2017 Award Recipients

Nicole Billington

Nicole is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours with a Specialization in Psychology and the Bachelor of Education in the Primary/Junior divisions.

Nicole is helpful, kind, and always willing to support her peers in any way she can. Throughout her degree, she has supported her peers as a Peer Tutor, Academic Skills Drop-In Centre Volunteer, and TA for multiple Psychology classes.

Nicole is also a Research Assistant for Dr. Curwen in the Department of Psychology here at NU. Through this work, she has strengthened her knowledge and skills in the field of psychology by helping agencies improve their family services. As the lead researcher for a study related to sexually deviant behaviour in children, she collected data from several child and family support agencies in Toronto, analyzed the data, then presented the findings to the agencies. This information will help these agencies improve their treatment for this clinical population of children. The results were presented at a conference at Western University in February 2017.

Nicole is an exceptionally ethical, compassionate, and genuine individual who values education and is tireless in her pursuit of academic, professional, and personal knowledge and experiences.

The university community recognizes Nicole with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Andrea Blewitt

Andrea is in the Concurrent Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education, Junior Intermediate divisions, Joint program with Wilfrid Laurier University.

Andrea is an active contributor to the Nipissing University Brantford campus community and has led a number of initiatives with her colleagues and peers. Andrea was a member of the Brantford campus mentorship program and was able to collaborate and co-teach throughout that experience in practicum schools.

Andrea was a part of the international teaching opportunity, and traveled to Italy for her alternative practicum placement in 2015, with a group of other teacher candidates and faculty facilitators. She very highly represented Nipissing while learning and growing her teaching styles and cultural knowledge in a new environment. After completion of her international practicum, she shared her experience with students interested in teaching internationally and wanting to learn about techniques for teaching English abroad.

Andrea is a natural leader and is insightful in her approach to both academic and community initiatives. She is well-respected by administrators and students and will be an effective future educator.

The university community recognizes Andrea with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

James Donovan

James is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Psychology.

Mr. Donovan is a confident and collaborative leader in the Psychology lab, in student activities, and in the classroom. Through his enthusiasm, competence, and guidance, James motivates and aids other lab members in their research pursuits. As Vice-President of the student’s Psychology Society, James gives students a voice in university affairs and encourages them to connect through psychology. James also serves as a positive role model as an informed and engaged participant in classroom discussions.

As a research volunteer, James demonstrated his motivation to learn and his excellent understanding of the research process. James is a highly effective and valued lab member who has already co-authored seven conference presentations (three as first author) at local, national, and international meetings. James is now leading a follow-up study and preparing the experiment for data collection. James also continues to contribute significantly to several other ongoing lab research projects.

James is positive, open-minded, and personable. His dedication and sense of responsibility are evident in his studies, research, and student-group activities.

The university community recognizes James with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Lauren Easton

Lauren is in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Scholar Practitioner Program.

Lauren is a critical thinker who draws inspiration for her research from both practical and academic experiences. As a research assistant, Lauren contributed to a minority immigrant study and innovative nursing education research. Lauren was invited to present on her learning experiences at the Nipissing University Board of Governors Meeting in January 2017.

Lauren makes a conscious effort to network with like-minded individuals, mentors, and professionals to enhance her knowledge of nursing and health concepts. Lauren has attended over 70 hours of extracurricular conferences and workshops since beginning in her program. After networking at the Women and Harm Reduction Conference, she took the initiative to invite speakers to campus to offer a workshop to her peers.

Lauren holds strong beliefs about offering culturally sensitive, trauma-informed nursing care. During her nursing placement in Toronto Public Health, Lauren thoroughly read through organizational policies and noticed a gap in knowledge. She advocated for the implementation of Trauma-Informed Care principles and was invited to speak to staff about the framework.

Lauren is growing to be a new generation nurse who is curious, insightful, technologically competent, courageous, and knowledgeable.

The university community recognizes Lauren with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Kelly Gillard

Kelly is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Social Welfare and Social Development.

Kelly is an accomplished student who takes on multiple academic and social leadership roles on and off campus. These roles include: Outreach Assistant for Sexual Violence Prevention, President, Social Coordinator for the Social Welfare and Social Development Club, and Research Assistant. Kelly is also an active community volunteer at One Kids Place, Community Living, and the Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre. In all of these roles, Kelly is an outgoing and thoughtful student leader.

