Seven Conestoga alumni are among the nearly 120 Ontario college graduates who have been nominated for Premier’s Awards this year.
Established in 1992 and presented annually, the awards honour and recognize the social and economic contribution Ontario’s college graduates make to the province and beyond. Nominees are selected in the categories of apprenticeship, business, community services, creative arts and design, health sciences, recent graduate and technology.
Conestoga’s 2019 nominees:
Apprenticeship nominee Clarice Ward is a 2007 graduate of the Women in Skilled Trades program and a 2011 graduate of the General Carpenter Apprenticeship program. As an assistant project manager of specialty contracts at Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc., she is the first woman to transition from tradesperson (general carpenter) to construction management in Melloul-Blamey's 37-year history, and one of the only tradeswomen to serve on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction.
Business nominee Darren Stewart is a 1996 Business Administration - Material Management graduate and a driver for change. With more than 20 years in supply chain and operations management, most recently as general manager of Magna International's Karmax Heavy Stamping division, Stewart has introduced multiple innovations to increase productivity, including an award-winning warehouse software solution.
Community services nominee Jeff Weyers is a 1994 graduate of the Law and Security Administration program. Weyers is a veteran constable with the Halton Regional Police Service and an international expert in digital counterterrorism, analyzing social media to uncover clues leading to international terrorist groups and their supporters. Weyers has provided input to the Pentagon, NATO and police services globally.
Creative arts and design nominee Julia Maier is a 2001 Graphic Design graduate and a professional photographer at Lens on Life. As a photographer, Maier’s work celebrates the beauty of human life, and the work of missionary and non-profit organizations at home and around the world.
Health sciences nominee Kevin King is a 1995 Ambulance & Emergency Care graduate and CEO of ECHO Healthcare. Inspired to act after the September 11 terrorist attacks, King created the first mobile simulation program for paramedics in eastern Canada and founded a national alliance for simulation specialists and educators. In 2010, he was recognized by the Prime Minister for his emergency services leadership during the G8 summit.
Recent graduate nominee William Werth is a 2017 Software Engineering Technology graduate. As the chief technology officer at James. E. Wagner Cultivation, Werth is using technology to revolutionize the cannabis industry. Werth's innovations were a catalyst for a $1.2M energy-saving grant and the company's 2018 debut on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Technology nominee Paul Seibel is a 1975 Civil Engineering Technology graduate and president at ACL Steel Ltd. With more than 40 years’ experience in Ontario’s construction industry, Seibel is a member of multiple industry association boards, has influenced industry reform, and is a tireless advocate for education.
The 2019 Premier’s Awards gala will take place on December 2 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto.
Past Conestoga winners include Charmeli Naraine (2012), Tahani Aburaneh (2013), Marianne Walker (2015), Allie Libertini (2018) and Don Gosen (2018).
Visit Alumni for more information.