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Anita Tenasco

Director, Indigenous Initiatives

On Monday, May 4, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Anita Tenasco, Director, Indigenous Initiatives.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Anita Tenasco (by Sara-Lynne Levine):

“Anita Tenasco has made a significant impact on Algonquin College since her arrival. As Director of Indigenous Initiatives, she is generous with her time and her knowledge, spearheading and supporting the college’s mission and commitment to making Indigenous Knowledge and Truth and Reconciliation an integral part of the institution’s culture. Her creative programming, storytelling and endless creativity have allowed learners and employees to gain a deeper understanding of Anishinàbe teachings. Each time she leads a storytelling session, brings in a speaker from Kitigan Zibi, hosts a sharing circle or leads an activity, participants come away with a deeper understanding of why learning about the original inhabitants of this land is so important. At a recent Blue Monday event, she used a simple ball of string to connect participants to each other and to bodies of water. This zero-cost activity was an effective way to share Indigenous knowledge, build connections and have participants leave with a greater understanding of the relationship between nature and Indigenous teachings.

The deep relationships Anita has with Knowledge Keepers and Elders has been a wonderful connection for the college. Anita is able to create opportunities for learners and employees to speak to and hear from a variety of Indigenous experts and develop their own Indigenous knowledge journeys. From learning to speak Anishinàbemowin through the Kwey Series, learning to create ribbon skirts or parkas or bringing Indigenous arts to the College so the community can purchase and support local artisans, Anita’s connections allow our community to benefit from her knowledge so that Indigenous learning is happening organically and naturally, but it continues to happen and expand amongst her colleagues and students.

Anita does not know the meaning of the word ‘no.’ She is always willing to help a colleague or a teammate or take on additional roles in support of the work of the College. Bringing the Soaring Circle to the college allowed for a $40,000 donation of sewing labs, materials, fabrics and training to follow. This now provides ongoing opportunities for learners to pick up new skills like sewing parkas, mittens and pillows. Having elders and knowledge keepers visiting the Mamidosewin Centre and share their experience and stories is of great value to our learners. This was all done at no cost to the college. Her perspective and unique approach results in benefits to the community she serves. Her deep partnerships and connections are resulting in funding sources for the Colleges which assist in providing opportunities for learners without additional cost to the college. Her ability to form relationships with businesses then translates into partnership opportunities leading to potential co-op placements, donations and funding.

Anita is generous with her leadership and mentorship sharing knowledge constantly though storytelling.

Anita has hosted Language Labs as part of the Kwey Series to encourage others to become familiar with the Anishinabe language.

She not only participates in College-wide initiatives but leads them!

Anita has been able to pivot many times during her time with the college. She is extremely resilient and adaptable. She now not only manages the portfolio as the Director of Indigenous Initiatives but she is running and leading the Mamidosewin Centre as well.

Anita continuously models the college’s values of caring, learning, integrity and respect.”

Ahmed Waked

Associate Director, Facilities Planning and Development, Facilities Management

On Thursday, April 30, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Ahmed Waked, Associate Director Facilities Planning and Development, Facilities Management.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Ahmed Waked (by Ryan Southwood):

“As Project Director for the $17.5 million Science Labs Major Capital Project, Ahmed demonstrated an exceptional command of strategic planning, technical oversight and governance excellence. According to the Investment Case, this initiative was a mission-critical project designed to address aging, oversubscribed labs, biosafety compliance risks and barriers to program growth. He ensured the College’s ambitious academic, financial and future-proofing objectives were met through a disciplined approach to scope development, risk management and execution.

Under his leadership, the project was successfully delivered under budget and ahead of the industry standard schedule, despite being one of the most complex teaching lab construction projects undertaken at the Ottawa Campus. Ahmed championed rigorous change management, operational coordination and consultant performance monitoring to maintain alignment with the College’s strategic plan, academic requirements and safety standards.

His ability to unify design consultants, external project managers, internal stakeholders and the Senior Project Manager resulted in a best-in-class capital delivery model — one that exceeded performance expectations and delivered state-of-the-art biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) and chemistry labs essential for future enrolment and program expansion.