Kelly’s academic accomplishments include assisting in the preparation of a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant that focused on Promoting Reconciliation through Collaboration between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Communities. In her own research, Kelly is working on an honours thesis examining the impacts of media industries on youth with a focus on how profit-making businesses emphasize sexist and racist values.

Whether it is supporting students who share her focus of study or providing education and training on sexual violence prevention Kelly is an empathetic leader who brings a professional approach to her work on campus. She approaches her work with honesty, kindness, and sincerity. Kelly offers strength in her ability to engage with both community members and fellow students. She is skilled at initiating conversation and makes a difference through her enthusiasm for creating community change.

The university community recognizes Kelly with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Jenna Shermet

Jenna is in the Bachelor of Education, Primary/Junior divisions.

Jenna approaches academics collaboratively and insightfully. She goes above and beyond in all of her assignments and is always willing to help her peers. Jenna’s love for the teaching profession is evident in her curiosity for learning and in-depth research on how children learn.

Through assignments and group projects, Jenna leads by example. Two of Jenna’s outstanding projects include an original, engaging, and well-researched learning center based on Aboriginal culture which contained activities that were carefully chosen and culturally sensitive; and a richly described play-based learning center for young children. Jenna’s ability to collaborate brings out the best in her classmates.

Jenna is a principled young lady, who is always generous with her knowledge and gifts. She is ethical and extremely hard working. She will be a fine teacher and a valuable role model for future students, as she has been already with her peers here a Nipissing University.

The university community recognizes Jenna with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Spencer Short

Spencer is in the Bachelor of Science, Honours Specialization in Biology.

Spencer is an outstanding student who balances academics and community involvement with ease. While maintaining a high academic standing, Spencer helped other students as a Teaching Assistant in the Microbiology course, started cutting edge research in the organic chemistry lab, and founded the first Nipissing University Ice Fishing Club.

Spencer distinguished himself through delivering an exceptionally professional oral presentation to a large group of students about medicinal properties of essential oils from Eastern White Cedar. His presentation was accompanied by a quality written report on the topic.

Spencer goes above and beyond learning the course material in lecture and labs to independently seek out answers to his every curiosity about Biology in his spare time. His enthusiasm for science is contagious and has inspired other students to actively volunteer in Nipissing University’s science labs.

Spencer is a humble student who encourages others to reach their potential.

The university community recognizes Spencer with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Daryl Tjin

Daryl is in the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education.

Academically, Darryl is one of the top students in the 4-year Bachelor of Physical and Health Education program at Nipissing University. Her GPA across all years is approximately 90%. She has been awarded the Schulich Scholarship in 2013, and the President’s Scholarship in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Daryl is remarkably gifted, hardworking, and a responsible student. She sets a positive academic example her peers. Daryl's drive to accomplish her goals and willingness to seek new educational opportunities is an inspiration to those around her. She shows deep interest in her research and is currently studying whether psychological deception can be used as a tool to improve human exercise performance in a hot environment. Through her research, she has demonstrated an excellent ability to think and work independently.

Daryl is a role model in particular for our female students in our four-year BPHE program, and for young women in general, considering a career in Science Technology Engineering, and Mathematics.

The university community recognizes Daryl with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Analucia Vucic

Analucia is in the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.

Ana shows incredible skill as a researcher. Her Honours Thesis explores, through semi-structured interviews, the experiences of military spouses in relation to frequent mobility and unstable employment. This research is a serious contribution to understanding the effects of tied migration for military families, and in particular, its effects on women. For a student at the undergraduate level, Ana has quite extensive research experience.

Ana has had a paper based on this research accepted for presentation at the Canadian Anthropology Society annual conference in Ottawa, ON in May.

While Ana demonstrates an outstanding ability to undertake research, it is her hunger for knowledge and her love of the discipline that impresses most. Last year she took the initiative to participate in the Canadian Anthropology Society annual conference at her own expense. While there, she was able to network and establish contacts with students and researchers from across Canada and beyond.

Ana has contributed significantly to the quality of our Anthropology program at Nipissing University. She is a dedicated, hard-working, and passionate student.

The university community recognizes Analucia with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Academic Category.

Sean Dey

Sean is in the Bachelor of Education, Intermediate/Senior divisions with teaching subjects in Physical Education and English.

