Overview

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the ministry’s Awards of Excellence. The awards recognize the extraordinary work of professors, instructors, staff and graduate students at:

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

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

How to make your nomination

Nominations for the 2023–2024 Minister’s Awards of Excellence are now open.

Read the tips on how to write a strong nomination.

Your nomination should take around 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

Go to the nomination form

Deadline for nominations is Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Categories for the 2023–2024 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 public.

Future-proofing Ontario’s students

Faculty and staff who have led the way in adapting programs that support 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 carrying out 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 five 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