The Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale, made the announcement this morning in the Sustainable Resource Centre at Mohawk's Stoney Creek campus. Ted was joined by Mohawk College President Ron McKerlie and about 40 apprenticeship students.

Mohawk College will receive the funding through the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund and Pre-Apprenticeship Training programs for new simulation technology for plumbing apprentices and to help introduce unemployed and underemployed youth, women and aboriginal peoples to the refrigeration and air conditioning, automotive, plumbing and steamfitting trades. 

As announced in the 2015 Budget, the province is investing $23 million over two years through the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund for 47 new capital projects at colleges and other training organizations for new equipment, new facilities and new technologies such as welding simulators, to provide opportunities for hands-on training. Another $13 million is being invested through the Pre-Apprenticeship Training program to help support 84 pre-apprenticeship training programs, which will help more than 1,500 people primarily from traditionally underrepresented groups including women, Indigenous peoples and at-risk youth, consider careers in the trades by developing their skills through in-class training sessions and work placements.

• Derek Doyle, co-founder of Ambitious Realty Advisors and Mezcal Tacos & Tequila (Small Business Entrepreneurship, 2007)


• His Worship Mayor Fred Eisenberger, (Community Planning and Development, 1983)


• Brian Jonker, Parts and Facility Manager for Tiger Cat Industries Inc. and coach of the Mohawk Mountaineer men’s varsity basketball team (Radio Broadcasting, 1993)


• Vanh Kalong, Owner of the My Thai Group (Information Systems Technician, 1991)


• Megan MacLeod, Development intern at McMaster University and organizer of Warm Up For Winter, Feet First for Haiti and Glitz, Glamour and Graduation (Fundraising Development Associate Certificate, Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector, Volunteer Management, Event Management, 2013-14)


• The Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale (Social Studies, 1970)


• Rocco Passero, Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Lead with Infrastructure Technology Services, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario (Engineering Technology, 1980)


• Daniel Popowich, Professor and recipient of a 2014 Mohawk College Award of Excellence (General Arts and Science, 1992)


• Barbara Shea, Network Coordinator of Public Health Ontario’s Central East Infection Control Network (Medical Laboratory Technology, 1980)


 

QUOTE:

“We’re proud to recognize nine outstanding alumni who are leaders, community builders and role models for our students. Our Alumni of Distinction recipients show how much you can achieve and contribute with a Mohawk College education.” – Mohawk President Ron McKerlie

FAST FACTS:

• Mohawk’s Alumni of Distinction Awards were launched in 1996.


• 106 graduates have received Alumni of Distinction Awards.


• More than 105,000 students have graduated from Mohawk.


• Entrance scholarships are established in the name of each Alumni of Distinction recipient.


• More than $53,000 in Alumni of Distinction entrance scholarships have been awarded to students.


• A committee of past award recipients and college staff review nominations and select recipients based on career achievements and community contributions.


 

Mohawk College educates and serves more than 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students at three campuses in Hamilton, Ontario. For the fifth consecutive year, Mohawk has been rated the number one college in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for overall student satisfaction.

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For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications

905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

• Derek Doyle, co-founder of Ambitious Realty Advisors and Mezcal Tacos & Tequila (Small Business Entrepreneurship, 2007)


• His Worship Mayor Fred Eisenberger, (Community Planning and Development, 1983)


• Brian Jonker, Parts and Facility Manager for Tigercat Industries Inc. and coach of the Mohawk Mountaineer men’s varsity basketball team (Radio Broadcasting, 1993)


• Vanh Kalong, Owner of the My Thai Group (Information Systems Technician, 1991)


• Megan MacLeod, Development intern at McMaster University and organizer of Warm Up For Winter, Feet First for Haiti and Glitz, Glamour and Graduation (Fundraising Development Associate Certificate, Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector, Volunteer Management, Event Management, 2013-14)


• The Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale (Social Studies, 1970)


• Rocco Passero, Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Lead with Infrastructure Technology Services, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Ontario (Engineering Technology, 1980)


• Daniel Popowich, Professor and recipient of a 2014 Mohawk College Award of Excellence (General Arts and Science, 1992)


• Barbara Shea, Network Coordinator of Public Health Ontario’s Central East Infection Control Network (Medical Laboratory Technology, 1980)


 

“We’re proud to recognize nine outstanding alumni who are leaders, community builders and role models for our students,” says Mohawk President Ron McKerlie. “Our Alumni of Distinction recipients show how much you can achieve and contribute with a Mohawk College education.”

The nine newest members of Mohawk’s Alumni of Distinction will be honoured with a dinner Oct. 27 at Michelangelo Event and Conference Centre. Tickets are available online or by calling Alumni Relations at 905.575.2258.

Launched in 1996, Alumni of Distinction awards have been presented to 105 Mohawk College graduates. The Alumni Association honours award recipients by establishing a student bursary in their name.

Mohawk College educates and serves more than 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students at three campuses in Hamilton, Ontario. For the fifth consecutive year, Mohawk has been rated the number one college in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area for overall student satisfaction.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Jay Robb, Director of Communications

905.979.8893, jay.robb@mohawkcollege.ca

The Hon. Ted McMeekin, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale, takes questions from Mohawk College Journalism students after announcing the Province's new 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant for post-secondary students in the province.

"The grant makes post-secondary education more accessible and affordable for families right here in our community," said Ted. "This new grant is part of our government's commitment to create the best educated workforce in the world by giving our students every opportunity to succeed. Ontario's future prosperity depends on it."

The grant is open to more than 300,000 undergraduate students at colleges and universities across Ontario. For more information, including eligibility requirements, please visit the Ministry's website.

Joining the announcement was Graham Browne, Vice President of Human Resources and General Administration for AcelorMittal Dofasco. ArcelorMittal Dofasco, which has invested $1 million in the transformation of Mohawk's skilled trades campus, is one of the largest apprenticeship trainers in Canada while Mohawk is the largest apprenticeship trainer among Ontario's 24 community colleges.

Mohawk President Rob MacIsaac thanked the Ontario government and said investing in the college's facilities pays immediate dividends. "Apprentices get to develop their skills using the newest equipment and the latest technology. They learn in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms. The quality of our facilities is fast approaching the outstanding calibre of our faculty, instructors and staff. That combination gives our apprentices a great education. And it gives employers a highly skilled and future ready workforce."

Piero Cherubini, Dean of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships, hosted the announcement and said the biggest and best apprenticeship trainer among Ontario's colleges just got better thanks to the Ontario government's funding for new equipment, technology and facilities. Mohawk's newest apprentices are set to arrive at the college Aug. 29. "The timing of today's announcement couldn't have been any better," said Piero.