Sean has enhanced campus culture in his roles as; NU Kinesiology Games Team Co-Captain, NU Men’s Hockey Student Trainer, NUPHE Student Council President, NUPHE Student Council Student Broadcaster, NUSU Frosh Leader, NUSU Crew Member, Frontier College Peer Tutor, Biidaaban Tutor, and Teacher Candidate Advisory Council Director of Communications. Sean was also the recipient of a Volunteer Service Award from Frontier College.

Sean works hard in everything he does to ensure that students feel connected and included. He has a strong work ethic and has proven to be approachable and easy to talk to. He demonstrates his leadership behind the scenes through organizing events, building one-on-one relationships with students, and taking care to ensure that everyone is kept up to date and happy.

Sean is kind, funny, and compassionate. He constantly strives for excellence and is a great example of what it means to be a Laker.

The university community recognizes Sean with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Candace Ghent

Candace is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Gender Equality and Social Justice.

Candace balances a commitment to academic study with a commitment to social justice community building. As co-founder and co-director of the Gender Equality & Social Justice Student Collective, Candace organized a network of students majoring or minoring in the subject who are interested in connecting their studies to social justice campaigns and events.

The Collective, with Candace at the lead, has built a sense of community amongst students from different programs; hosted several social events for students and professors; given feedback on the university sexual assault policy; collaborated with the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives to host a vigil for missing and murdered indigenous women; and promoted on and off campus social justice events.

Candace recently worked to re-open the student-run Equity Centre on campus, which is accessible to all NU students and provides a positive meeting space for all students who want to learn about or discuss equity issues.

Candace is a responsible, kind-hearted, deeply serious, academically promising student with a keen sense of justice, who strives to use their education to engender social change in everyday life.

The university community recognizes Candace with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Hayley Heaslip

Hayley is in the Bachelor of Business Administration with a stream in Marketing.

Haley is an ambassador for Nipissing University in everything that she does. She is passionate and enthusiastic about promoting Nipissing University to prospective students and parents whether on the phone, at the Ontario Universities’ Fair, or during the many campus tours she conducts throughout the year as part of her role in the Student Recruitment Office.

Haley has significantly contributed to campus culture through founding Nipissing University’s first sorority, Alpha Gamma Phi. The sorority unites and empowers women to get involved on campus and in the community. Alpha Gamma Phi actively supports the Canadian Cancer Society, the North Bay Humane Society, and Children's Aid Society through fundraising. To date, they have raised $4000 for Canadian Cancer Society and $700 for the Humane Society.

Professional, enthusiastic, caring and funny; Hayley is a role model for other students. Her energy is infectious and her love and pride for Nipissing University is an inspiration to others.

The university community recognizes Hayley with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Dakota Heon

Dakota is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Social Welfare and Social Development.

Dakota is a charismatic, upbeat, positive young man who upholds the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers at all times. He is passionate about making a difference in the lives of indigenous youth and has already done so in his roles as Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Assistant, Dibaadan Student, and Volunteer for the Ontario Indian Friendship Centre.

Over the past year, Dakota has played a significant role in helping to strengthen mental health services for Indigenous youth on campus through his work with the Dibaadan project. Dakota assisted in all aspects of the project including research on indigenous mental health supports, developing interview questions, conducting one on one interviews with students, facilitating a discussion circle with students and elders, disseminating data collected, and providing recommendations for future years.

As part of this project, Dakota also helped to advertise, plan, and support events including a Hand Drum Social which had 80 staff, students, and community members attend. As a major contributor to the program’s success this year, Dakota helped in the development of the program’s final report.

Dakota has a strong will to be successful in life. When working with, or volunteering alongside Dakota is it clear that he is deeply motivated by making a difference in the lives of his peers.

The university community recognizes Dakota with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Sydney Hodson

Sydney is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in English.

Sydney’s professional engagement, skill building, and practical experience has put her near the top in our residence leadership team. During her three years working in residence and Summer Accommodations, Sydney used her understanding of student life to create a marketing campaign that led to our highest intake of returning students living in residence. Sydney was also instrumental in a new residence orientation project which involved implementing an e-learning module - the first of its kind in Ontario.

Sydney’s commitment to innovation in the residence life community has allowed her to be involved in projects that are beyond her years of experience. She took on each project with enthusiasm, intention to learn, and desire to develop her already impressive skill set. She is a role model for other leaders, especially in seizing opportunities on campus and working with various professional staff to learn as much as she can.