Ahmed provided outstanding service to academic leaders, faculty, researchers, applied research partners and Facilities Management. The Investment Case highlights the significant operational pressures caused by overcapacity labs, weekend class scheduling and limited fume hood availability — issues that severely constrained academic programming prior to this project.

Throughout planning and construction, Ahmed served as the central point of coordination for the Steering Committee, ensuring:

• Transparent communication across all academic schools utilizing the labs
• Alignment of design decisions with teaching, safety and research needs
• Precise scheduling to guarantee zero interruptions to academic delivery
• Early identification and mitigation of construction-related risks

Faculty, dean, and operational teams consistently praised Ahmed for his clarity, responsiveness and reliability. His steady leadership ensured that the College community felt supported, informed and confident throughout a complex, multi-phase construction effort occurring within sensitive student areas.

Ahmed’s leadership had transformative impact far beyond project delivery. The Investment Case identifies the science lab replacement and expansion as foundational to the College’s long-term competitiveness, enrolment sustainability and ability to introduce new STEM programs aligned with national workforce shortages in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.

Under Ahmed’s guidance, the successful delivery of three new BSL-2 labs and two new chemistry labs directly enabled:

• The launch of high-demand programs such as Bachelor of Biotechnology and Good Manufacturing Practices – Science
• Expanded enrolment capacity projected to reach 1,859 students by 2029–30, generating an estimated $9 million net annual contribution to the College — critical to financial resilience
• Strengthened competitiveness relative to institutions such as Seneca, Fanshawe, Conestoga and La Cité, all of whom have invested heavily in biotechnology facilities
• Support for Canada’s national bio-economy strategy, addressing a projected 65,000-worker shortfall by 2029
• New opportunities for industry partnerships and applied research in life sciences

These outcomes demonstrate the nominee’s profound contributions to the College’s mission, reputation and academic leadership. Their stewardship of this project represents an enduring institutional legacy.

Ahmed is widely recognized for his leadership, mentorship and commitment to professional excellence. He supervised and guided the Senior Project Manager, external project management teams (Colliers Project Leaders) and internal Facilities Development staff, ensuring alignment with best practices in capital delivery, safety, risk management and public-sector accountability.

Ahmed also embodied the College’s values — Caring, Learning, Integrity, Respect — in every aspect of the project. His commitment to clear communication, inclusive decision-making and stakeholder engagement fostered a positive, empowered culture across academic and administrative teams. He led the engagement with the Kitigan Zibi Knowledge Keepers to gather their feedback on the two murals completed in the lab space. He led the vision as well as the engagement between the artist and the Knowledge Keepers to ensure that the murals were culturally appropriate and reflected the College’s desire to increase visible Indigenization of the College spaces.

He developed the aesthetic components of the paddles and other elements within the lab spaces. His ability to remain resilient, composed and solution-focused in the face of construction market volatility, design evolution and operational constraints was instrumental in the project’s success and deeply appreciated by colleagues. When the General Contractor submitted change orders of more than $1.5 million at the end of the project, he successfully negotiated the costs down to approximately $400,000 by consulting with lawyers, procurement and industry to ensure that the College received value for money and remained under the amended project budget.”

Mohamed Zeid

Senior Project Manager, Facilities Management

On Thursday, April 30, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Mohamed Zeid, senior project manager (SPM), Facilities Management.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Mohamed Zeid (by Ryan Southwood):

“Mohamed successfully managed a $17.5 million science lab major capital project — a cornerstone initiative identified by the College as essential to sustaining academic excellence and future enrolment growth. According to the Investment Case, this project was critical to addressing severe capacity limitations, aging infrastructure and the risk of program stagnation. Despite its complexity, the SPM delivered the project under budget and ahead of projected industry-standard timelines, a remarkable achievement given that the construction involved building three new Biosafety Level 2 labs (BSL-2) and two new chemistry labs, each with specialized safety, mechanical and regulatory requirements.

Mohamed’s proactive approach contributed directly to the streamlined execution of a project described in the Investment Case as requiring “significant financial commitment,” “state-of-the-art systems” and highly technical specifications to meet national biosafety standards. He implemented innovative scheduling and sequencing strategies to ensure that the College avoided the higher escalation costs and operational disruptions that typically accompany multi-floor specialty lab builds. In fact, he delivered the project $1 million under budget.

