Niagara College found itself in the spotlight, September 12, with two great reasons to celebrate at the 2022 Grow Up Industry Awards in Niagara Falls.

NC’s Commercial Cannabis Production (CCP) graduate certificate program, now in its fourth year, won the Cannabis Education Award, while one of the program’s first graduates, Stacie Hollingworth, was named Master Grower of the Year.

Hollingworth was one of only three females nominated in her category, which recognizes the professional grower whose dedication to their craft consistently produces top quality crops for the marketplace and a positive workplace for the sector.

“It truly was an honor to be recognized with this distinction,” said the two-time NC alumna, who also graduated from the Winery and Viticulture Technician program in 2003. “The award was based on voting from individuals within the cannabis industry, so to have been supported in this way by my peers and colleagues is an incredible accomplishment.

“Winning this award as a Niagara College alumna at the same time Niagara College won the award for Best Cannabis Educator really feels like a full circle: the best instructors educating the future best industry leaders.”

Hollingworth currently works as Master Grower for Safari Flower Co. in Fort Erie where she grows product for more than two dozen brands distributed across Canada, Israel and Germany. She leads a grow team of 46 people who cultivate 12 varieties at once in 10 indoor controlled grow rooms.

Her expertise includes disease, mildew and microbial mitigation.

“What excites me about the work I do is not only making Canada known on the global market as a leader in commercial and medical cannabis standards, but to help propel Niagara as a craft cannabis destination,” Hollingworth said. “Niagara is already known nationally and internationally for is agricultural hub of excellence and innovation, now is the time to add cannabis to the list.”