Seven alumni up for Premier’s Awards

Posted on Monday, November 26th, 2018

Seven Algonquin alumni will be vying for 2018 Premier’s Awards on Monday night!

The annual, provincial awards will be handed out in Toronto. The Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contribution that college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. The awards were launched in 1992 and are administered by Colleges Ontario.

The Premier’s Awards recognize graduates in the following seven categories – Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.

Algonquin’s 2018 nominees are as follows:

Apprenticeship: John Liptak

President and CEO, OakWood
General Carpenter – Class of 1978

John Liptak is the CEO and president of OakWood, an award-winning design and construction company in Ottawa. His passion has taken him from sweeping his father’s job sites at the age of 11 to running the family business. By combining his love of computer software with his college education as a carpentry apprentice, John has made his company a technological leader in the industry, generating more than $24 million in sales in 2017.

Read John’s Bio

Business: Rick Young

Senior Vice President, Operations, Supply Chain & Purchasing, Maple Leaf Foods
Business Marketing – Class of 1978

Rick Young is the Senior Vice President, Operations, Supply Chain and Purchasing with Maple Leaf Foods. Over a successful career spanning more than 30 years, he worked his way up from the shop floor to the Executive Team. He has learned everything about the company from the inside out, and as a leader used his extensive experience to help positively change the trajectory of Maple Leaf Foods in one of the most significant supply chain transformations in the North American food industry.

Read Rick’s Bio

Community Services: Kevin Newell

Former Deputy Paramedic Chief, Ottawa Paramedic Service
Ambulance and Emergency Care (Paramedic) – Class of 1985

Kevin has been a passionate leader in paramedicine for over 30 years. With an unmatched drive for helping people, Kevin has changed and saved lives all across Ottawa. From the first spark of inspiration in first aid training to becoming Deputy Chief of the Ottawa Paramedic Service, Kevin’s mission has been to serve the community. As a paramedicine pioneer, Kevin has been a driving force in Ottawa and across Canada to change his profession from simply transporting patients to the highly-trained and skilled paramedics of today.

Read Kevin’s Bio

Creative Arts and Design: Marie-Cecile (Cezin) Nottaway-Wawatie

Chef and Owner, Wawatay Catering
Chef Training and Culinary Management – Class of 2004

Marie-Cecile (Cezin) Nottaway-Wawatie, the owner and founder of the award-winning Wawatay Catering, is a passionate chef at the forefront of modern indigenous cuisine. She grew up on the land, and has used these traditions to build her business. Cezin is part of a new generation of Canadian chefs who are reclaiming and popularizing indigenous foods as part of a growing affirmation of identity. By combining traditional ways with a contemporary flair, Cezin is introducing Algonquin recipes to a new generation of Canadians.

Read Cezin’s Bio

Health Sciences: Kyla Cullain

Co-Founder and Director, BuildAble
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Class of 2008

Kyla has carved out her own niche as an entrepreneur in the healthcare sector. She is an award-winning pioneer in identifying how the construction industry and healthcare workers can partner together to enable people to stay in their own homes and remain engaged in the community. Kyla has succeeded despite the numerous challenges of creating an entirely new type of business. Every day, she sets out to improving accessibility for some of Ottawa’s most vulnerable populations.

Recent Graduate: Len Reynen

Public Relations Volunteer, Canadian Mental Health Association
Public Relations – Class of 2017

Len’s story touches people wherever he speaks. As a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia, but not defined by it, Len uses his life journey to break down the stigma and barriers associated with mental illness and to raise both awareness and financial support. He’s been a public advocate for the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and as a spokesperson for the 2018 Bell’s Let’s Talk national campaign. Len is a true advocate and champion with the goal of making a difference for others living with mental illness.

Read Len’s Bio

Technology: Stuart Russell

Co-Founder and CTO, You.i TV
Electronics Engineering Technology – Class of 1995

Stuart Russell has been passionate about technology since he was a child and has gone from taking appliances apart to being the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer for You.i TV. Stuart is the innovator behind You.i’s flagship software, which altered the way media and entertainment industry leaders deliver the best experiences for their customers through cross-platform video apps across mobile, tablet, game consoles, streaming devices, and smart TVs.

Read Stuart’s Bio

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