Ontario Recognizes the Province’s Most Influential College Graduates

Press Release

November 26, 2024

TORONTO — The Ontario government is proud to announce the winners of the annual Premier’s Awards and Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards honour college leaders and graduates whose work has been essential to the growth of Ontario’s postsecondary education system, communities, industries and services.

The Premier’s Awards honour college graduates who have made meaningful impacts in seven categories, helping to strengthen Ontario’s economy and local communities. The 2024 recipients are:

Emily Chung from Centennial College for Skilled Trades
Andrés Coimbra Castedo from Niagara College for Recent Graduate
Fiona Coughlin from Conestoga College for Community Services
JP Gladu from Sault College for Business
Lynne Innes from Northern College for Health Sciences
Eric Kukucka from George Brown College for Science, Technology and Engineering
George Stroumboulopoulos from Humber Polytechnic for Creative Arts and Design

“Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s Premier’s Awards and the Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award!” said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. “These awards reflect the incredible work you have done to strengthen our postsecondary system and our communities, helping to inspire future generations of graduates and leaders to give back to our incredible province. Thank you and well done!”

Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities, also presented the 2024 Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Patricia France, the first female president of St. Clair College. Patricia is a passionate leader who has displayed an unwavering commitment to providing Ontarians access to high-quality, affordable education.

“Colleges play an important role in shaping Ontario’s future by educating industry leaders, fostering ground-breaking innovation, and creating good paying jobs in our communities,” said Minister Quinn. “This year’s award winners have not only contributed greatly to their college, but to the social and economic success of all Ontario.”

“Ontario’s colleges are at the forefront of preparing students for meaningful careers and equipping them to address real-world challenges,” said Maureen Adamson, Incoming Interim President of Colleges Ontario. “The Minister’s and Premier’s Awards celebrate the profound impact of a college education, showcasing how our graduates drive progress, enrich communities and strengthen the provincial economy.”

For more information about the Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Premier’s Awards winners, see Backgrounder.

Quick Facts

The Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2005 to recognize individuals who have made enduring contributions to Ontario’s college system throughout their career.
The Premier’s Awards for college graduates were launched in 1992 to mark the 25th anniversary of Ontario’s college system. The province partners with Colleges Ontario to administer both awards.
Award recipients are chosen from nominations submitted by Ontario’s 24 public colleges. The recipients must demonstrate outstanding achievement related to their college experience and a significant contribution to their communities.
In 2022-23, approximately 86 per cent of 2021-22 Ontario college graduates were employed within six months of graduating, and 92 per cent of employers were satisfied or very satisfied with the graduates they hired.
As of July 1, 2024, colleges can now offer Master’s degrees in applied areas of study to help address gaps in the labour market.

Additional Resources

Backgrounder