Overview

The annual Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Awards of Excellence recognize faculty, staff and graduate students at:

  • Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities
  • Indigenous Institutes
  • private postsecondary institutions
  • career colleges

The Awards of Excellence create the opportunity for students, faculty and staff throughout Ontario’s postsecondary community to recognize the extraordinary work of professors, instructors, staff and graduate students on campuses, in communities and beyond.

The awards help us celebrate those who inspire us for their leadership, vision and innovation, and working to build a better Ontario.

How to submit your nomination

The nomination period for the 2022–2023 Minister’s Awards of Excellence closed at 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Categories for the 2022–2023 Minister’s Awards of Excellence

There are 5 award categories:

Everyday heroes

Faculty and staff who have stepped up and made a difference in the lives of their students, colleagues or the general public during the 2022–2023 school year.

Future-proofing Ontario’s students

Faculty and staff who have led the way in adapting programming that supports new ways of learning.

Equality of opportunity

Faculty and staff who have excelled at creating opportunities in postsecondary education for marginalized and under-represented groups.

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Faculty and staff who are working with industry and business to drive economic development.

Rising star

Graduate students and early career professionals who are making a difference in education, inspiring students or conducting innovative research in the postsecondary education sector.

Winners for 2022–2023

Here are the winners of the Minister’s Awards of Excellence in each of the 5 award categories:

Everyday heroes

  • Marc Hébert, Collège Boréal
  • Stephen K Waller, Georgian College
  • Dr. Nancy Waite, University of Waterloo

Future-proofing Ontario’s students

  • Camie Condon, PhD, Seneca Polytechnic
  • Dr. Joyce Helmer, FNTI (First Nations Technical Institute)
  • Dr. Paul Hungler, Queen’s University

Equality of opportunity

  • Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, University of Ottawa
  • Dwayne Locke, Audrey Le and Jenny Quianzon, Centennial College, ECE – Tropicana Stream
  • Caitlin Mullarkey, McMaster University

Innovation and entrepreneurship

  • Dr. Giuseppina (Pina) D’Agostino, York University, Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Dr. Andrew Maxwell, York University, Lassonde School of Engineering
  • Kavitha Siva, PhD, George Brown College

Rising star

  • Reza Eslami, Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Dr. Tara Hodgkinson, Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Rakha Zabin, Brock University