The COVID-19 crisis did not break the tradition. Despite having to delay its graduation ceremonies until 2021, Collège Boréal nonetheless presented its awards of excellence to students and its community awards to partners, as well as an honorary diploma, in an online event.
More than 50 bursaries in the amount of $1,000 or $2,000 were awarded to celebrate exceptional individual achievements by Collège Boréal students from seven campuses across the province, as well as Boréal Online.
These awards recognize academic or sporting achievements, community involvement, leadership and perseverance in the face of obstacles.
Two special bursaries highlight the remarkable academic achievements of Indigenous or Métis students and students who are the first generation in their families to obtain a post-secondary diploma.
Two community organizations and an outstanding personality received awards
Collège Boréal awarded two community prizes to its partners in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the development of the college and the communities it serves.
Collège Boréal Chair of the Board of Governors Award: The Collège Boréal Chair of the Board of Governors Award was presented to the seniors’ residence Au Château in Nipissing West. Since 2018, Au Château provides a guaranteed job and a $1,000 bursary to all graduates of Collège Boréal’s Personal Support Worker program. This vitally important partnership helps to promote a rewarding profession and alleviate the shortage of professional PSWs in northern Ontario.
Collège Boréal President’s Award: The Collège Boréal President’s Award is presented this year to Dr. Hughes Lacoste on behalf of the Ottawa Animal Emergency and Specialty Hospital.
Dr. Hughes Lacoste was a key player this year in relocating the Veterinary Care Technician program from the Alfred Campus to St. Paul University. Thanks to a partnership between the college and the clinic, students in the program have access to its modern labs and the expertise of its staff to enrich their learning.
Ms. Martine St-Onge receives an honorary diploma: Collège Boréal awards an honorary diploma to recognize the achievements and commitment of an outstanding personality.
This year’s honorary diploma was awarded to Ms. Martine St-Onge, executive director of the Association francophone à l’éducation des services à l’enfance de l’Ontario (AFÉSEO), for her fervent commitment to policy development in early childhood education, in particular the issue of identity construction in minority language and culture communities. Through its early childhood education programs and its Social Innovation Centre for Children and Families, Collège Boréal has been working with Ms. St-Onge since 2012 on many projects that bolster the college leadership role in early childhood education.
Awards of Excellence
- Daniel Giroux Bursary – Academic and sporting achievement ($2,000)
- Recipient: Michel Ayotte, Electrical Engineering Technology, Sudbury
- Pierre Riopel Bursary – Distinction in community involvement ($2,000)
- Recipient: Gedeon Mupwala, Business, Sudbury
- Denis Hubert-Dutrisac Bursary – Distinguished Indigenous or Métis
- first-generation student ($2,000)
- Recipient: Annyse Ranger, Funeral Director Class 2, Sudbury
- Gisèle Chrétien Bursary – Distinction in perseverance ($2,000)
- Recipient: Danielle Lapierre, Early Childhood Education, Nipissing
- Jean Watters Award – Distinction in leadership, associations ($2,000)
- Recipient: Tiorna Philippe Diarrassouba, Social Services Worker, Toronto
- Collège Boréal Foundation Bursary of Excellence – Distinction in perseverance, independence and resourcefulness ($2,000)
- Recipient: Gnima Birregah, Child and Youth Worker, Toronto
- Governor-General’s Medal of Excellence – Distinction in academic achievement
- Recipient: Josée Pilon-Jacques, Law Clerk, Sudbury
Awards for academic achievement
These bursaries are awarded to students who have obtained a diploma or certificate from Collège Boréal with the highest grade score in their family of programs ($1000).
School of Health Sciences
Recipient: Alissa Fawcett, Veterinary Care Technician, Sudbury School of Business
Community Services, Arts, Development and General Science
Recipient: Josée Pilon-Jacques, Law Clerk, Sudbury School of Trades, Applied Technologies
Environment and Natural Resources
Recipient: Aron Mane, Construction Engineering Technology, Sudbury
VALE Bursaries – Excellence in mining studies ($2,000). The Vale Bursaries will be awarded in September.
Indigenous post-secondary education and training bursaries - To promote post-secondary education and training among Indigenous people
Recipients:
- Jérémy Bourgouin, Electrical Engineering Technician
- Michaela Thibault, Business
- Maxime Lefrançois, Heavy Equipment Technician
- Elysa Beauchamp, Child and Youth Worker
- Caroline Pellerin, Electrical Engineering Technician
- Maissie Gionest, Social Services Worker
- Natacha Larocque, Social Services Worker
Note also that more than 80 Awards of Excellence for first- generation students recognized the academic achievements of graduates who are the first generation in their families to pursue a college or university education.
“The 2020 cohort will long be remembered! As we wait to be able to celebrate this major milestone with them, I extend heartfelt congratulations to more than 700 graduates who have displayed exceptional adaptation and flexibility in completing their studies during this pandemic,” said Collège Boréal president Daniel Giroux, in a press release.
“Their experience will certainly give them added strength to begin their career or continue to university. I also wish to express my deep respect for the organizations and personalities recognized by our community awards and our honorary diploma. It is thanks to their sense of commitment and their trust in Collège Boréal that we are able to work efficiently to ensure the development of our communities.”
