Premier鈥檚 Awards recognizes Ontario鈥檚 college graduates' tremendous contribution to the province's success and beyond. The awards were established in 1992 to mark the 25th anniversary of Ontario鈥檚 colleges.
Presented annually, awards are given in the following categories: Business; Community Services; Creative Arts and Design; Health Sciences; Recent Graduate; Science, Technology and Engineering; and Skilled Trades.
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Conestoga's Premier's Awards recipients
Megan Walker
Award category: Health Care and Community Well-being (2025)
Program: Practical Nursing
Graduating year: 2019
Fiona Coughlin
Award category: Community Services (2024)
Program: Business Administration 鈥 Management Studies
Graduating year: 2000
Jehan Salim
Award category: Community Services (2023)
Program: 鈥婤achelor of Applied Technology - Architecture - Project and Facility Management
Graduating year: 2013
鈥婮ehan Salim has put her college degree to work on the international stage, using her project and facilities management expertise to lead post-conflict rebuilding efforts and operate the largest refugee camp in the world. She oversaw the reconstruction of Mosul University and 12,000 homes in Iraq; built a 400-bed COVID isolation clinic at Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp; assured the safety of 100 staff and key border assets during Russia's invasion of Ukraine; and led the rehabilitation of 250 homes in Syria. From Iraq to Afghanistan, Jehan has prioritized giving marginalized women income, experience and a voice.
Jennifer Green
Award category: Apprenticeship (2022)
Program: 鈥婭ndustrial Mechanic Millwright Apprenticeship
Graduating year: 2008
Jennifer Green is breaking gender barriers and bridging Canada鈥檚 skills gap. As the only woman in her Industrial Mechanic Millwright program, she has cleared the path for thousands of women in the skilled trades through advocacy, mentorship and by sharing her opinions and experiences at events and in articles, radio programs and podcasts. She launched Skills Ontario鈥檚 first virtual conference for women and reimagined Canada鈥檚 largest skills trades competition as a virtual contest with live video feeds from competitors鈥 kitchens, garages and backyards. Jennifer is one of WXN Canada鈥檚 Most Powerful Women and a Universal Women鈥檚 Network Woman of Inspiration.
Massi and Meti Basiri
Award category: Business (2021)
Program: 鈥婩itness & Health Promotion (Massi); Business - Marketing (Meti)
Graduating year: 2014
鈥婱assi and Meti Basiri are on a mission to educate the world. In 2015, the twin brothers co-founded ApplyBoard, now the world鈥檚 largest online platform for international student recruitment and one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Canada. They have helped more than 200,000 students study at 1,500 educational institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and Australia, including 21 Ontario colleges. They鈥檝e raised C$600 million in venture capital funding on a C$4 billion valuation, making ApplyBoard Canada鈥檚 only second 鈥渆dtech unicorn鈥 company. In 2019, Forbes named Meti and Massi to three different Top 30 Under 30 lists.
Clarice Ward
Award category: Apprenticeship (2019)
Program: 鈥婫eneral Carpenter Apprenticeship; Women in Skilled Trades Pre-Apprenticeship
Graduating year: 2011, 2007
Clarice Ward is a national advocate for diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship training. As an assistant project manager of specialty contracts at Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc., she is the first woman to transition from tradesperson (general carpenter) to construction management in Melloul-Blamey鈥檚 37-year history, and one of the only tradeswomen to serve on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction. A speaker, mentor and champion of women in apprenticeships, she has influenced thousands of women to consider skilled trade opportunities. Ward was awarded a 60th Anniversary Gender Equity Fellowship by the University of Waterloo in 2019.
Kevin King
Award category: Health Sciences (2019)
Program: 鈥婣mbulance and Emergency Care
Graduating year: 1995
Medical simulation has been the driving focus in every step of Kevin King鈥檚 career as a paramedic, sales leader and entrepreneur. Inspired to act after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he created the first mobile simulation program for paramedics in eastern Canada and founded a national alliance for simulation specialists and educators. In 2010, he was recognized by the prime minister of Canada for his emergency services leadership during the G8 summit. In 2018, King founded ECHO Healthcare, featuring a world-first approach to simulation service and support that earned the company global recognition and profitability after just one year.
William Werth
Award category: Recent graduate (2019)
Program: 鈥婼oftware Engineering Technology
Graduating year: 2017
鈥婽he chief technology officer at James. E. Wagner Cultivation (JWC), William Werth is using technology to revolutionize the cannabis industry. A former Canadian combat engineer who was awarded the Sacrifice Medal and competed in the 2017 Invictus Games, he designed JWC鈥檚 GrowthSTORM Management software, a custom technology for tracking cannabis cultivation from seed to harvest. He also led the refinement of JWC鈥檚 patent-pending aeroponic growing platform and helped to pioneer its unique business licensing model. Werth鈥檚 innovations were a catalyst for a $1.2-million energy-saving grant in 2018 and the company鈥檚 2018 debut on the TSX-V at a market cap of $100 million.
Allie Libertini
Award category: Recent graduate (2018)
Program: Community Integration through Cooperative Education
Graduating year: 2017
鈥婨ven among the outstanding graduates of a unique program for students with learning challenges and exceptionalities, Allie Libertini stands out. A world-leading Nordic skier, she represented Canada at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, earning two silver medals. An advocate of healthy living, she volunteers at a community kitchen and works as an assistant server and member of the food prep team at a restaurant. She was instrumental in recruiting young women to her gym鈥檚 first inclusive women program and she is a valued ambassador of her college and program, winning the Alumni of Distinction Award in 2017.
