interest groups including over 20,000 people at WE Day and raising $10,000 for Free the Children towards a new classroom in Kenya.
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Andrew Bowerbank (Winner)

Technology
Industrial Design, 1989

Andrew Bowerbank is the National Vice President, Sustainability & Energy, WSP Canada ...
and a well-known figure in the Canadian energy and building infrastructure sectors. He has established a reputation as a leading authority on emerging clean technologies, high-performance building design, and low-carbon economics. Bowerbank is the former CEO and Executive Director of the World Green Building Council, where he successfully worked with Council members to grow WorldGBC membership from eight founding nations to more than 60 member countries. He is also the former Global Director of Sustainable Building Services at EllisDon Corporation, where he spearheaded the award-winning Carbon Impact Initiative.
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Ron Suter (Winner)

Business
Marketing, 1981

Ron Suter is known as a visionary trailblazer in his industry, playing a key role in redrawing the map of the Canadian Television Landscape. ...
As EVP of NBCUniversal Television and New Media Distribution Canada, and Universal Studios Canada Inc., Suter works with the biggest players in the Canadian entertainment industry. A mainstay in an industry that is constantly evolving, Suter’s ability to adapt quickly and navigate an ever-changing landscape has helped NBCUniversal remain an industry leader while maintaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Under Suter’s leadership NBCUniversal has doubled its sales volume over the last decade.
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Jill Andrew

Community Services
Child and Youth Worker, 1998

Jill Andrew is a transformational leader in contemporary culture. She’s an award-winning columnist, public speaker, scholar, student equity advisor, youth and women’s activist, and media consultant on body image, empowerment, leadership and representation. ...
She created the Body Confidence Canada Awards (BCCAs), the Toronto International Body Image Film & Arts Festival, and Fat in the City (FITC) - a fashion & lifestyle blog for stylish women with curves - and is co-editor of the anthology: In Our Skin: Our Bodies, Our Stories. Jill is an activist fighting to get body-based harassment (i.e. size discrimination) included as a protected ground in the Ontario Human Rights Code so no child or adult has to be the target of body-shaming.
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Laila Biali headshot

Laila Biali

Creative Arts and Design
Music, 2002

Laila Biali is an award-winning internationally recognized Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist....
Her accolades include “SOCAN Composer of the Year” and “Keyboardist of the Year” at Canada’s National Jazz Awards, along with a JUNO win for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for her self-titled album Laila Biali. Biali has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Tokyo’s Cotton Club and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has collaborated with many internationally renowned artists in her industry, including Chris Botti, Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega and Sting.
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Peter Dundas

Health Sciences
Ambulance & Emergency Care, 1981

An honours graduate in Ambulance and Emergency Care, Peter Dundas is Chief and Director of Paramedical Services, Regional Municipality of Peel, committed to getting the right tools to paramedics so they can deliver the highest level of care possible to the public. ...
These tools include breakthrough developments like increasing cardiac arrest survival rates as well as faster turn-around times for paramedics in the hospital. Dundas led the SARS response team for Region of Peel Paramedic Services, and was the operational lead for the Ebola Virus Disease response plans for the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, Emergency Health Services Branch.
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Giacomo Gianniotti headshot

Giacomo Gianniotti

Recent Graduate
Theatre Arts – Performance, 2012

Giacomo Gianniotti is an Italian-Canadian actor best known for playing Dr. Andrew DeLuca on ABC’s hit television show, Grey’s Anatomy. ...
Gianniotti has become an internationally celebrated actor and Emmy Nominee, after appearing in the hit television shows Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), and Reign, as well as the major motion pictures, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe and most recently, Race. In 2015 he premiered his short film, Still, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Gianniotti has also become an advocate for philanthropic causes including My Friend’s Place, All Hands Volunteers and SickKids Hospital.
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Andy Kikites

Technology
Civil Engineering Technician, 1998
Civil Engineering Technology, 1999

Andy Kikites is an internationally recognized expert in the art and science of bridge engineering, working with noted international planners and architects on some of the largest projects in the world, including Palm Island, Dubai; ...
Sir BaniYas Island, Abu Dhabi; Tappan Zee Bridge in New York; and previously as director for the largest transit program in the world, the $40B RER program for Metrolinx. Kikites has become a highly respected role model to a new generation of engineering students, and has advanced the industry through design innovation. He has authored research papers on innovative materials, structural systems, and bridge rehabilitation and preservation techniques.
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Mia Pearson