Throughout the project, Mohamed provided exceptional service not only to Facilities Management, but also to faculty, researchers, the Academic deans, Applied Research teams and industry partners. The Investment Case notes the critical operational pressures caused by overcapacity labs, insufficient fume hoods and weekend teaching schedules — problems requiring extreme sensitivity and coordination to manage during construction.

Mohamed ensured zero disruption to academic programming, despite construction occurring within central campus instructional zones (A125 and A225). He collaborated deeply with the Steering Committee, academic leaders safety officers and external consultants to ensure uninterrupted teaching, continuous communication and exemplary hazard management. Stakeholders repeatedly praised his responsiveness and professionalism as he led project integration efforts across academic, research and operational domains. Their guidance directly supported the College’s commitment to quality interactions and learner-focused delivery, as outlined in the 2022–2025 Strategic Plan referenced in the Investment Case.

Mohamed took over this project from an external project manager and saved the College $200,000 in consultant fees and provided better service and engagement with the College community.

Mohamed’s leadership enabled the successful execution of the science labs project the College described as strategic, urgent and foundational to long-term competitiveness. The Investment Case emphasized that without new BSL-2 and chemistry labs, the College risked reputational damage, stalled program development and lost opportunities in Canada’s rapidly expanding bio-economy. By delivering this project under budget and ahead of schedule, Mohamed directly accelerated the College’s ability to:

• Launch multiple new programs (e.g., Bachelor of Biotechnology, Good Manufacturing Practices – Science)
• Expand enrolment capacity to 1,859 students by 2029–30, enabling a net contribution of more than $9 million annually — a key financial projection tied to the project’s success
• Strengthen Algonquin’s position within an increasingly competitive provincial and national biotechnology education landscape

This project will directly influence Ottawa’s science, research and biomanufacturing sectors, helping address Canada’s projected shortage of 65,000 skilled bio-economy workers by 2029. Few capital project initiatives generate such profound academic, financial and societal benefits.

Mohamed consistently modeled the College’s core values — Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect — in every component of governance, stakeholder engagement and reporting.

Mohamed’s leadership extended far beyond technical delivery. He played a central role in:

• Chairing working sessions with consultants, faculty and safety specialists
• Supporting the governance structure outlined in the Investment Case — reporting monthly to the Steering Committee, validating contingencies and guiding risk mitigation across design and construction
• Mentoring junior members of the Project Development team and maintenance staff, strengthening team capacity in complex capital project delivery
• Overseeing transparent, proactive change-management processes (e.g., 72-hour operational disruption notices, coordinated access planning), fully aligned with the project’s formal Change Management Strategy
• Demonstrating resilience and adaptability while managing evolving scope, national construction market volatility and stakeholder expectations

Beyond project execution, Mohamed helped build a positive, inclusive, problem solving culture within Facilities Management and across academic units. His ability to translate technical challenges into clear, actionable solutions made him an indispensable partner to College leadership during one of the most significant capital investments in recent years.”

Alain Paradis

Professor and co-coordinator, Graphic Design program

On Wednesday, April 15, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Alain Paradis, professor and co-coordinator in the College’s Graphic Design program.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Alain Paradis (submitted by Andrea Emery):

“Alain is one of the most dedicated and hardworking educators I know. As both professor and co-coordinator, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to student success. He continually stays current with industry trends, integrating new ideas and evolving practices into his teaching so that students graduate prepared, confident and inspired. His classroom is not only a place of learning, but a space where students are encouraged to strive for excellence and discover their potential. His commitment extends far beyond scheduled teaching hours. Alain’s door, both physical and virtual, is always open. I have personally witnessed students (as well as faculty) seek his guidance, encouragement and reassurance at all hours of the day. He gives generously of his time, ensuring every visitor feels supported and heard.

For many years, Alain has organized portfolio review events for our graduating third-year students, creating invaluable opportunities for them to connect with industry professionals. He schedules these events on weekends to accommodate industry participation and even provides refreshments at his own expense. When possible, he extends these opportunities to second-year students as well. These initiatives require significant personal time and energy, yet he undertakes them enthusiastically because of his deep belief in our students and our program. Alain takes genuine pride in the success of others. Alain is also a forward-thinking leader within our faculty. He regularly seeks input from colleagues, fosters open dialogue and champions the ideas of others. He is often the first to credit a colleague for a strong idea and to help move it forward. His collaborative spirit, positivity and thoughtful problem-solving create an environment where people feel respected and empowered.

