What’s your story?
The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives — and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series. Learn more about the People of Georgian below or follow the series on social media.
Want to share your story? Email socialmedia@georgiancollege.ca.
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People of Georgian: Student’s struggle with diabetes inspires program choice
Meet Jolene Marriott, a student at the college’s South Georgian Bay Campus.
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People of Georgian: Denturist restores smiles, inspires students
Meet William Lai, part-time faculty in Georgian’s Denturism program.
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People of Georgian: Anti-racism learning circle sparks professor’s equity work
Meet Jennifer Shelswell, professor and Award of Excellence – Academic winner from Georgian’s Board of Governors’ Awards of Distinction.
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People of Georgian: Travel and snow draw international student to Canada
Meet Yunish Dahal, a student and International Student Ambassador in the International Centre at the Barrie Campus.
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People of Georgian: Paralympian shares ‘unreal’ experiences he nearly missed
Meet Brad Bowden, two-time Georgian alumnus, medal-winning Paralympic athlete, and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
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People of Georgian: Nursing student with family of doctors driven by helping others
Meet Luiza Pinto, a student in Georgian’s Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BScN) program.
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People of Georgian: Student uses painting to share autism journey
Meet Emily Slaght, a student graduating from Georgian’s Fine Arts program this June.
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People of Georgian: Artist dreams up future as entrepreneur
Meet Monica Levac, artist and alumna of Georgian’s Hospitality – Hotel and Resort Operations Management program.
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People of Georgian: Bullet journaling spurs creativity during pandemic
Meet Jessica Pfluegl, Customer Service Representative at the Georgian Library at our Owen Sound Campus.
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People of Georgian: Co-op manager fields life lessons as rugby coach
John Daggett, Manager of Co-operative Education and Career Success and Head Coach of Georgian’s rugby team.
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People of Georgian: Alumnus celebrates the weirdness of life
Meet Dan Hendley, alumnus from Georgian’s Visual Photography and Imaging program.
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People of Georgian: International student finds herself in tarot cards
Meet Nikita Kewalramani, a student in Early Childhood Education program at Georgian’s Orillia Campus.
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People of Georgian: Country singer goes from Lady Gaga tribute artist to nursing student
Meet Tonya Kennedy, a student in Georgian’s Practical Nursing program.
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People of Georgian: ‘Bubbles’ makes full-circle college journey
Meet Lisa Lavigne, Georgian alumna and Academic Program Assistant at the college’s Owen Sound Campus.
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People of Georgian: Peer mentor embraces new role focused on Black student experience
Meet Nandi Young, the first Black Student Engagement and Outreach Assistant at Georgian’s Centre for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging.
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People of Georgian: Top 5 posts that inspired you in 2021
As we enter a new year, we’re looking back at the many incredible stories our students, alumni, staff and faculty have shared with us through our People of Georgian series.
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People of Georgian: Aviation student gets ‘incredibly rare’ job opportunity
Meet Nicholas Chute, a student in Georgian’s Aviation Management program.
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People of Georgian: Nursing student’s career journey driven by desire to help others
Meet Nina Shirin Sheikh, a student in Georgian’s Practical Nursing program.
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People of Georgian: Professor creates art about diversity, history and representation
Meet Angela Aujla, Georgian professor, curriculum advisor and visual artist.
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People of Georgian: Student by day, wrestler by night
Meet Corbin Crawford-Joslin, alumnus from Georgian’s Advertising and Marketing Communications program.
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People of Georgian: Moving to Ontario spurs grad’s self-acceptance
Meet Faryal Shehzad, Georgian student and a winner of Dig Insight’s 2021 BIPOC Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship.
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People of Georgian: Aviation student launches food truck after co-op in Nunavut
Meet Sachin Sharma, alumnus from Georgian’s Aviation Management program and owner/operator of Foodiez food truck in Barrie.
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People of Georgian: One comment changed the course of Paramedic student’s life
Dustyn Paton, an alumnus and current student in Georgian’s Advanced Care Paramedic program.
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People of Georgian: Director embraces new priorities after husband’s cancer diagnosis
Meet Cheryn Thoun, Director of Georgian’s Communications, Marketing and Recruitment department.
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People of Georgian: Paralympian finds ‘pure happiness’ in sports despite setbacks
Meet Darda Sales, Georgian alumna, and Paralympian gold and silver medalist and World Champion swimmer and wheelchair basketball player.
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People of Georgian: International dancer finds inner strength after life-changing injuries
Meet Antonio Sardella, international student, dancer, peer mentor, and Occupational and Physical Therapy Assistant program student.
