Honouring excellence: Algonquin College Alumni of Distinction Awards highlight remarkable achievements
Posted on Friday, November 6th, 2026
OTTAWA, ON (Friday, Nov. 6, 2026) — On November 5, 2026, Algonquin College held a special award ceremony for its 2026 Alumni of Distinction—graduates and a community partner whose leadership, excellence, and compassion are shaping industries, empowering people, and strengthening communities.
Hannah Thibedeau, the 2025 Alumna of the Year, emceed this year’s event. Thibedeau is an award-winning communications executive, former national news anchor, sought-after political analyst, moderator, keynote speaker, and strategic advisor to senior leaders.
The recipients of this year’s Alumni of Distinction Awards are:
Alumna of the Year: Kim Hiscott
Employer of the Year: Department of National Defence
Brian Fraser Recent Graduate Award: Hannah Hempinstall
Business Award: Owen Welsh
Changing Lives Award: Jenny Tenasco
Community Services Award: Travis Mellema
Creative Arts & Design Award: Marc Lépine
Health Sciences Award: Jennifer White
Rena Bowen Volunteer of the Year: Holl Ellingwood
Science, Technology and Engineering Award: Kurtis Funai
Skilled Trades Award: Shawn Turcotte
Algonquin College Alumni of Distinction Award recipients “demonstrate that the impact of an Algonquin College education doesn’t end at graduation — it grows as our alumni take their skills, their knowledge and their values to the workplace,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “Our College values of caring, learning, integrity and respect are more than just words. Tonight’s recipients show us what those values look like when they’re put into practice.”
Discover the 2026 Algonquin College Alumni of Distinction recipients.
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Media contact
Meg Fraser
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
613-302-0138
fraserm2@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College
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 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.
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