Recently, Alain completed a Master of Arts degree at Royal Roads University while continuing to teach and coordinate full-time. Balancing graduate studies, professional responsibilities and family life is no small achievement. Through this accomplishment, he modeled lifelong learning, resilience and determination for both students and colleagues. He also remains actively engaged in College-wide initiatives, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the broader AC community. In a time of significant change within our community, Alain has taken proactive steps to strengthen and re-imagine our Graphic Design program so that it aligns with evolving College priorities. He has developed thoughtful proposals and innovative ideas, often on his own time, to enhance our offerings and secure a strong future for our program. His leadership is steady, solutions-oriented, and rooted in care for both students and faculty.

It is my sincere pleasure to nominate Alain Paradis for the Algonquin College President’s Star Award. Alain and I began teaching together in the School of Media and Design more than 22 years ago, and in all that time, I have often been surprised that he has never been nominated for this recognition. Few individuals embody the spirit of this award as fully and consistently as Alain. Alain is an exceptional educator, leader and colleague. He is kind, respectful and steadfastly supportive. He helps students transition successfully from academic life to professional careers and supports his peers in their teaching and professional growth. Our College community is stronger because of his dedication and integrity.”

Maureen Castella

Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition and Workforce Management

On Wednesday, March 25, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Maureen Castella, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition and Workforce Management.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Maureen Castella (submitted by Lois Pollock):

Maureen consistently demonstrates a proactive, innovative approach to improving processes and outcomes, regularly applying her strategic thinking, persistence and collaboration.

Maureen played a pivotal role in supporting the resourcing and hiring for the R3 Thesis Project, providing strategic advisement to Project Leaders during the implementation of the College’s new student information system. Leveraging her deep understanding of recruitment and workforce dynamics, she guided leaders on effective resourcing strategies, role design, and hiring approaches to ensure the right talent was in place at critical stages. Her collaborative, solutions‑focused approach helped navigate complex staffing challenges and mitigate risk. Maureen’s advisement and ability to align people strategies with project objectives was instrumental for the project.

Maureen delivered high-quality work, maintaining strong attention to detail (required for all of the intricacies of the project), and holding herself accountable for reliable results. Maureen has shown a strong openness to feedback, making thoughtful adjustments where needed. She has demonstrated flexibility and a willingness to refine a specific approach based on feedback and has embraced constructive input and implemented meaningful improvements to support the project. This commitment to excellence is reflected in her focus on achieving positive results.

When Maureen joined the Total Compensation Workday project, she entered an HRIS environment already live but experiencing significant challenges. Rather than maintaining existing processes, she proactively re‑evaluated system design and led meaningful improvements that enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and user experience across the College. Demonstrating innovation and a strong commitment to excellence, Maureen also led the development and delivery of comprehensive training, creating clear, accessible materials and providing patient, step‑by‑step guidance that empowered staff and increased confidence in the system. Her determination, persistence and relationship‑building were critical in driving necessary change and ensuring the long‑term success of the project.

Through these contributions, Maureen exemplifies excellence by consistently delivering innovative solutions, exceeding expectations and enabling the successful adoption of complex, institution‑wide initiatives that support the College’s strategic priorities.

Maureen consistently provides exceptional, above‑and‑beyond service to colleagues, retirees and the broader College community, particularly during periods of complexity and change. Her professionalism, responsiveness and unwavering commitment to supporting others are widely recognized and deeply valued.

Maureen has emerged as a trusted champion for the Workday platform by responding with exceptional leadership, composure and accountability. When launching new system features, Maureen swiftly mobilized the appropriate resources, partnered closely with IT/Workday Support and key stakeholders and ensured calm, clear and transparent communication with the College community. Her patience, empathy and ability to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable steps were widely recognized and deeply appreciated by colleagues. Through her steady leadership and hands‑on support, Maureen reinforced trust in Workday and played a critical role in supporting its successful adoption during a highly stressful period.

