Over the course of 20 years, Ken Stewart has built one of Canada’s most comprehensive audio, video and multimedia production centers, the Ottawa-based General Assembly Production Centre (GAPC). He has also established several complementary enterprises including the Blue Turtle Sound, the Cheeky Monkey Entertainment and the multimedia company digg design.

Ken has been committed to building a prosperous film and television industry in Ottawa, since he graduated from Algonquin College’s radio and television arts program.

Recently, he co-chaired an initiative to reestablish a local film office. Ottawa Film, which opened this fall, will lead and support the development of the film and television industry in the Ottawa and Gatineau regions.

Among his numerous projects is the new Visitor Interpretation Centre at the Grand-Pré National Historic site in Nova Scotia, which he considers to be his best work to date. The Centre features Canada's first, fully immersive high definition theatre environment.

He remains connected to Algonquin College in many ways — particularly as an advisor, sharing with program coordinators the changes taking place in the industry.

Ken has been nominated for several Gemini Awards, most recently for his series on the March West, which GAPC created for the History Channel. He received an Excel Award for 2002 from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for his production of the Canada Export Awards.

Susan Schmaltz, a graduate of Algonquin College’s early childhood education program, applies her skills to projects in Canada and in the Third World.

Among her accomplishments are two nursery schools that she opened in the Town of Osgoode and in Pembroke.

Susan also worked as an instructor in the ECE program at the Pembroke Campus, as a researcher for a Pembroke and District Association for Community Living study and as a director of the Family Enrichment Network, also in Pembroke.

In the past three years, Susan and her husband have made several trips to Guatemala where they created four preschools, a training program in child-centred learning, and a feeding program for the homeless.

In preparation for work in the Third World, Susan completed a registered practical nursing program at Algonquin.

Together with former colleagues, she introduced the Guatemala initiative into the ECE curriculum at the Pembroke campus.

Over the years Susan has served on various comities and worked with the Cancer Society and the Lung Association.

Currently she is negotiating with a charitable foundation from Holland to set up a preschool program for 80 children. She also hopes to successfully raise funds for the purchase of beds and blankets for a homeless shelter set to open in Antigua, Guatemala in 2004.

After graduating with honours from Algonquin College’s business administration program 16 years ago, Peter O’Leary worked as a distribution representative and an account executive with Netmar Systems, the distribution arm of the Pennysaver newspaper. During his time with Netmar, he was honoured twice as Salesperson of the Year.

He is currently the vice-president of advertising at the Ottawa Citizen, and a manager of a sister company Flyer Force, which produces TV Times, Internet and television ad campaigns. Peter and his team have used community-based television as an advertising vehicle and developed programs such as the Ottawa Citizen Business TV, Ottawa Citizen City Desk and The Big Bad Sports Show that report top stories from the newspaper content.

For the past five years, Peter has volunteered his time at Algonquin as a guest speaker and an instructor in the broadcast media and the marketing programs. He is also involved with the Algonquin Alumni Association.

Peter is an active volunteer with several professional and community organizations, and he participates in charitable causes such as the Snowsuit Fund and The Kanata Minor Hockey Association.

Dr. Jason Heavens graduated from Algonquin College’s ambulance and emergency care program while completing his first year of medical school at the University of Ottawa. After graduating from medical school in 1997, he completed two years of postgraduate work in family medicine, also at the University of Ottawa, and an additional year of training in emergency medicine. He has been working at the Ottawa Hospital ever since.

Before becoming a physician, Jason was a licensed carpenter and a volunteer firefighter.

Jason is an active member of the medical community, serving as a medical director for Algonquin College’s advanced care paramedic program, an examiner for the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and an instructor at the University of Ottawa medical school.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Ontario Ottawa Resource Centre, an organization that delivers counselling and support services to families, youth, and seniors.

For the past four years he has been helping children as a summer camp doctor at Camp Can-Aqua, near Algonquin Park.

A father of five, Jason loves to volunteer at his children’s schools, lecturing on health topics and participating in field trips.

In December 2003 he will earn his Master’s of Health Administration degree from the University of Ottawa.

Before graduating from the heritage masonry program at Algonquin College’s Perth Campus, John Scott earned a degree from Lakehead University Business School and worked as a marketing and business development strategist for the Connelly Exhibitions in Ottawa, where he assisted in the production of the annual Ottawa Business Show and the Government Technology Exhibition.

John was vice-president of the Traditional Trades Co-operative, the Algonquin graduate co-op venture. In 2000, with a colleague from that co-operative, John formed the Upper Canada Stonemasons, a heritage trades company, and as a project manager he led several masonry projects for the National Capital Commission and the local contractors.

In 2002 he returned to the Perth Campus as an instructor of stonemasonry, restoration and architectural topics and quickly revitalized the heritage masonry program. He restructured the program and established new partnerships with people in the industry, with the National Research Council and Public Works. His devotion and commitment resulted in an increased student enrollment into the program.

He is currently working with the Town of Perth on a downtown beautification project and is involved in various professional and community-based committees. His most incredible creation to date is his baby-girl, Ella James Scott.

Wendy Sparrow, a Constable Investigator with the Mounted Police force unit in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, and a graduate of Algonquin College's police foundations and advanced investigations programs, is committed to serving youth and her community.

During her studies at Algonquin, Wendy served as a student and a class representative, and on the Board of Directors of the Students' Association (SA). In 2000, she was elected resident of the SA and chair of the Board of Directors. She co-chaired the SA College Collaboration Committee, and she represented students on the College's Strategic Planning Committee and as a delegate to the Ontario Community College Student Parliament Association (OCCSPA).

As a student and after graduating from Algonquin, Wendy counselled young offenders, liaised between foster parents and foster children, worked with people with physical and mental disabilities and with a local youth group.

In September 2001 the College presented Wendy with the Rosser Award for outstanding leadership and academic achievement.

Wendy is volunteering her time to helping to set up an RCMP satellite office in Bridgewater. She is also a part of the Search and Rescue team in Lunenberg County and is involved in the local youth program.