Sydney values every opportunity for leadership and professional development she is offered. Her commitment to excellence and innovation has had a positive influence on residence life - for staff and students alike. The impact of Sydney’s leadership will resonate within the residence life community for years to come.

The university community recognizes Sydney with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

William Humphrey

William is in the Bachelor of Science, Honours Specialization in Biology.

William is an outgoing, friendly face around Nipissing University and is constantly reminding students of ways to be more involved around campus. He has volunteered for the AskMe Team, Jack.Org, the Nipissing Biology Society, and as a Residence Executive. Beyond this, William has also worked as a Research Assistant.

In all of these roles, William has shown leadership in his ability to encourage other students to get involved in the Nipissing community. He has inspired other students to take on volunteer roles and has helped to mentor other Residence Council Executives. William always puts students first and is committed to the betterment of the Nipissing University community.

William has acted as an extraordinary role model and has continuously handled challenges in stride. His ability to overcome obstacles has been exemplary and his constantly opportunistic take on life has inspired many.

William is a kind and approachable person who has always been willing to go above and beyond the needs of his positions, and his community.

The university community recognizes William with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Sydney Lamorea

Sydney is in the Bachelor of Science, Honours Specialization in Psychology.

Sydney has been a strong student voice standing up for the well-being of her peers in various capacities. She passionately speaks at senate meetings and now on the NUSU Board. She has is also a strong contributor in Andrew Weeks’ neuroscience lab. Now she has been elected to be the next NUSU President where she will continue to serve students and Nipissing University.

Sydney’s passion for taking initiative and speaking out for students has had a positive impact on how student issues are discussed at Nipissing. She has assisted students with their petitions to the senate and has been a strong advocate on the NUSU Board.

Sydney has always had a passion for making life for students easier. She assisted NUSU executives in discussing possible alterations to city transit to ease student travel. NUSU is continuing this work. As NUSU President-Elect, Sydney is dedicated to strong mental health initiatives for Nipissing students.

Sydney is a strong leader with an abundance of integrity. She researches issues and always comes to the table with a balanced, informed input. Her leadership will no doubt continue to positively impact the campus community in years to come.

The university community recognizes Sydney with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Emily McCarthy

Emily is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Geography and Bachelor of Education, Junior/Intermediate divisions.

Emily has been a phenomenal student leader and possesses the ability to make incoming students feel at ease. As a Frosh Leader, Emily has enhanced the campus culture by mentoring the students on her teams. Emily is also the Chapter Lead for the Jack.org Nipissing chapter, ensuring that students join the discussion surrounding mental health and mental illness.

Emily has worked hard to make sure students on campus have safe spaces to talk about mental health, mental illness, and concerns about stress etc. Emily has done this by advocating through Jack.org Nipissing to students and providing them with information that is beneficial to their needs. Emily’s leadership style is to work extremely hard and ensure that students are connected with resources on campus.

Emily has shown her compassion and warmth by continuing to stay in contact with students from her Frosh teams throughout the academic year. Emily understands that her role as a Frosh Leader is continuous even after Frosh Week is over. She has continued to actively support, guide, and refer students throughout the year to help them get the most out of their time at Nipissing.

Emily is hard working, and advocates for the voice of her peers. She goes above and beyond to make sure that everyone has a safe space to speak, a person to talk to, and information to help them. Nipissing University is a better place because of Emily.

The university community recognizes Emily with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Jessica Rivard

Jessica is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in Geography and Bachelor of Education, Junior/Intermediate divisions.

Jessica has been actively involved within residence both as a volunteer and as a student staff. She has multiple years’ experience volunteering as a Residents’ Council Executive including VP Athletics and Wellness and council President. Beyond this, Jessica has also been a committed Residence Office Assistant at the Townhouse Residence Complex. Across all of these roles, Jessica has grown in her leadership and has helped to develop future leaders within the residence community.

As Residents’ Council Executive, Jessica was nominated by her peers to take on the responsibility of advocating for their interests, decision making on their behalf, and planning social programming. As Residents’ Council President, Jessica worked alongside Residence Life Management Staff to provide student input on department policy updates and other key decisions. In both of these roles, Jessica showed her capacity for putting community development first.