Business
Public Relations, 1992

A serial entrepreneur with a reputation for being an innovator, corporate strategist, and pioneer at fusing digital innovations with earned media, Mia Pearson is the co-founder of North Strategic and Notch Video, and the CEO of MSL Canada, a Publicis company....
Pearson has worked with brands like Samsung, American Express, airbnb, Lyft, Cadillac Fairview, Canada Goose, Air Miles, and Twitter among others. Her creative work has helped put Canadian companies on the international map. North’s groundbreaking work on the Sport Chek Social Flyer program – a move to digitize the brand’s traditional paper flyer – was one of only two Canadian campaigns to win a coveted global 2014 Facebook Studio Award. In 2015, Mia was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and named RBC’s Female Entrepreneur of the Year.
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Mark Saunders

Community Services
Police Foundations Leadership, 2008

In April 2015, after 32 years with the Toronto Police Service, Mark Saunders was appointed Chief of Police, making history as the first black officer to lead the largest municipal police service in Canada and the second black leader to head a police service anywhere in Canada. ...
He has served as co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police - Organized Crime Committee and participated as a mentor for the Black Community Consultative Committee. Saunders has also been an advocate and volunteer with Autism Speaks. He has received several awards for his work, including the Harry Jerome Award for Public Service, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Police Exemplary Service medal. He is also an officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.
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Cathy Mitro

Creative Arts and Design
Music, 1979

In 1980, Mitro started the Humber Community Music School (CMS), the first music education program in Canada to use jazz as a vehicle for teaching music to young children. ...
The CMS provides a unique experience for the budding recreational musician from as young as age three up through to the highest levels of performance training. Graduates of the program have gone on to great success, receiving more than 200 gold awards at MusicFest Canada (where Mitro is now a member of the Hall of Fame) and more than $2 million in scholarship offers from schools across North America. They have been nominated for Juno Awards, signed record deals, travelled the world and built careers as musicians and teachers.
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Vince Savoia

Health Sciences
Law & Security Administration, 1981
Paramedic, 1982

Savoia carries nearly three decades as a transformational leader who has significantly impacted the trajectory of a number of organizations and delivered positive, sustained performance and growth. ...
In 2001, he created the Tema Conter Memorial Trust Foundation to honour the passing of a young woman after he was called to a devastating scene while working as a paramedic. The Foundation provides resources for those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and help create awareness for critical incident stress. Savoia is a nationally known expert in work-related mental health and wellness, with an extensive background in crisis intervention and peer support. He advocates extensively on behalf of first responders and military personnel suffering from the effects of workplace trauma.
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Sabrina Rubli

Recent Graduate
International Development, 2013

Sabrina is a dedicated advocate for women’s empowerment and health rights, working to promote women’s health through education across East Africa, with a specific focus on menstrual health & hygiene. ...
Femme International’s Feminine Health Management (FHM) program, which combines feminine hygiene kits as well as educational sessions, is keeping schoolgirls in East Africa inside the classroom. It is one of only a few non-governmental organizations in the world dedicated to menstrual health and hygiene education, and the only organization promoting reusable menstrual cups as a sustainable solution. Sabrina is also a Blogger for the Huffington Post, and a TedX Speaker.
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Peter van Stralen (Winner)

Business
Landscape Technician, 1990

Peter is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the franchise & service industry. ...
Starting out with just a lawn mower and a trailer, he built the multi-million dollar landscape franchise Sunshine Brands, the parent company to The Grounds Guys and The Sprinkler Guys franchise systems. He built the business alongside his nine brothers, each one a graduate of Humber College. Van Stralen’s company has earned the Canadian Franchise Association Award of Excellence Gold Metal twice as well as the Franchisees’ Choice Award numerous times.
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Kimberley Greenwood

Community Services
Police Foundations Leadership, 2008

Through her career, Kimberley moved up the ranks, serving her community with distinction and making important contributions to policing at every level. In 2013, she was named Chief of the Barrie Police Service ...
After high school, Greenwood joined the Toronto Police Service as a cadet. As a relatively young police officer, Greenwood became involved in developing policy and implementing a training program to support a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse investigations. This approach has become the standard practice in most police forces. She also helped implement the Leaders in Partnership program, working with the local school boards and the Jamaican Canadian Association to identify at-risk youth in the Jane and Finch community of Toronto, and arranging for them to be mentored by police officers
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Waawaate Fobister

Creative Arts and Design
Theatre Arts Performance, 2005

Growing up in Grassy Narrows First nation, Waawaate’s father and grandfather were storytellers in the indigenous oral tradition ...
Although Fobister always understood that he was to carry on this tradition, his life changed when he saw The Rez Sisters by Aboriginal playwright Tomson Highway. A 15-year-old at the time, Fobister was inspired to become a playwright and actor. Shortly after graduating from Humber he wrote his first play, Agokwe, which premiered in Toronto in 2008, and in 2009, won six Dora awards including outstanding new play and outstanding performance by a male in a principal role. Agokwe is a powerful story of love and loss based on the infatuation of two Aboriginal teenage boys. Partly autobiographical, the play speaks to the idea of a “two-spirited” person, a male and a female spirit entwined in one body, once an accepted part of indigenous culture but now lost through assimilation.
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Mark Cameron

Health Sciences
Paramedic, 1989

Mark Cameron devoted his career to saving lives, receiving the Governor General’s Medal of Bravery for his service. In war-torn Syria, he put his own life at risk to save the lives of others by providing hands-on emergency care. ...
As an educator, he has played a key role in the training of Ontario’s advanced care paramedics. Cameron has repatriated sick and injured Canadians from every continent in the world except Antarctica. Alongside Dr. Jay Dahman, Cameron pursues humanitarian efforts in Syria through the Canadian International Medical Relief Agency (CIMRO), such as providing winter clothing for Syrian children.
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Candice Ekonomakos (Winner)

Recent Graduate
Culinary Management, 2012

By night, she cooks at the Ritz-Carlton; by day, she helps prepare meals at homeless shelters across the city of Toronto ...
Devoted to helping the less fortunate, Candice Ekonomakos launched “Cooks with a Mission,” which aims at alleviating hunger and poverty across Toronto. The meals are prepared by volunteer junior cooks using food and equipment donated by restaurant owners from across the city. While at Humber, the Canadian Culinary Federation, Canada’s national association for chefs and cooks (CCFCC), made her its Junior National Representative for Ontario. Upon graduating, she was accepted for a prestigious internship at the RitzCarlton Hotel Restaurant before being hired full-time.
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Lisa Zbitnew

Business
Marketing, 1982

Lisa Zbitnew has established herself as one of Canada’s most successful female music executives. ...
The former CEO of Bandwidth Music and Marketing, she was recognized for excellence in sales, marketing and promotion by the Canadian music industry in 1989/90 and was named the Music Industry Executive of the Year in 1994 and 1999. In 1996, her team was recognized as Marketing Team of the Year by the Canadian music industry. She was responsible for the merger of BMG and Sony and became president of Sony BMG. In the process, she created a $225 million division of the second-largest record company in the world. Zbitnew is also a committed philanthropist. As the CEO of War Child North America, she oversaw the Canadian charity’s expansion into the US market and built a recording studio in Sierra Leone to help youth gain literacy skills and increase opportunities for employment
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Jabari Lindsay

Community Services
Social Service Worker, 2001

From front-line worker, to program developer, to educator, Lindsay has had an influential career helping at-risk youth. Jabari has been working as a youth social worker for the past decade. ...
In 2009, Lindsay joined the City of Toronto where he designed, developed and implemented a $5 million gang prevention and intervention project. The program has helped support more than 300 at-risk youth, many of whom credit Lindsay and his programs with saving their lives. Lindsay received the Civic Action DiverseCity Fellow award for 2013 and the Humber School of Social & Community Services Alumni of Distinction Award in 2008
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Jason Parsons

Creative Arts and Design
Cook Apprentice, 1992

Jason Parsons is Executive Chef of Peller Estates Winery Restaurant, a premier dining experience in Canada ...
Parsons brings 25+ years of culinary experience to the kitchen, gathered from some of the world’s most renowned chefs and restaurants, including six Relais & Châteaux properties, two Michelin Star restaurants, and Leading Hotels of the World destinations. An iconic figure for Canadian and wine cuisine, Parsons has cooked twice at the James Beard House, known as “the cathedral of food”, in the Kitchen of Chef Gordon Ramsay, and for 15 years, been a guest chef expert on Cityline reaching the homes of millions.
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Lisa James

