Niagara College alumni are making a difference across Ontario and around the world – seven of them have been nominated for Colleges Ontario 2022 Premier’s Awards.

A trailblazing fire chief who inspires young girls to enter fire services; a multi-award-winning journalist who has reported from the front lines of conflicts around the world; a dedicated social service worker who supports Black women across Southwestern Ontario; a caring healthcare professional dedicated to mental health and addictions services in Niagara – they are among NC’s alumni who are vying for prestigious Premier’s Awards, alongside nominees from colleges across the province.

“We are incredibly proud of our amazing NC alumni community, of more than 100,000 graduates, and their impactful contributions to their professions and communities,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “Our 2022 Premier’s Awards nominees are exemplary members of our alumni community who are making a difference throughout Niagara, across Ontario and around the world.”

Presented annually by Colleges Ontario, the Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contributions of Ontario college graduates in seven categories – Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.

NC’s 2022 Premier’s Award nominees include:

• Apprenticeship: Christine White (New York), Lead Technical Trainer, Stellantis N.V., has revved up success in a traditionally male-dominated field and helped revolutionize how technicians stay in line with cutting-edge knowledge in the auto sector. White graduated from NC’s Automotive Certificate of Qualifications in 2006 (view Alumni Spotlight article here);
• Business: Anthony Spiteri (Burlington), President and Chief Commercial Officer, Freshstone Brands Inc., graduated from NC’s Business Administration – Marketing Management program in 1989 and received a Distinguished Alumni award from NC in June 2018. Spiteri worked his way up the ‘food chain’ from being the first student from his college to land a co-op role at Maple Leaf Foods, to a highly successful career with more than 30 years of experience in North America’s food space (view Alumni Spotlight article here);
• Community Services: Monique Belair (Belleville), Director of Emergency Services and Fire Chief, City of Belleville, graduated from NC’s Law and Security Administration program in 1985. Belair has not only blazed trails in her fire services career during the past three decades, she has made it her mission to empower and educate young women to do the same, as Founder of Camp Molly (view Alumni Spotlight article here);
• Creative Arts and Design: Murray Brewster (Ottawa), Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Policy Reporter, CBC News. Since he graduated from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program in 1985, Brewster has built a world-class career which has helped Canadians, as well as victims of conflict around the world. The award-winning journalist was recognized as with a NC Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017 (view Alumni Spotlight article here);
• Health Sciences: Derek Christensen (Niagara), Regional Educator Mental Health and Addictions Services, Niagara Health, graduated from Nursing in 1991. Christensen is a decorated and caring health-care professional, with more than 31 years of experience as clinician, manager and educator in mental health and addictions. As a Captain with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, Canadian Forces Reserve Army, he has also has participated in training exercises throughout North America, and he was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to Canada in 2012 (view Alumni Spotlight article here);
• Recent Graduate: Erica Williams (Niagara), is the Founder and CEO of Erica’s Embrace Support Services, which gathers and distributes Black hair care and beauty products to women’s shelters across Southwestern Ontario. Since she graduated from NC’s Social Service Worker program in 2018, she has been a dedicated social service worker and non-profit entrepreneur, who has created a necessary and otherwise overlooked support services for racialized individuals (view Alumni Spotlight article here); and
• Technology: Matt Vandermolen (Toronto), Vice-President, Portfolio Lead – E-Commerce, Valtech, who graduated from NC’s Computer Programmer and Interactive Media programs in 2006 and has built a successful career using technology to improve the lives of everyone from bankers to winemakers to parents of children with learning disabilities (view Alumni Spotlight article here).

Over the years, several Niagara College alumni have been recognized with Premier’s Awards, including:

• 2014 winner Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Rebecca Patterson (Nursing grad, 1987);
• 2012 winner David Pratt (Greenhouse Technician grad, 2007);
• 2011 winner Jerry Howell (Computer Engineering Technology grad, 1988);
• 2008 winner Jordan Harris (Winery and Viticulture Technician grad, 2004);
• 2003 winner Heather Kilty (Social Welfare Worker grad, 1969); and
• 1995 winner Carol Alaimo (Journalism-Print grad, 1984).

Colleges Ontario’s 2022 Premier’s Awards presentation will be held on November 28 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. Visit the Premier’s Awards website at co-awards.org.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture, and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

Photo: Seven members of NC’s alumni community have been nominated for 2022 Colleges Ontario Premier’s Awards (clockwise from top left): Matt Vandermolen, Monique Belair, Anthony Spiteri, Derek Christensen, Christine White, Murray Brewster, and Erica Williams.