Bringing home gold at CICan Awards of Excellence
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Mohawk College shines as college and two of its employees take top honours in 3 of 10 categories at CICan’s annual Awards of Excellence.
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) announced its 2024 Awards of Excellence recipients, spotlighting innovation and exceptional performance within our pan-Canadian community and Mohawk College and two of its employees came away big winners.
Among the gold medal recipients were CityLAB Hamilton and Mohawk College, who took top spot in the Program Excellence Category, and staff members Tara-Lyn Dinyer and Greg Gagnon, who earned gold in the Leadership Excellence for Faculty and Leadership Excellence for Non-Managerial Staff categories, respectively.
CICan’s Awards of Excellence celebrate a select group of member institutions and individuals each year for their exceptional achievements within Canada’s largest post-secondary network. These awards honour those who exceed expectations in key areas vital to Canada’s social, cultural, and economic prosperity.
Program Excellence Award
Gold: CityLAB Hamilton, Mohawk College
The Program Excellence Award recognizes programs across Canada that demonstrate innovation, portability, sustainability and effectiveness. Mohawk College nominated CityLAB Hamilton after seven years of successful collaboration.
“The national recognition of the City LAB program underscores the significant community-building efforts of our student-led initiatives,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “Our long-standing partnership between the City of Hamilton and Mohawk College is a testament to the great work that can be done when we join forces to build a better Hamilton for today and future generations.”
Originating as a pilot project in 2017, CityLAB Hamilton is a collaborative innovation program between the City of Hamilton, Mohawk College, McMaster University and Redeemer University. This program unites students, faculty, and civic leaders to develop innovative solutions to city-identified projects that align with the City’s Strategic Priorities.
CityLAB officially transitioned to a permanent program in 2022 with support from Hamilton City Council. Annually, the CityLAB program engages approximately 450 students in experiential learning projects that meaningfully address civic challenges, yield tangible community benefits and cultivate a long-term sense of civic responsibility. CityLAB projects tackle complex challenges and pioneer new solutions while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
“We are delighted that CityLAB Hamilton has received this national recognition,” said Dr. Cebert Adamson, VP, Academic, Mohawk College. “We are proud that Mohawk College students and staff are involved in the innovative projects being done through CityLAB, and we are proud to share the story of our collective success with other Canadian colleges by way of our nomination. One of the criteria for this award is a program’s ability to be replicated in other regions. This recognition shines the spotlight on another innovative Hamilton collaboration that may be replicated across the country.”
"This award highlights the strength of our CityLAB partnerships and celebrates our commitment to innovation and student engagement," said Marnie Cluckie, City Manager. "It's a proud moment for all involved, showcasing how collaboration can address real-world challenges and strengthen our community."
Experiential learning through CityLAB allows students to explore careers of interest while developing transferable interpersonal skills and work habits that will benefit them in the future.
The City of Hamilton and Mohawk College value the ongoing partnership created through CityLAB Hamilton and look forward to continued collaborative successes.
Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty
Gold: Tara-Lyn Dinyer, Mohawk College
Leadership Excellence Award for Non-Managerial Staff
Gold: Greg Gagnon, Mohawk College
Dinyer, program coordinator for the college’s School of Health and Community Services, is a remarkable educator who inspires everyone she meets. She has developed innovative teaching solutions and created unique partnership opportunities in the Health, Wellness, and Fitness industry. She is the creator and organizer of an experiential learning opportunity called Fit to Pitch, she has inspired students to start their own businesses and she has built strong connections with industry at the same time. Now entering its 8th year, the competition has become a signature event at the college.
Gagnon, a technician with Mohawk College’s Accessible Learning Services, has a reputation for going above and beyond to ensure students with accessibility needs have what they need to succeed. Throughout this time, he has strongly advocated for accessibility at the college and across the broader postsecondary community. Greg has profoundly impacted the lives of the many students who rely on the services and support he provides to succeed and thrive in their post-secondary journey.
“Congratulations to Tara-Lyn and Greg. This is an impressive achievement and a proud moment for our college,” said Mohawk College President and CEO Ron J. McKerlie. “These honours demonstrate their incredible commitment to Mohawk College students and their college experience.”
Click here for a full listing of 2024 CICan Awards of Excellence Recipients .
This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.
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