There are now five Premier’s Award winners from Canadore.

College nominee Ernest Matton, Elder Little Brown Bear won the Premier’s Award in the Community Services category last night (Monday).

He is a proud alumnus of Canadore’s general arts and science, and drug and alcohol counsellor programs, and is the manager of Indigenous culture and the Aboriginal healing program at the Michael Garron Hospital-Toronto East Health Network.

In a release, officials say for over nearly 25 years, Métis Elder Little Brown Bear has developed a holistic model to treating addiction and mental health issues by blending Indigenous teachings and ceremonies with mainstream Western practices in an award-winning approach to addictions treatment for Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

Canadore alumni Kelly Crawford (2016), Elina Katsman (2013), Peter Rowntree (2007) and Ted Hargreaves (1999) have also been recognized as Premier Award recipients for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

The annual Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contributions made by college graduates to the province and to the world.

Nominations are submitted by Ontario’s 24 colleges and are presented in six categories – Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology, and Recent Graduate – and are reviewed by a selection committee.

The winners were acknowledged at a gala event at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel on November 26.

(Photo submitted)