Maureen also delivered outstanding service throughout the R3 project, where she consistently went above and beyond to support Project Leaders and teams. Highly responsive and solutions‑focused, she provided timely, practical guidance that helped navigate complex resourcing challenges, remove barriers and maintain project momentum from a staffing perspective. Her collaborative approach and deep understanding of the client’s needs earned strong positive feedback, with colleagues viewing her as a trusted partner and critical enabler of the project’s success.

Maureen understood the complexity of the HR service required to support the R3 Project and collaborated on strategic resourcing plans. It began with early workforce planning and a deep understanding of role requirements and timing. Regular meetings were essential for the process to be efficient and well-coordinated, ensuring timely hiring without compromising quality, while also delivering a strong candidate experience that reflects positively on the organization. Maureen also provided HR insights and practical advice, offering flexible solutions when challenges arose and maintaining clear, ongoing communication with the project team.

Maureen has led and supported initiatives with significant, lasting impact on Algonquin College, consistently advancing institutional goals while modelling the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Maureen made a significant contribution to the R3 project by providing strategic resourcing and recruitment guidance to support the implementation of the new student information system. She advised Project Leaders on workforce planning and role design, ensuring business‑critical positions were filled at key stages to reduce risk and maintain continuity. In parallel, her leadership of the Total Compensation Workday Project delivered College‑wide improvements, enhancing administrative efficiency, system reliability and user experience. Through her proactive and sustainable approach, Maureen strengthened core HR systems essential to effective College operations.

Maureen’s contributions can be meaningfully described through her role as a strategic partner to the R3 Project team and aligning her experience, expertise and services with the project’s needs. By providing informed guidance on workforce planning, and ensuring efficient, people-centered processes, Maureen enabled the project team to execute effectively and meet their objectives. Her responsiveness, adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement helped remove barriers and fostered a positive work environment. In doing so, Maureen not only supported the immediate project success but also strengthened the College’s overall capacity to achieve its broader goals and strategic priorities.

Maureen provides strong, strategic leadership in talent acquisition, playing a critical role in supporting searches for business‑critical positions, including Senior Executive, Director and Dean roles. She partners closely with hiring leaders to understand organizational priorities and risk, offering trusted guidance on role design, search strategy, and selection to ensure the right leadership talent is in place at the right time. Known for her responsiveness, sound judgment and ability to balance urgency with rigor, Maureen consistently goes above and beyond to support complex, high‑impact searches. Her leadership has strengthened recruitment outcomes, supported continuity of operations and contributed meaningfully to the College’s ability to advance its academic and strategic objectives.

Across all these efforts, Maureen demonstrated care for people, a commitment to learning and improvement, integrity in decision‑making and respect for diverse perspectives. Her contributions have had a meaningful and lasting impact on the College and strongly reflect the spirit of significant merit.

Maureen created a team culture built on trust, openness and collaboration. She mentored colleagues by recognizing their strengths, offering individualized coaching, and encouraging them to take ownership of complex tasks. Many team members credit Maureen with helping them grow confidence, develop new skills and exceed their own expectations.

Her dedication to continuous improvement didn’t end with project completion. Maureen sought ongoing feedback, analyzed user needs and championed enhancements, modeling a commitment to lifelong learning and encouraging others to do the same.

Maureen organized team-building activities and celebrated project milestones, promoting a supportive, inclusive workplace. She contributed meaningfully to College-wide initiatives and consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability, even when navigating challenging deadlines and shifting project priorities.

Maureen Castella exemplifies the spirit of the President’s Star Award through her unwavering commitment to excellence, extraordinary service and meaningful impact on the College. Her leadership, professionalism and consistent embodiment of Algonquin College’s values distinguish her as an exceptional role model and leader within our community.

Through her sustained commitment to the Workday platform and her strategic contributions to the R3 Thesis project, Maureen has strengthened critical systems, enabled successful institutional change and supported leaders and teams during complex transformations.

