Paul Armstrong, Chief Operating Officer, Mohawk College and Cheyanne Hammell with her award at the Colleges Ontario Higher Education Summit in Toronto.

Cheyanne Hammell completed an Architectural Technology diploma in 2007 and is the third Mohawk alumnus to win in the technology category since 2018.

Cheyanne Hammell, who graduated from Mohawk College’s Architectural Technology program in 2007, says it was a shock and honour to receive a 2023 Premier’s Award in the Technology category. 

It is the third win for a Mohawk College graduate in that category since 2018. 

The Premier’s Awards recognize recent and past college graduates in seven categories who have made outstanding social and economic contributions. They were presented at the Colleges Ontario Higher Education Summit in Toronto in November. 

Hammell, a Special Projects manager at PCL Construction, Canada’s largest construction company, says she went to the large gala not expecting to win. 

“I looked at the list of nominees ahead of time, and they were all so impressive. I honestly went there assuming it was not going to be me. So when they said my name, I was definitely shocked to say the least.” 

Hammell says she’s proud that her win reflects well on Mohawk College, her employer and women in technology and trades. 

She has been dedicated to opening doors for women throughout her career through mentoring, speaking to students and volunteering with a variety of women in trades groups. She is only the third woman ever to win in the technology category, including fellow Mohawk College alumnus Kathy Lerette, who won in 2019. 

At PCL, Hammell leads highly customized and unique projects for premiere clients in the Toronto area, overseeing a team of 40 people undertaking 25 to 30 complex projects at any time. She led the design of the $135-million Lakeridge Gardens in Ajax, the first long-term care home built under Infrastructure Ontario’s Accelerated Build Pilot Program. It was completed in just 13 months during the pandemic and was recognised with local and global industry awards for from the Toronto Construction Association and Engineering News Record. 

She also led PCL’s implementation of a complex, $200-million baggage handling and sorting system for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and a $16-million renovation of the CN Tower observation level in 2017. 

Hammell says her education at Mohawk prepared her with technical skills but also the leadership qualities that have helped her succeed. 

She was the PCL Toronto recipient of the prestigious Robert Stollery Leadership Award in 2020, given to one rising project management star per year who models excellence and inspiration for all of PCL. 

In 2022, she was named to On-Site Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian construction and is a Toronto Urban Land Institute (ULI) Women’s Leadership Initiative Champion. 

Hammell, who says she is inspired by her mother, a retired commercial pilot who also broke down gender barriers, is grateful for her time at Mohawk College. 

The College’s history of wins in the Premier’s Awards in the technology category, she says, “is a testament that we're well prepared to enter the industry and the way that we've been educated and prepped for that workforce entry has allowed us to set an example and start off on the right foot and work towards success and helping make a difference.” 

Rebecca Beatty, Program Coordinator of Architectural Technology and Architectural Technician, says the three-year technologist co-op program offers a broad and deep education. It covers all the building disciplines – architectural, structural, and building systems, and incorporates building science and sustainability, history of architecture, and management. 

Students choose from a design and construction management stream in their final year. 

“In the world of construction, there are fewer women. It's great that Cheyanne has been able to smash through that glass ceiling,” says Beatty. “I also think there's an acknowledgement among employers now that having diverse voices is beneficial and helps them grow.” 

Beatty believes Hammell’s Premier’s Awards win will encourage girls and women to join the sector and demonstrates that Mohawk provides the skills to achieve senior role. 

“It highlights the fact that we're producing graduates that have a set of skills that they can ladder up into management and senior roles. All of our Architectural Technology graduates complete a capstone project. And they have to each take on and lead one aspect of that project. That's where they develop some of those leadership, time management, communication, and presentation skills.” 

The three-year Architectural Technology program includes three terms of paid co-ops and that leads to 95 per cent of graduates being employed in the field within six months or pursuing additional credentials through our educational pathways, says Beatty. 

“We have very high employment rates compared to other architectural technology programs in the province right now.” 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

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.