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People of Georgian: Virtual reality lead explores ‘cutting edge’ experiences for students
Meet Rob Theriault, Immersive Technology Lead at Georgian.
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People of Georgian: Library technician finds satisfaction in helping students succeed
Meet Jana Bickell, Library Technician at Georgian’s Orillia Campus library and a two-time Georgian alumnus.
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People of Georgian: Family’s key to ‘the good life’ for events coordinator
Meet Beedahsiga Elliott, Events Coordinator with Georgian’s Indigenous Services and a three-time Georgian alumnus.
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People of Georgian: Indigenous Visiting Elder helps students heal, succeed
Meet Shirley John, Visiting Elder at Georgian’s Owen Sound Campus.
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People of Georgian: Technologist connects with dad through annual moose hunting trip
Meet Andrew Cywink, Research and Innovation Technologist and an electrical apprenticeship instructor at Georgian’s Midland Campus.
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People of Georgian: Métis student feels ‘immense’ responsibility as first in family to attend college
Ryan Gladwin, student in Georgian’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) collaborative program.
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People of Georgian: Nursing professor energized by helping students in simulation labs
Meet Len Lefaive, professor in Georgian’s BScN collaborative program.
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People of Georgian: Pandemic highlights nurses’ compassion for associate dean
Meet Sara Lankshear, Associate Dean, Nursing Degree Programs at Georgian.
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People of Georgian: Nursing professor, researcher motivated by nurses’ stories
Meet Jacqueline Limoges, professor in Georgian’s BScN program and research lead for the college’s Health, Wellness and Sciences academic area.
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People of Georgian: Chris Hadfield visit tops nursing coordinator’s college experiences
Meet Corrine Lalonde, faculty member and coordinator in Georgian’s BScN program.
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People of Georgian: This Kinda Life co-creator puts passion into practice as photography student
Meet Sarah Lajeunesse, a Georgian Photography student, co-creator of This Kinda Life, and co-founder of TKL Media.
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People of Georgian: Clerk’s cross-Canada journeys make ‘every day an adventure’
Meet Michelle Kennedy, College and Career Preparation Clerk at the Muskoka Campus.
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People of Georgian: Professor swaps science career for law and co-authors first textbook
Meet Alison Kossowski, a lawyer and Georgian professor, who recently co-authored her first textbook.
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People of Georgian: Watching police movies with dad inspires alumnus’ career path
Meet Const. Wazeer Rahiman, a Georgian alumnus and police officer with the South Simcoe Police Service.
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People of Georgian: Instructor finds support – and second career – as mature student
Meet Marco D’Intino, Georgian alumnus and part-time Academic Technologist at the college’s Owen Sound Campus.
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People of Georgian: Director’s international travel inspires ‘global mindset’
Meet Sara Bentham, Director of Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre.
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People of Georgian: Indigenous Studies co-ordinator connects with students through virtual reality
Meet Michele O’Brien, Georgian College alumna and Co-op Experience Consultant with the college’s Indigenous Studies programs.
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People of Georgian: Cabinetmaking professor driven by disrupting racism, homophobia
Lynn MacKinlay, Professor in Georgian’s Cabinetmaking Techniques program, and co-chair of the college’s Anti-Black Racism Forums.
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People of Georgian: Alumna inspired to rewrite her life story at college
Meet Alasoba (Lala) Kelsy-Braide, alumna of Georgian’s Child and Youth Care program.
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People of Georgian: Police degree professor opens students’ eyes to life as minority
Meet Eleanor Gittens, Professor in Georgian’s Community Safety programs.
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People of Georgian: Alumna’s hunger for higher education propels her from ‘humble beginnings’
Meet Roxann Whittingham, Georgian alumna. She recently created a scholarship for Black students studying at Georgian.
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People of Georgian: Professor helps launch anti-Black racism forums
Meet Clement Bamikole, Professor in Georgian’s Liberal Arts programs and co-chair of the college’s anti-Black racism forums.
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People of Georgian: International coordinator finds ‘true personality’ at college
Meet Kenta Shirakura, alumnus of one of Georgian’s Hospitality programs, and the International Housing Coordinator with Georgian’s Segal International Centre.
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People of Georgian: Photographer’s love of science fiction out of this world
Meet Doug Crawford, Visual Media and Communications Specialist at Georgian College.
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People of Georgian: Nursing student rises from foster care to college with ‘amazing’ faculty support
Meet Frankie Von Dahlen-Klaus, a Practical Nursing student and PSW alumna at Georgian, who’s a model for the college’s MORE campaign.
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People of Georgian: Top 5 posts that inspired you in 2020
Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and each of the features we’ve published so far is no exception.
