Sault College nominates two alumni for prestigious Premier’s Awards

Sault College said it was with "great pride" that it introduces its 2023 nominees for Colleges Ontario’s Premier’s Awards, alumni Jenna Polutanovich and Kevin Callan.

The prestigious awards recognize the outstanding contributions graduates make in Ontario and throughout the world, the college said.

The school said it was honoured to celebrate two alumni who continue to make a difference in their chosen careers and in the lives of others.

“Our graduates not only enrich our Sault College community, but also leave a lasting mark in Ontario and around the world," college president David Orazietti said in a news release.

"Through the Premier’s Awards we can honour graduates who have made remarkable contributions across various fields.”

“This year, we are proud to highlight two alumni whose stories inspire us. On behalf of Sault college, we congratulate both Jenna and Kevin on this outstanding and deserving recognition.”

Here's more on Sault College’s 2023 Premier’s Award Nominees:

Jenna Polutanovich (Category: Recent Graduate): Child and Youth Care, 2019

Jenna Polutanovich has made a significant impact in her community by providing support and developing resources for children and families who have experienced a loss by death. As a student, she recognized that gaps needed to be filled and that her community lacked grief-specific supports for children who have lost a loved one. Since graduating, she has offered one-on-one and group support, authored, and published the book ABC's of Death (for caregivers navigating loss with children), has educated postsecondary students and has “trained the trainer” with community organizations to become more comfortable supporting their own clients through grief.

Kevin Callan (Category: Technology): Forestry Technician, 1985

Kevin Callan (a.k.a. the Happy Camper) is the author of 19 books, his latest being Another Bend in the River: The Happy Camper’s Memoir. He is an award-winning writer and a keynote speaker at outdoor industry events across North America. A regular educational and informative guest on several television morning shows and CBC Radio, he has won multiple film awards and writes columns for both Paddling Magazine and Explore Magazine. He was named one of the Top 100 Modern Day Explorers by the Canadian Geographical Society, inducted into Milton’s Walk of Fame and named Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada.

Award recipients are selected in seven categories: Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate, and Technology.

Recipients will be announced at the Premier’s Awards gala taking place in Toronto on Nov. 27. 

To learn more about Colleges Ontario’s Premier’s Awards, visit https://www.co-awards.org.