OTTAWA, ON (Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026) — Algonquin College is proud to announce its 2026 Alumni of Distinction. Chosen with the support of nominations from the community, the recipients of the annual Alumni of Distinction Awards are Algonquin College graduates whose professional excellence and commitment to serving their communities are significantly advancing their fields and empowering others.
Additionally, the Alumni of Distinction Awards include the Employer of the Year Award. This award recognizes organizations that cultivate strong partnerships with Algonquin College, offering co-op opportunities to students, hiring graduates and supporting initiatives that allow the College to deliver the talent employers need.
“This year’s Alumni of Distinction recipients exemplify the transformative power of education and impact our graduates have in their professions, communities and beyond,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “From advancing health care and early childhood education to championing accessibility, innovation and reconciliation, each of these individuals is making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and recognize the positive contributions they continue to make in their industries across Canada and around the world.”
The recipients of this year’s Alumni of Distinction Awards are:
Alumna of the Year:KimHiscott(Early Childhood Education, Class of 1984). CEO, Andrew Fleck Children’s Services (AFCS). With a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, Hiscott is a noted expert in the field of early childhood education. Since 2008, she has led AFCS through a period of unprecedented growth. Hiscott has also been an effective advocate for early childhood education at all levels of government, helping to expand access and modernize the sector’s practices.
Brian Fraser Recent Graduate Award:Hannah Hempinstall(Motive Power Fundamentals – Automotive Service Apprentice, Class of 2021). Red Seal-endorsed automotive service technician at Tom Hilliard’s Manotick Garage. Hempinstall is also a college instructor, community fundraiser and tireless advocate for gender equity in the trades.
Business Award:Owen Welsh(Sport Business Management, Class of 2009). Vice President, Growth & Innovation at the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he leads the League’s most critical growth priorities across partnerships, broadcast-adjacent innovation and new revenue platforms.
Changing Lives Award:Jenny Tenasco(Child and Youth Worker, Class of 2005). Residential school survivor, educator, researcher and Elder from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. For nearly half a century, Tenasco has been a driving force for Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenization in Canada.
Community Services Award:Travis Mellema(Paramedic, Class of 2005). Chief of the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS). Since joining LCPS in 2005, Mellema has built a career defined by service, leadership and a commitment to community health. As a paramedic, educator and chief, he has advanced innovative programs that improve patient care while fostering a strong culture of support for frontline responders.
Creative Arts & Design Award:Marc Lépine(Sommelier, Class of 2002). Founder, owner and executive chef of Atelier, one of North America’s best restaurants. Chef Lépine’s unique brand of progressive Canadian cuisine has earned him many national and international honours, including several The Best Chef awards.
Health Sciences Award:Jennifer White(Nursing, Class of 2010). Executive Director, Family and Children’s Services of Renfrew County. With a career in health and social services that is deeply connected to Renfrew County, White works to bring assessment, individualized support and expertise across programs to support children, youth and adults with complex care needs and their families.
Rena Bowen Volunteer of the Year Award:Holl Ellingwood(Correctional Worker, Class of 1991). Deputy Director, Strategic and Horizontal Policy at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In addition to his long career in public service, Ellingwood’s volunteer efforts to advance accessibility and equality have earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Award and the King Charles III Coronation Medal, among others.
Science, Technology and Engineering Award:Kurtis Funai(Internet Application Programmer, Class of 2011). Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Fullscript. Funai is a software engineer at heart and a mission-driven CTO who has been at Fullscript since 2013, supporting its growth from a promising startup to a multi-billion dollar company.
Skilled Trades Award:Shawn Turcotte(Architectural Technician, Class of 1993; Renovation and Restoration, Class of 1994). Regional Vice President at EBC. For more than 30 years, Turcotte has been a prominent figure in Ottawa’s building industry, directly involved in the building of thousands of residential units and several of the city’s major projects, including Lansdowne 1.0 in 2014 and Lansdowne 2.0 in 2026.
Employer of the Year Award:Department of National Defence (DND). Algonquin College recognizes DND’s commitment as an employer and celebrates the broader and ongoing commitment of the Defence Team (which comprises DND and the Canadian Armed Forces) to developing a highly competent, highly trained defence workforce. This partnership offers students practical, on-the-job experience, gives military members access to education and professional development opportunities and provides a strong pipeline of skilled workers ready to strengthen Canada’s future.
The Alumni of Distinction Awards are presented to recipients during a special dinner in the fall. This ceremony is one of the College’s most anticipated annual events, celebrating lifelong learning, connection and shared success. This year’s award ceremony will take place on the evening of Nov. 5, 2026.
Full profiles of the 2026 Alumni of Distinction honourees are available on the Alumni of Distinction Awards website.
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in close to 170 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa and Pembroke, with fully online programming delivered through AC Online.
Oct. 14, 2026, Ottawa, ON – Applications are now open for the next intake of Algonquin College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) program, following the arrival of more than 240 students in the program’s inaugural cohort this fall. With more than 160 students studying at the Ottawa Campus and more than 80 at the Pembroke Campus, the College is already helping prepare the next generation of nurses to meet growing healthcare needs across the region.
Just weeks into their studies, Algonquin College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing students are already building the knowledge, clinical skills and hands-on experience needed to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Their arrival marks an important step in strengthening the nursing workforce and improving access to care across Eastern Ontario.
“Our nursing programs in Ottawa and Pembroke play an important role in strengthening the healthcare workforce across our region,” said Erin Stitt-Cavanagh, dean, Health Sciences. “By preparing nurses close to home and working alongside healthcare partners, we are helping ensure communities have access to the skilled professionals they need to meet today’s healthcare demands and those of the future.”
With students learning and training in both Ottawa and Pembroke, the College is helping prepare the next generation of nurses to serve communities where they are needed most.
Applications now open
The College is now welcoming applications for the next intake of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) program.
Prospective students interested in pursuing a rewarding career in nursing can learn more about admission requirements and apply online through the Ontario Colleges portal.
Algonquin College looks forward to welcoming the next generation of nursing students and healthcare leaders as the program continues to grow and help address the increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals across the region.
About the Programs
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) program provides learners with a comprehensive foundation in nursing theory, clinical decision-making and hands-on practice. Training occurs in modern classrooms, high-fidelity simulation environments, and applied nursing skills labs designed to replicate real-world health-care settings.
Learners are supported through a wide range of clinical placements and a final consolidation experience in diverse health-care environments, including:
Hospitals
Long-term care homes
Home and community care
Community health organizations
The curriculum integrates:
Evidence-informed practice
Indigenous Knowledge systems and multiple ways of knowing
Cultural humility and person-centred care
Intra- and interprofessional collaboration
Graduates are prepared to write both the NCLEX-RN and the CNO Jurisprudence Examination, enabling them to practice across Canada and internationally.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet both College eligibility and program eligibility requirements. Applications are open to learners with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and to mature applicants who meet the specific academic prerequisites.
Learn More
Full program details, admission requirements, learning outcomes and curriculum structure are available at the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) link on our website.
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in close to 170 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa and Pembroke, with fully online programming delivered through AC Online.
PEMBROKE, ON (OCT. 8, 2026) – Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has been recognized with the 2026 ENERGY STAR® Award for Building of the Year (College/University/CÉGEP) by Environment and Climate Change Canada, recognizing the campus as a national leader in energy performance and sustainable building operations.
The award builds on the Pembroke Campus’s recent achievement of becoming the first college in Canada to earn ENERGY STAR certification, recognizing buildings that perform in the top 25 per cent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency.
Algonquin College’s Women in Tech and Trades (WiTT) program is entering its second year with growing momentum, valued industry partnerships and a continued commitment to supporting women pursuing careers in technology and trades. WiTT is growing its industry network welcoming ALSTOM and Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited (CBN) as Trailblazer sponsors. WiTT also welcomesModern Niagara,Ontario Power Generation (OPG),andEnbridge Gas Inc. alongside many returning industry leaders and foundations.
The Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education’s $50,000 donation has established two new financial aid funds with the goal of removing financial barriers, rewarding student effort and promoting academic excellence in engineering at Algonquin College. Special consideration will be given to candidates who identify as women, non-binary, gender-diverse, or who may come from otherwise underrepresented groups in engineering.
Algonquin College and the Kanata North Business Association are joining forces this week to bring industry leaders, innovators, alumni and partners together at Hub350 for two events focused on strengthening connections between the College and Kanata North’s technology community. The week features Innovation Exchange: Connecting Ideas, Talent and Opportunity, bringing together industry and innovation leaders, and Alumni Exchange, connecting alumni with careers, leadership and industry.
“The best way to prepare for what’s next is to build it together. As opportunities grow in national defence, advanced technologies, cybersecurity and other emerging sectors, Algonquin College is working alongside industry, government and community partners to develop the talent, skills and research capacity needed to support innovation and growth,” said Julie Beauchamp, Senior Vice President, Academic.
As learners settle in for the Fall 2026 term, Algonquin College is welcoming a strong demand for on-campus accommodation, with the College’s residence building now at capacity and a short waitlist in place.
Partnership advances AI literacy and future-ready skills for learners
Sept. 16, 2026, OTTAWA, ON – Algonquin College is taking another step in preparing learners for the future of work through a new partnership with Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute), one of Canada’s national artificial intelligence institutes. By joining Amii’s AI Workforce Readiness Consortium, the College will provide students and employees with access to leading AI literacy resources, practical learning opportunities and a national network dedicated to building the skills needed to succeed in an AI-enabled economy. Continue reading Algonquin College joins national AI workforce readiness consortium
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