Don Gosen
Award category: Apprenticeship (2018)
Program: Electrical Apprentice; Air and Water Resources Technology
Graduating year: 1980; 1974
鈥婦on Gosen is the Ontario apprenticeship program鈥檚 biggest champion. A college-trained electrical apprentice, he sponsored more than 70 apprentices throughout his four decades in business before ceding Gosen Electric Limited to three of his former trainees. Today, as director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Gosen works to strengthen the apprenticeship system by bridging communication and fostering collaborations between the government, union and non-union organizations, and employers and apprentices. He is an electrical apprenticeship instructor at his alma mater and recipient of the 2007 Minister鈥檚 Award for Apprenticeship Training.
Marianne Walker
Award category: Health Sciences (2015)
Program: Nursing
Graduating year: 1977
鈥婱arianne Walker is changing the future of health care in Ontario. In leadership roles spanning more than 30 years, including her current role as president and CEO of Guelph General Hospital, Walker has worked to refocus health care on the patient. She has led several region-wide and province-wide initiatives that have dramatically improved patient outcomes after stroke, and her elder care strategy is recognized as one of the best practice models province-wide. As a surveyor with Accreditation Canada, Walker is helping to improve health care quality and patient safety across the country and internationally, in countries such as Brazil and Ecuador.
Tahani Aburaneh
Award category: Business (2013)
Program: Business Administration 鈥 Management Studies
Graduating year: 1987
鈥婽ahani Aburaneh, a real estate entrepreneur, bestselling author and public speaker, moved to Canada from a refugee camp in Jordan at the age of 15 and is now one of the country鈥檚 leading experts in real estate development and investment. She is the founder of five companies and recently launched a training and certification program for realtors across Canada.
Chameli Naraine
Award category: Business (2012)
Program: Materials Management and Operations
Graduating year: 1983
鈥婥hameli Naraine鈥檚 27-year career as a business leader working for Fortune 500 companies around the world culminated in June 2011 with her appointment as president and CEO of Symcor, one of Canada鈥檚 leading financial processing services providers. She is also the founder of Naraine Global Fund, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children globally.
2025 nominees
Community Advancement nominee - Kim Decker
Recreation Leadership, 1980
Kim Decker advocates for women, children and gender-diverse individuals, including survivors of intimate partner and gender-based violence. She has influenced government policy at all levels, established social services and created life-changing programs for families across Ontario. Over a decades-long career 鈥 from leading a domestic violence shelter to serving as CEO of YWCA Cambridge 鈥 Decker has received widespread recognition for her efforts to educate and empower others in support of community well-being. She has helped secure millions of dollars in grant and donor funding and has been honoured locally, provincially and nationally through awards including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and YWCA Canada awards.
Cultural and Creative Achievement nominee - Antonia V. Goga
Graphic Design, 2013
Digital Imaging, 2009
Design a brand campaign focused on inspiring success in others, and Antonia Goga鈥檚 story could serve as its blueprint. Resilience, growth and achievement define her journey 鈥 from overcoming loss and starting a new life in a foreign country to rebuilding after a major brain injury and establishing an award-winning career recognized with hundreds of accolades. Her creative work has helped expand markets for multinational and global firms, and now aligns with her entrepreneurial focus as co-founder of &allagi. She amplifies the voices of non-profits, champions mental health and diversity, and mentors emerging creative leaders around the world.
Entrepreneurship and Economic Development nominee - Wallace Wong
Cook I Apprentice, 2012
Chef Wallace Wong is a cancer survivor, culinary personality, national-level natural bodybuilder and entrepreneur. He has worked at several of the world鈥檚 most highly regarded restaurants, including Langdon Hall in Canada, NOMA in Denmark, Alinea in Chicago, and Momofuku Shoto in Toronto, which he helped open under David Chang. Wong launched his first web-based businesses鈥擲ix Pack Chef (sixpackchef.com) and SPATULA Foods鈥攂y sharing his passion for healthy eating, growing both into seven-figure enterprises. His television appearances, 11 world records and ongoing mentorship of businesses and restaurants worldwide continue to inspire a growing digital audience in the millions.
Health Care and Community Well-being nominee - Megan Walker
Practical Nursing, 2019
Megan Walker is the founder and CEO of WeeCare Pediatric Home Health Care and a nationally recognized advocate for pediatric care, accessibility and inclusive community development. She was the first registered practical nurse to receive the Nurse Innovator Award and is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her contributions to health care. Walker also founded WillowCare, which serves adults, and co-founded Ubuntu WeeCare, the first special needs centre in Burundi. A board member with the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, she is also a published author and speaker who promotes pediatric-specific care models globally. Her work continues to break down barriers, advance equity and build inclusive, compassionate communities for children with complex medical needs.
Workforce and Skilled Trades Advancement nominee - Vikki Schlonies
Plumber Techniques (Apprenticeship), 2009
Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) program, 2004
Health Care Aide, 1997
Vikki Schlonies is a Red Seal journeyperson plumber, educator and advocate for equity in the skilled trades. She leads the plumbing faculty team at her alma mater, an Ontario college, where she recruits, trains and mentors future trades professionals. Schlonies also coaches apprentices in competition and served as a spokesperson for a marketing campaign and photo exhibit that highlighted diversity in the trades. A member and instructor with UA Local 527, she is actively involved in curriculum development and initiatives to support worker retention.