Jessica models strong leadership for her peers and sets a high standard for others to follow. With a thorough understanding of the residence leadership model, Jessica helped implement training that was instrumental in developing students’ leadership qualities. This training was strategically implemented across the entire residence community.

Jessica is committed to helping other students grow into better leaders. She encourages others to strive for excellence and be the best that they can be.

The university community recognizes Jessica with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Kiethen Sutherland

Kiethen is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Specialization in History.

Kiethen is an active volunteer with Office of Aboriginal Initiatives. He volunteers for the Peer2Peer mentorship programs as well as for annual events and activities such as the Annual Welcome Powwow, Round Dance, Debwendizon, and Annual Leadership conference. He was also a Science Camp Counsellor for youth with the Aboriginal Summer Education Programs.

Kiethen builds campus community by being an active part of that community. His participation in events has helped to encourage other less outgoing students to get involved. Kiethen’s inclusive sense of humour and extremely positive attitude brings a positive atmosphere to the student space in the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives. He has come to be known as a pillar in the student lounge, sought out by his peers for his advice.

He is a very positive ambassador and strong role model for other students. He is always willing to volunteer at a moment’s notice and works to encourage student participation in various programming on campus. Beyond this, Kiethen also encourages cultural awareness in his peers. He works to keep Cree language strong through volunteering his time to speak to other Cree speaking students looking for language support.

Originally from Kasechewan, Ontario. Kiethen began his degree at Nipissing in the Aboriginal Advantage Program, earning himself a Student Achievement Award at the end of the program. After completing his degree program, Kiethen plans to pursue post-graduate education.

The university community recognizes Kiethen with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Jenna Turcotte

Jenna is in the Bachelor of Commerce.

Since beginning her degree with Nipissing, Jenna has been actively involved with the Nipissing University Business Club to help build a community among Business students. Through her hard work and dedication, the club has grown to have more of a presence, regularly hosting events.

Jenna has shown leadership in uniting students through the Business club. She helped organize the A Future in Business event on campus, which entailed reaching out to local businesses/organizations and alumni to attend to give advice on resume techniques and plans for after graduation. This event provided Business students with a great networking opportunity while simultaneously engaging alumni and local partners.

Jenna has also volunteered to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research at both the NUSU Shine Gala and Shinerama baseball tournament. Beyond this, she participated in the Big Brother/Big Sister gift wrap, the Nipissing University Open House tours, and is currently volunteering her time to help organize NUSU’s Wellness Week.

Jenna is self-motivated, hard-working, and humble. She is the kind of leader who leads by taking action. She is considerate, collaborative, and can always be found with a smile on her face.

The university community recognizes Jenna with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Campus Category.

Luke Charlton

Luke is in the Bachelor of Arts, Honours Double Major in Philosophy and Political Science.

Luke is a tireless worker passionately striving to make the community a better place. He volunteers in key positions around the city including helping low-income families in North Bay become homeowners with Project HOAP (Home Ownership Affordability Partnership), helping sponsor a refugee family in North Bay, and helping manage and lead a condominium corporation. Beyond this, Luke has also been published in the Bay Today speaking about First Nations living conditions and reconciliation. Luke is also a contributor to The Shield a military newspaper.

With the help of Luke’s hard work and dedication, two families have achieved their dream of home ownership with Project HOAP and one refugee family has been welcomed to Canada. Luke continues to work to support the refugee family as they become more self-sufficient and adjust to life within our community. In his role as board member for the condominium corporation, Luke works to ensure that the resources are well managed and communication flows smoothly. Luke shows leadership in each of these roles through his compassion for others.

Luke actively works for the peace and prosperity of the city, and has successfully helped many people along the way. Through his leadership and compassion for others, Luke makes our community a better place.

The university community recognizes Luke with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.

Jessica Dubie

Jessica is in the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a stream in Criminal Justice Studies.

Jessica is a dedicated student who has successfully balanced her academic work with important community involvement. Jessica’s contributions to the community are significant and range from caring for the elderly to hosting an international student. She also has considerable experience volunteering for the Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre.

Jessica completed an extensive, two-month training program on crisis-intervention and on subjects such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence against women. This training taught strategies such as coping, grounding and how to provide support. She also volunteered regularly with Amelia Rising in the clothing bank, where she interacted with victims and survivors of sexual assault.

