Fleming College

Fleming College is proud to announce that six graduates have been nominated for the prestigious 2012 Premier’s Awards for outstanding Ontario college graduates.

Recognized for their important social and economic contributions, this year’s Fleming nominees demonstrate commitment to career success in the following Premier’s Award categories: Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Technology and Recent Graduate.

This year, Colleges Ontario received 115 alumni award nominations from 24 Ontario colleges. The nominees from Fleming College are:

PREMIER’S AWARD – BUSINESS
Mary LaRocque, Tourism and Transportation (1984), Marlin Travel (Peterborough), Owner
As a vibrant and successful business owner of Marlin Travel in Peterborough, Mary demonstrates exceptional leadership and outstanding devotion to her business and community. She is customer-driven and has generously volunteered with more than 21 councils, committees and organizations. Mary is highly-regarded for her vivacious and caring nature and paramount service.  Mary is the recipient of Marlin Travel’s President’s Council and Peterborough’s Business Woman of the Year awards. Mary credits Fleming College with helping her discover her passion early in life, establishing a positive work ethic and giving her hands-on applied learning directly related to Tourism.

PREMIER’S AWARD – COMMUNITY SERVICES
Teresa Burke, Early Childhood Education (1986), Nursery Two, President
Teresa believes in a philosophy of respect and value for children, parents and staff at Nursery Two, which is a unique child care facility that services the entire family, regardless of economic status. She works extensively with outside agencies to ensure that all children, including those with exceptionalities and in difficult family situations, are welcome and cared for through her programming. Teresa has helped families by securing funding to purchase a van to transport children to and from daycare each day. Under her direction, Nursery Two has increased from one to four locations to help expand the number of children they can help and the geographic area they can cover. In 2011, she was the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

PREMIER’S AWARD – CREATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN
Gayle McIntyre, Art Conservation Techniques (1982), Fleming College, Faculty
Gayle is the coordinator of both the Collections Conservation and Management and Museum Management and Curatorship programs at Fleming College. Gayle’s expertise in the areas of disaster preparedness, preventive conservation applications, reducing risks to collections and preservation of culturally sensitive materials has been recognized provincially, nationally and abroad. This recognition was based on her her recovery work on the Peterborough flood damage and the nationally significant Balsillie Collection (a collection comprised of over 300,000 glass plate and film negatives between 1896 and 1992), the championing of a provincially recognized post-secondary/museum partnership and her commitment to continuous education in the field through publications, presentations and professional development.

PREMIER’S AWARD – HEALTH SCIENCES
Michelle Acorn, Nursing (1987), Lakeridge Health, Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Nurse Professional Practice Leader
As a Registered Nurse in the Extended Class in Ontario, Michelle holds dual specialty certifications as a Primary Health Care and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She also holds nursing certifications in emergency and gerontology, along with geriatric and anticoagulation prescribing. Michelle is recognized for successfully leading the first Nurse Practitioner lead hospital in Ontario and Canada. She is a recipient of the Gerry Gerow Nurse Practitioner Leadership Award and Lakeridge Awards of Excellence. Michelle created multiple Nurse Practitioner roles at Lakeridge Health and holds academic cross appointments at two universities. Michelle is the Immediate Past President of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario and left her President’s legacy with the proclamation of Bill 179 and Regulation 965 of the Public Hospital Act to enable full scope of practice for NPs to optimize care access and services.

PREMIER’S AWARD – TECHNOLOGY
Kim Appleton, Business Administration – Information Technology (1996), Emmatt Digital Solutions Inc., Co-Owner / President
Kim’s quiet but thoughtful leadership as the Co-owner / President of Emmatt Digital Solutions Inc. in Peterborough and at the board tables of the Women’s Business Network and the Peterborough Community Futures Development Corporation, have garnered her the respect of many. She is recognized as an innovator and leader in developing technology-based business solutions. In 2008, she was awarded “Member of the Year” by her peers in the Women’s Business Network for her work in developing their database-driven website. In 2011 and 2012, Kim was honoured as a “Women in Business Award” finalist.

 
PREMIER’S AWARD – RECENT GRADUATE
Alex Parisien, Geographic Information Systems – Applications Specialist (2010), Ministry of Natural Resources and Fleming Alumni Advisory Council Member
In spring 2010 Alex was selected to conduct a solitary data-gathering mission to post-earthquake Haiti through Global MapAid to evaluate sustainable job programs available to marginalized males aged 18-30, and to gain understanding of the relief efforts. After conducting the research mission, Alexandra secured employment at the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in the Water Resources Information Program (WRIP), conducting research using stereo imaging to create large scale digital elevation models used for mapping, hydrology and surface flow. She is now working with the MNRs Water Budgeting Program.

 All college nominees, including Fleming’s six finalists, will be honoured at an awards ceremony on November 26, 2012 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel where a final winner from each category will be revealed.

To nominate a Fleming graduate for the 2013 Premier’s Awards, please contact Fleming College Alumni Relations at alumni@flemingc.on.ca.

COLLEGES ONTARIO PREMIER’S AWARDS|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.  Colleges Ontario is the advocacy organization for the province’s 24 colleges of applied arts and technology. Colleges Ontario is committed to the future strength of the province, the country and to an Ontario where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. www.co-awards.org

ABOUT FLEMING COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
Fleming College Advancement and Alumni Relations is proud to serve more than 63,000 graduates of over 100 full-time academic programs. Alumni services include career counselling, special events, locator services, awards and recognition, online bulletins and print publications.

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For more information:
Paula Walton, Alumni Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1390 or paulaw@flemingc.on.ca

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca