Presented annually to six recipients, the Premier’s Awards for Ontario College Graduates celebrate the outstanding contributions college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. Nominations are submitted from each of Ontario’s 24 colleges in six categories: Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology and Recent Graduate.
George Brown College is proud to recognize six alumni each year, representing each category. Please read ahead to learn more about our 2011 nominees.
2011 Nominees
Category – Health Sciences
Mark Agro 1982 – Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics
Mark Agro has been instrumental in making Otto Bock HealthCare a world
leader and innovator in products that help people with disabilities live their lives with more freedom and function. With 50 new amputees every day in Canada, Otto Bock's prosthetic and orthotic components help restore independence – a fact that makes every work day meaningful for Agro. Since taking over Canadian operations in 1993, Agro has grown the business substantially, increasing staff from nine to 87 employees. He is Past-President of the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists and the co-author and editor of two current industry textbooks.
Category – Community Services
Mario Guilombo 2007 – English Language Skills
Human rights defender Mario Guilombo is committed to protecting the human rights of victims of persecution and human rights violations. A lawyer in his native Columbia, Guilombo fled to Canada in 2001 after his five-year-old daughter's legs were broken by the criminals he was working to prosecute. He founded the Canadian Human Rights International Organization, a not-for-profit, volunteer organization that has helped almost 8,000 families since 2007. Guilombo's community service has been widely-recognized. He was one of Canada's Top 25 Immigrants and 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians, as well as the recipient of Canada's Citizenship Award and New Pioneers Award.
Category – Creative Arts & Design
Lynn Crawford 1990 – Culinary Arts
Celebrated Chef Lynn Crawford is back in Toronto, with her own restaurant, Ruby Watchco, and a hit TV show, Pitchin' In, for which she received a Gemini nomination in 2010. Crawford left her prestigious position as Executive Chef of the Four Seasons Manhattan in 2009 after two decades with the hotel chain, including stints in Montreal, Nevis, Vancouver and Toronto. Crawford was the first female Canadian chef to appear on Iron Chef America and was a Chef on Restaurant Makeover for three seasons. Crawford recently opened the store Ruby Eats and her cookbook, Lynn Crawford's Pitchin' In, will be published in January.
Category - Technology
Luis Rodrigues 1980 – Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Luis Rodrigues has taken his college education to the top of his field. A graduate of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician program in 1980, Rodrigues is now Vice-President at Honeywell, responsible for the national Energy Solutions division that sells and implements innovative energy systems that are guaranteed to save clients money, while being environmentally responsible. Rodrigues was also the catalyst for the industry advocacy organization Energy Services Association of Canada, created last year to actively promote government policies and regulatory support for the use of performance-based energy solutions to upgrade Canada's aging infrastructure. Rodrigues serves as its Vice-Chair.
Category - Business
Laurel Michele Walzak 2000 – Sport and Event Marketing
Laurel Walzak's marketing skills and love of sports landed her a job in the National Hockey League, but the NHL is the big winner. Since being hired five years ago, Walzak has helped drive an increase in revenue year over year. She was instrumental in signing the largest retail deal in the NHL's history, generating millions. Passionate about giving back and encouraging new talent, Walzak volunteers her time and expertise to students and programs at George Brown, Humber and Mohawk colleges. “I got to where I am today because of George Brown. I want to continue to give back.”
Category – Recent Graduate
Evan Alexander Smith 2009 – Theatre Arts
Actor Evan Alexander Smith has already achieved what many actors strive for their entire careers. Shortly after graduating from theatre school, the Mississauga native landed the lead role in the Canadian production of The Toxic Avenger Musical. His performance won him a Dora Award nomination – one of Canada’s top theatre awards. He was also nominated for – and won
– a Gemini Award for his performance in a documentary about the musical. The Toronto Star described Smith as “a young man with leather lungs, boundless energy and considerable charm.” Recently, Smith starred as Woody in Toy Story the Musical for the Disney Cruise Line.
Learn more about our previous nominees and award recipients.
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