Seven distinguished members of Niagara College’s alumni community have been nominated for Colleges Ontario’s prestigious 2018 Premier’s Awards.
Presented annually as part of Colleges Ontario’s Higher Education Summit, the Premier’s Awards celebrate the outstanding social and economic contributions that college graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world. Nominations are submitted by each of Ontario’s 24 colleges, and graduates are recognized in seven categories: Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.
“There is no sector of our economy or part of our community that isn’t touched by the outstanding contributions of college graduates,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “We’re extremely proud of the accomplishments of our graduates, and are pleased to nominate these distinguished Niagara College alumni for provincial recognition.”
Niagara College’s 2018 nominees include:
- Apprenticeship: Julia Falvo (Fonthill, Ontario), owner of Studio W Salon; hairstylist and Hairstyling professor at Niagara College, who graduated from NC’s Hairstyling program in 2011;
- Business: Miriam Laundry (St. Catharines, Ontario), author and speaker, Laundry Books, who graduated from NC’s Business Administration – Human Resources in 1997;
- Community Services: Scot Filer (Delta, British Columbia), founder/chief executive officer, Lions Gate Risk Management Group and ARC Protection Group, who graduated from NC’s Law and Security Administration program in 1977;
- Creative Arts and Design: Mark Montefiore (Toronto, Ontario – hometown of St. Catharines), president and executive producer, New Metric Media (multiple-award-winning film and television producer of such shows as Letterkenny, Bad Blood), who graduated from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program in 2003;
- Health Sciences: Blaine Lucas (Dundas, Ontario), commander, professional standards, Toronto Paramedic Services, who graduated from NC’s Ambulance and Emergency Care program in 1995;
- Recent Graduate: Shane Malcolm (St. Catharines, Ontario), executive director, Leadership Niagara, who is Niagara College’s former Student Administrative Council president (2014-2016) and graduated from two NC programs: Culinary Management in 2011, and Bachelor of Applied Business – Hospitality Operations Management in 2014; and
- Technology: Darl Crick (Keswick, Ontario), executive vice president of technology, CrossView Inc., who graduated from NC’s Computer Programmer program in 1995.
NC’s nominees are among 118 from colleges across Ontario who will be celebrated at the 2018 Premier’s Awards Gala on Monday, November 26 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. For more details about the awards visit co-awards.org
Several Niagara College alumni have been recognized with Premier’s Awards over the years, including:
- 2014 winner Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Rebecca Patterson (Nursing grad, 1987);
- 2012 winner David Pratt (Greenhouse Technician grad, 2007);
- 2011 winner Jerry Howell (Computer Engineering Technology grad, 1988);
- 2008 winner Jordan Harris (Winery and Viticulture Technician grad, 2004);
- 2003 winner Heather Kilty (Social Welfare Worker grad, 1969); and
- 1995 winner Carol Alaimo (Journalism-Print grad, 1984).
Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.
Niagara College’s 2018 Premier’s Award nominees
Apprenticeship
Julia Falvo
Owner of Studio W Salon; Hairstylist and Hairstyling professor at Niagara College
Graduated from Hairstyling, 2011
Julia Falvo has accomplished so much in her 10 short years in the Hairstyling industry. She is the winner of numerous international, national and Skills Ontario competitions over the years including placing fifth at an international competition is Seoul, South Korea in 2016. She was awarded the inaugural Skills Ontario Alumni Award of Excellence in 2017 for her continued involvement and mentoring of students in the Skills Ontario competitions. Falvo is a Hairstyling Professor at Niagara College and she recently opened up her own salon, Studio W, where she employs recent graduates from her program
Business
Miriam Laundry
Miriam Laundry
Author and speaker, Laundry Books
Graduated from Business Administration – Human Resources, 1997
Miriam Laundry is an award-winning author, success coach, and international speaker. After a personal tragedy, she was inspired to make a difference in children’s lives by promoting positive mental health. Her dream was realized with her first best-selling book I CAN Believe in Myself. The book a Guinness World Record™ in 2014 after it was read by more than 100,000 children in more than 29 countries within 24 hours. This set. Her books have garnered numerous awards including Mom’s Choice Award, Royal Dragonfly Awards and Reader’s Favourite. Miriam was awarded the 2014 Winspiration Award as a person who exemplifies making a difference in the world.
Creative Arts and Design
Mark Montefiore
President and executive producer, New Metric Media
Graduated from Broadcasting, Radio, Television and Film, 2003
As president of New Metric Media, Mark Montefiore executive produces the multiple Canadian Screen Award winning CraveTV original comedy series Letterkenny and What Would Sal do? and CityTV and FX drama series, Bad Blood. Montefiore produced the Toronto Film Festival Film Circuit Audience Choice winning film, Cas & Dylan, starring Academy Award winner Richard Dreyfuss and Emmy Award winner Tatiana Maslany. He negotiated the landmark partnership deal with Bell Media to produce more than 40 episodes of Letterkenny in the next three years. He was named The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation Under 35 (’14) and Playback’s Top Ten to Watch (’12).
Community Services
Scot Filer
Founder/chief executive officer, Lions Gate Risk Management Group and ARC Protection Group
Graduated from Law and Security Administration, 1977
After three decades in progressively senior positions in the RCMP, Scot Filer founded one of the most respected intelligence-based risk management firms in Western Canada, Lions’ Gate Risk Management Group. His experience in law enforcement spans major crime investigations, geographic profiling, threat evaluation and management, surveillance and tactical human tracking. Filer has provided expertise to law enforcement agencies across Canada as well as in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Sweden, Belize and South Africa. He is recognized as a global expert in geographic profiling methodology used to investigate serial criminal violence.
Health
Blaine Lucas
Commander, Professional Standards, Toronto Paramedic Services
Graduated from Ambulance and Emergency Care, 1995
Blaine Lucas is an advocate of people-focused public service. As the commander of Professional Standards for the Toronto Paramedic Services, he is responsible for the regulatory oversight of unionized and management staff, identifying trends in continuous quality improvement and developing targeted quality assurance initiatives. The Toronto Paramedic Services has a workforce of 14,400 staff who respond to more than 300,000 paramedic emergencies each year. The Professional Standards Unit conducts complaint investigations, maintains a medical record database of 2.3 million ambulance call reports and management oversight of over 35,000 medical quality assurance transactions annually.
Recent Graduate
Shane Malcolm
Executive director, Leadership Niagara
Graduated from Culinary Management, 2011; and Bachelor of Applied Business – Hospitality Operations Management, 2014
Shane Malcolm was the first international student in Niagara College history to lead the Student Administrative Council. As president he was involved in a number of advocacy efforts related to regional transit and played an integral role in putting mental health awareness in the spotlight. As executive director of Leadership Niagara, Malcolm led the organization through a governance reform and spearheaded the incorporation of the organization as a not-for-profit after 10 years of existence. He is recognized as a community leader and often tapped to contribute the emerging generation’s perspective on local community issues at municipal and regional levels.
Technology
Darl Crick
Executive vice president of Technology, CrossView Inc.
Graduated from Computer Programmer, 1995
Darl Crick has more than 20 years of experience in software development and software services. As executive vice president of Technology with CrossView Inc., he plays a pivotal role in defining the strategy and direction of technology-based products and services. His advanced skill set in technical business development, strategic decision-making and collaborating with Fortune 500 executive stakeholders has culminated in lucrative and dramatic business growth. Over the years, Crick has been able to apply his strong technical background to produce patents that are utilized in today’s software industry.
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