Health Sciences
Pharmacy Assistant, 1977

James is a trailblazer who has made a major impact on environmental sustainability by working with pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies and hospitals to find efficiencies in packaging design and waste. ...
A pioneer in her field, James is at the forefront of the national and provincial movements for the safe disposal of medicines. She is also a leading expert in helping pharmaceutical companies reduce their environmental footprint and achieve compliance targets. James is the founder and lifetime honorary member of the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians.
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Lee Renshaw (Winner)

Recent Graduate
Industrial Design, 2009

While you may not know Lee Renshaw by name, you may have seen him on TV. The inventor of Rise and Hang Travel Gear and president of Round Circle Group Ltd., Renshaw appeared on the CBC television show Dragon’s Den in 2012 where he was offered two deals. ...
From there, his hanging luggage system has appeared on The Shopping Channel and the Today Show, which led to his invention being named one of the top Christmas gift ideas for 2012. Renshaw’s Rise and Hang, which features a duffel bag with collapsible hanging shelves, was included in the gifts to the stars at the 2014 Academy Awards. He also licensed his technology to the global firm California Innovations, a move that generated sales of $2 million in 2013, in addition to his own sales of more than $500,000
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Don Evans

Technology
Solar Engineering Technology, 1984

Evans is an established and respected leader in the plumbing, heating and air conditioning industry, working on industrial, commercial, institutional and biotech facilities....
He also volunteers with the Niagara Neighbourhood Association in Toronto where his initiative and innovative thinking improved the design of a neighbourhood building. Evans built his career at Adelt Mechanical Works, the third-largest mechanical contractor in Toronto. Soon after joining the company he became a partner. In 2005, Evans purchased half of Adelt Mechanical Works and, in only five years, he increased the revenues from $12 million to $70 million. In 2012, he sold the company to Cofely GDF SUEZ, the largest mechanical contractor in the world
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Matt Di Paola

Business
Public Relations, 1995

At Huge, Matt oversees a team of 50+ visionaries in Toronto, made up of a combination of subject matter experts in digital & physical product design, UX, environmental design, organization design, brand and communications. ...
As Senior Vice-President & General Manager at Critical Mass, he worked with over 100 strategists, creative teams, technologists and project managers focused on developing innovative digital experiences for Canadian and international clients. Matt is a pioneer in the world of digital strategy integration. He has set a precedent in establishing and implementing “interactive” strategies with high profile national and international companies.
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James Derek Marchand

Community Services
Law and Security Administration, 1996

James holds extensive experience engaging and collaborating with Indigenous communities and various levels of leadership and key stakeholders. ...
His career has spanned many facets of frontline law enforcement and restorative justice, providing tremendous insight into the challenging and ever-evolving political and social relationship dynamics that exist. He serves as a role model, educator and advocate for Aboriginal rights, needs and culture.
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Vincent Lam

Creative Arts and Design
Creative Writing, 2003

A celebrated writer and emergency room doctor, Vincent was the winner of the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his book of short stories, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, which has been on several Canadian bestseller lists including The Globe and Mail and Maclean’s. ...
In 2010, the book was adapted for television and broadcast on HBO Canada. He also earned rave reviews for his novel, The Headmaster’s Wager, and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award. He is inspired by the human journey
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Allan Cole

Health Sciences
Funeral Service Education, 1978

Allan Cole is President and Owner of MacKinnon & Bowes Ltd., Canada’s specialist in international repatriations of deceased persons. ...
Cole was the first (and remains) Civilian Mortuary Affairs Director for the Department of National Defence and the RCMP, serving his country by overseeing the repatriation of fallen Canadian soldiers and heroes who lost their lives protecting Canadian freedom. Cole is fundamental in disaster preparedness efforts alongside government institutions, and in the face of the 1980’s AIDS epidemic, created a protocol for those who had died with this and other infectious diseases.
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Mimmo Carbonara

Recent Graduate
Electromechanical Engineering Technology - Automation and Robotics, 2007