When faced with shifting workforce demands or tight timelines, Maureen was adaptable, solutions-oriented and focused on maintaining service quality. It contributed to fostering open communication, promoting fairness and inclusion and supporting employee well-being. At the same time, Maureen demonstrated leadership by acting as a trusted advisor, guiding the project through complex people-related matters, modeling professionalism and integrity and driving continuous improvement in her approach. I would like to thank Maureen for support and assistance. I recognize that HR often operates behind the scenes and manages a wide range of competing priorities, often with limited resources. Her responsiveness and dedication did not go unnoticed and are truly appreciated. Her commitment and willingness to help this initiative move forward in a positive manner has made a real difference and it’s genuinely appreciated.

Her work has not only improved processes and outcomes, but also built trust, confidence and capability across the College. Maureen represents the very best of Algonquin College, and I am proud to put forward her nomination for the President’s Star Award.

Angela Rintoul

Dean, Pembroke Campus

On Wednesday, March 18, President and CEO Claude Brulé presented the President’s Star Award to Angela Rintoul, Dean, Pembroke Campus.

The President’s Star Award is given to employees who demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their role within the College community; regularly and consistently demonstrate outstanding service; and truly embody our shared commitment to student success and the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Nomination of Angela Rintoul (submitted by Jodi Bucholtz):

“It is with deep appreciation and genuine enthusiasm that I nominate Angela Rintoul for the President’s Star Award.

As Manager of Community & Student Affairs, I work closely with Angela on the Dean’s Management Committee, focusing on student success, campus operations, community partnerships and leadership initiatives. This proximity has given me a unique vantage point to witness firsthand the depth, steadiness and transformative impact of her leadership over the past year and beyond.

Angela stepped into the role of Dean of the Pembroke Campus at one of the most difficult and emotionally complex moments in our campus’s history, following the sudden loss of Jamie Bramburger. The grief across our campus and community was profound. In that moment of uncertainty, Angela did far more than assume a role, she provided calm, values-driven leadership that held the community together.

She created space for collective mourning while ensuring that operations remained steady and students remained supported. She honoured Jamie’s legacy not only in words, but in action, by modelling compassion, transparency and care in every decision. Her presence was reassuring. Her communication was clear and grounded. Her leadership ensured that while we paused to grieve, we did not lose direction. She helped the campus stay connected, supported and moving forward together.

Over the past 10 months, Angela has not only stabilized the campus but strengthened it. During a period that could easily have eroded morale, she rebuilt confidence and trust through consistent visibility, deep listening and thoughtful decision-making. She addressed ongoing operational pressures directly, including leadership transitions and the need to identify replacement Academic Chairs and Facilities and Operations, representing more than 50 per cent of her leadership team. Through strong relationships, credibility and goodwill, she was able to secure capable interim and permanent leadership support, ensuring academic continuity and restoring stability for faculty and students alike.

Employees consistently describe feeling “supported,” “heard” and “reassured” under her leadership. She leads with humility and integrity, engaging staff and students in open dialogue and ensuring decisions reflect both College priorities and the distinct realities of a regional campus. Staff engagement remained strong during a time when uncertainty could easily have taken place. That resilience did not happen by accident; it was fostered intentionally.

Angela also advanced a renewed focus on the long-term sustainability of the Pembroke Campus. She has reinforced Pembroke’s importance and strategic place within Algonquin College’s current and future vision, ensuring that our programming, partnerships and operational planning are aligned with regional labour needs, demographic realities and institutional priorities. She has navigated complex conversations around enrolment, program viability and resource stewardship with transparency and courage, always centering students and community impact in the discussion.

Beyond internal leadership, Angela has strengthened Algonquin College’s presence and credibility throughout the Ottawa Valley. Community partners consistently note her responsiveness, openness and commitment to collaboration. In a time when stability was critical, she positioned Pembroke not as a campus in transition, but as a campus with momentum, purpose and a sustainable future.

What makes Angela especially deserving of the President’s Star Award is not only the scope of the role she assumed, but the defining context in which she assumed it, and how she responded. She transformed a moment of collective loss into one of collective strength. She rallied our campus through grief. She restored morale, rebuilt leadership structures and reinforced long-term strategic direction, all while modelling the College’s values of Caring, Learning, Integrity and Respect.

Her leadership has had a tangible, lasting impact on students, employees and community partners. It reflects courage, steadiness and humanity in action.

In every sense, Angela Rintoul embodies the spirit of the President’s Star Award.”