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People of Georgian: Dopey the real star of student recruiter’s Christmas tree
Meet Kailey Hawkins, Georgian alumna and Student Recruitment Specialist at Georgian College.
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People of Georgian: Acupuncture prof bullied for cleanliness secretly trains in martial arts
Meet Jack Yan, a part-time professor in Georgian’s Acupuncture program.
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People of Georgian: Support officer an ‘outdoors fanatic’
Jay Harris, Student Systems Support Officer at Georgian College and alumnus, is a huge fan of anything that gets him active outdoors.
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People of Georgian: Counsellor gains compassion through addiction, mental-health struggles
Meet Greg Taylor, Counsellor at Georgian College, who explains how he was able to transform his own mental-health struggles into something positive.
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People of Georgian: Professor faces violence, illness and hard work in ‘humbling’ experience in Africa
Meet Steve McDonald, Human Services Professor at Georgian College, who formerly worked for the United Nations in Africa.
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People of Georgian: Registrar recounts near-death ferry sinking, stranded in ocean for hours
Meet Cindy Mutchler, Registrar of Georgian College, who survived a harrowing near-death ferry sinking in the Philippines.
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People of Georgian: Aviation alumni leads COVID-19 response at airport
Meet Chantal Urquidi, alumna from Georgian’s Aviation Management program. She was recently named to Business London’s Twenty in their 20’s.
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People of Georgian: Award-winning Peruvian filmmaker finds inspiration in diversity
Meet Paul Arredondo Rodriguez, a Georgian College alumnus, Support Clerk and filmmaker, whose short film won two awards at the Barrie Film Festival this fall.
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People of Georgian: Communications expert uses photography to see world through a joyful lens
Meet Kristin Taylor, a Communications Specialist at Georgian, who uses photography as an outlet for self care.
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People of Georgian: Retired Tourism prof finds ‘Fountain of Youth’ at college
Meet Paul Burton, who retired after 34 years as a professor in Georgian’s Tourism program. He won our 2020 Professor Emeritus award.
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People of Georgian: Hearing loss doesn’t stop campus support officer from embracing ‘joie de vivre’
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Alumna ‘brave enough to suck at something new’
Meet Anna Julia Sirghiuta, alumni of Georgian’s Aviation Management program and founder of Georgian Skies. She now works in corporate airport operations at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto.
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People of Georgian: Indigenous-Canadian actor champions cultural empowerment
Meet Nadia George, Georgian alumna, award-winning Mi’kmaq-Canadian actor, public speaker, and Indigenous rights and youth advocate.
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People of Georgian: Philanthropist says family treated college as ‘part of the family’
Meet Jane Brown Jackson, Georgian alumna, philanthropist, and longtime friend of Georgian.
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People of Georgian: Changemaker carves her own path out of corporate world
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Graphic designer creates movie monster magic
Meet Adam Dagenais, Community Animator for Georgian’s Centre for Changemaking and Social Innovation, and a Georgian alumnus from the Art and Design Fundamentals program.
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People of Georgian: Award recognizes ‘mama bear’ paramedic co-ordinator
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Early ‘turmoil’ inspires alumna’s child-rights advocacy
Meet Jane Kovarikova, Georgian alumna and founder of Child Welfare Political Action Committee of Canada.
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People of Georgian: ‘Freaky Wizard’ takes love of toy collecting outside the box
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Massage Therapy alumna pays it forward with inspiring advice
Meet Lindsay Geiger, graduate of Georgian’s Massage Therapy program and owner of Kneading Balance Services.
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People of Georgian: Math tutor uses patience superpower to help students
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Head of HR hits bullseye with funky fashion
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Army coach finds second family through fitness
Meet Chelsey Tuck, Georgian alumna, Fitness and Health Promotion program, and fitness and sports instructor at Canadian Forces Base Borden.
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People of Georgian: Foodie from Nepal brings recipes to life in Canada
What’s your story? Our Georgian College community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives, and we’re sharing different ones each week.
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People of Georgian: Teacher cooks up confidence for culinary student
What’s your story? The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing…
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People of Georgian: Canada a ‘second home’ for international student
What’s your story? The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing…
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People of Georgian: Indian student reconnects with home cooking
Welcome to our People of Georgian series. Now more than ever, let’s share our stories and stay connected. To read previous…
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People of Georgian: Indigenous Elder finds purpose in language
Welcome to the second in our new series, People of Georgian. Now more than ever, let’s share our stories and…
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People of Georgian: New series connects college community
Georgian is more than a college. It’s a second home to students, faculty and staff from around the world. And what…