Beyond this, Jessica participated in the Women on the Inside Initiative, where volunteers enter the local North Bay prison to provide services and activities for women. Lastly, Jessica has volunteered at Amelia Rising Sexual Assault Centre booth which involved educating the public about sexual violence, while also being available to provide support for victims.

Jessica is a superb example of a person who uses her education to help improve the lives of marginalized populations. Jessica is an intelligent, industrious, and academically capable student. She is passionate about justice issues relating to sexual violence and has already proven her commitment to giving back to the community.

The university community recognizes Jessica with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.

Berlinda Mclaren

Berlinda is in the Bachelor of Education, Junior/Intermediate divisions with a teaching subject in English.

Berlinda has been an active volunteer on campus with the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives throughout her degrees. She has been a volunteer for Wiidooktaadwin Mentorship Initiatives, the Peer2Peer Mentorship Program, and Biidaaban Mentorship programs. Beyond this, Berlinda has volunteered her time with beading workshops, sharing circles, smudges, moccasin workshops and homework sessions. She was also a Camp Counsellor with the Aboriginal Summer Programs.

As part of her Biidaaban Community Service Learning, Berlinda developed a Circle of Caring program for elementary school classes in partnership with the non-profit organization COPA (Ontario Centre for Prevention of Aggression). Circle of Caring is an anti-bullying initiative whereby community members and local professionals visit elementary school classrooms for story-telling and teachings about being kind. During this program, children also had the opportunity to build friendships using The Friendship Salad Kit developed by Berlinda.

Berlinda also authored a children’s book entitled The Boy with the Braid. The purpose of this book was to help build understanding among children about the cultural significance of indigenous people having long hair and braids.

Berlinda is inclusive of everyone. She makes sure that everyone feels like they belong. She is a strong advocate of education and is a natural teacher who goes out her way to share her experiences, herself, and her culture with others.

The university community recognizes Belinda with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.

Paige Restoule

Paige is in the Masters of Environmental Studies.

Paige has been incredibly dedicated to cultural revitalization projects with community organizations in North Bay and the surrounding region, including in her home community of Dokis First Nation.

Some of her service activities include: Chairperson of the Dokis First Nation Cultural Committee, singing for community gatherings on and off campus, serving as a guest speaker for several workshops on cultural revitalization at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre and in local primary schools, and facilitating workshops for regalia making, powwow dancing, and beading.

Her work on cultural revitalization is directly related to her Masters Thesis entitled Land Based Practices: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, Decolonization. Paige’s work to protect the water led her to serve as a Water Protector at Standing Rock North Dakota, as a community delegate from Dokis First Nation.

Paige’s community service and leadership is also oriented toward facilitating opportunities for Indigenous youth, including serving as a Wiidookaadwin Aboriginal Mentor for the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives.

As the Chairperson of the Dokis First Nation Cultural Committee, Paige not only organizes an annual powwow but this year she worked to secure $10,000 in funding to support community infrastructure at the powwow grounds.

Paige’s dedication to her community and her foundation in Anishinaabe teachings make her an effective and considerate leader.

The university community recognizes Paige with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.

Laura Stemp

Laura is in the Bachelor of Education, Primary/Junior divisions.

Laura took initiative to reach out to Dr. Olmstead, Associate Dean of the Schulich School of Education to offer feedback about the new consecutive education program, including some solid recommendations for further enhancing the student experience. This included the development of a questionnaire, the organization of a large group feedback session (which she led), and the development of a process for electing representatives for the new Teacher Candidate Advisory Council (now in its first year of operation). Laura was instrumental in engaging her peers in becoming actively involved in student government as a means to establish ongoing and open lines of communications between students, faculty, and administration.

The teacher candidate advisory council would not exist without Laura’s leadership. She has definitely had an impact on both years of the new consecutive program, as well as the final three years of the previous concurrent education program.

Off campus, Laura volunteers as a Girl Guide Sparks Leader and a Camp Counsellor. In these roles, she has facilitated weekly meetings, planned fundraising initiatives, encouraged teamwork and self-confidence among youth, and gained valuable experience in preparation for her future teaching career. Laura has provided exceptional leadership and has been an excellent role model for the children she has helped over the last several years in these roles.

Laura is community-oriented, empathetic, kind and caring. She will make a great teacher!

The university community recognizes Laura with a Dave Marshall Leadership Award in the Community Category.