Each year, ˛Ężâ±¦µä proudly nominates remarkable ˛Ężâ±¦µä alumni for the prestigious Premier’s Award. At the Higher Education Summit held annually in November, these nominees – alongside nominees from all Colleges across the province – were honoured for the outstanding contributions they make within Ontario and throughout the world.
Premier’s Awards are presented in seven categories: Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.
Learn about the most recent ˛Ężâ±¦µä nominees who have been doing amazing things.
2023 Nominees
Jenna Polutanovich
Category: Recent Graduate
Child and Youth Care, 2019
Jenna Polutanovich has made a significant impact in her community by providing support and developing resources for children and families who have experienced a loss by death. As a student, she recognized that gaps needed to be filled and that her community lacked grief-specific supports for children who have lost a loved one. Since graduating, she has offered one-on-one and group support, authored and published the book ABC's of Death (for caregivers navigating loss with children), has educated post-secondary students and has “trained the trainer” with community organizations to become more comfortable supporting their own clients through grief.
Kevin Callan
Category: Technology
Forestry Technician, 1985
Kevin Callan (a.k.a. the Happy Camper) is the author of 19 books, his latest being Another Bend in the River: The Happy Camper’s Memoir. He is an award-winning writer and a keynote speaker at outdoor industry events across North America. A regular educational and informative guest on several television morning shows and CBC Radio, he has won multiple film awards and writes columns for both Paddling Magazine and Explore Magazine. He has been named one of the Top 100 Modern Day Explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society, inducted into Milton’s Walk of Fame and named Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada.
Past Nominees
2022
Justine Chalykoff
Category: Creative Arts and Design
˛Ężâ±¦µä: Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician, 2011; General Arts and Science, 2012; Digital Film Production, 2015
Ryan Vendramin
Category: Recent Graduate
˛Ężâ±¦µä: Police Foundations, 2019; Protection, Security and Investigation, 2020
2021
Jonathan Boyer-Nolan
Category: Community Services
Program: Social Service Worker Indigenous Specialization, 2018
Mathew Wilson
Category: Health Sciences
˛Ężâ±¦µä: Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2012; Pre-Health Sciences 2008
Katrina Francella
Category: Recent Graduate
Program: Fitness and Health Promotion, 2018