416 Automation is a manufacturer of automated machinery, testing equipment and custom electrical panels, providing technical solutions to a variety of manufacturing companies in the automotive, packaging and electronic industries. ...
Throughout his career, Mimmo has progressed from a role as a Service Technician to running his own company and working with some the biggest names in the automotive industry, including Magna International and Delphi.
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Walter Rhoddy

Technology
Industrial Design, 1995

RHODDY connects consumers with brands through memorable experiences, providing integrated marketing solutions, and guiding and executing programs that motivate, engage and enlighten audiences. ...
Walter has designed and managed several international projects like the Singapore Pavilion at the World’s Fair. He’s also worked for major brands such as Volvo, Nike, Sony, Microsoft, Facebook, Ford and Tim Horton’s. Motivated by challenges in the creative pursuit, he pulls ideas and inspiration from art, films, nature, and parts of life that capture the imagination.
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Gordon Schofield

Business
Business Administration, 1976

Gordon Schofield carries over 40-years of experience in the business world. His vast experience includes executive level responsibilities with two major distributors, five information technology vendors, two national IT services providers and ownership of a payroll services provider. ...
He has also operated a successful mid-cap mergers and acquisitions advisory practice completing a number of funding, sale and acquisition transactions. Gordon has seen consistent increases in shareholder value and solid business partnerships as a leader and strategist and had significant success growing complex businesses, focusing on services and applications in competitive markets.
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Daniel McDonald

Community Services
Law and Security Administration, 1978
Advanced Police Science, 1983

Deputy Chief Daniel J. McDonald has been a member of the Peel Regional Police for over 30 years. ...
Rapidly rising through the ranks, Daniel has worked in the Intelligence Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and has held the positions of uniformed staff sergeant, senior officer, inspector, officer in charge of uniform patrol, officer in charge of the Professional Standards Bureau, and staff superintendent. Daniel’s work has included involvement in homicides, the drug squad and the Special Investigations Unit. He has twice received Exemplary Service Awards awarded by the Governor General of Canada.
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Suzanne Dimma

Creative Arts and Design
Interior Design, 1993

Suzanne is the principal and creative director at the boutique design agency, Suzanne Dimma Design, specializing in residential interior design, decorating and consultations. ...
She is also one of Canada’s most recognized design and decorating experts. She is the former editor-in-chief of Canadian House & Home, and Maison et Demeure magazines, Canada’s authorities on decorating and design. Suzanne’s 20 years in the world of design media encompass conceptualizing, producing, writing, styling and art directing in both print and broadcast media. She has co-produced, co-created and hosted her own television series, and has written for publications, including House & Home, Cottage Life, Chatelaine, Wish, and Gardening Life magazines as well as the Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star and the National Post.
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Rahul Singh in front of ambulance

Rahul Singh (Winner)

Health Sciences
Paramedic, 1993

Global Medic provides efficient and cost effective disaster relief with over 200 responses and 3.1 million beneficiaries in 70 countries....
Millions of dollars worth of relief items have been donated around the world thanks to GlobalMedic’s efforts, and their methods have been adopted by some of the largest international relief organizations. In 2009, Rahul was named one of “Canada’s Top 40 Under 40” and, in 2010, he was included on Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in the world.
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Jade Jager Clark

Jade Jager Clark

Recent Graduate
Fashion Arts, 2007

At the age of 18, Jade Jager Clark opened her own business, Jade’s Hip Hop Academy. Her multi-faceted career includes being an artistic director, choreographer, teacher and businesswoman. ...
Her students are extensively involved in competitions and showcases, performing for large audiences and clients like the Toronto Raptors, while making appearances on CTV, CP24, CBC, Breakfast Television, and the Ellen Degeneres Show. Jade creates performances that inspire, and connect, providing not only entertainment, but sharing messages tackling social issues.
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Steve Wargalla

Technology
Data Processing, 1973

Steve Wargalla has more than 30 years experience in the information technology field. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations worldwide solve business problems by applying innovative technologies....
Notable achievements include the founding and tremendous growth of Impletech International Inc. This success resulted in the sale of the business to CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc., the fourth largest independent information technology services firm in North America. Steve’s experience includes the development of technology solutions in a number of sectors including automotive, industrial and healthcare.
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