Confederation College Alumnus wins Premier’s Award Presented by Colleges Ontario

THUNDER BAY, ON, November 29, 2022 – Confederation College alumnus, Jason Rasevych, was honoured with a Premier Award in the Business Category by Colleges Ontario last night in Toronto.

Launched in 1992 and administered by Colleges Ontario, the Premier’s Awards honour college graduates from Ontario’s 24 colleges who are important social and economic contributors in Ontario and across the globe. Graduates are recognized in seven categories including Apprenticeship, Business, Community Services, Creative Arts and Design, Health Sciences, Recent Graduate and Technology.

Rasevych, originally from Ginoogaming First Nation, has 20 years of marketing, finance, strategy, governance, and economic development experience.  He was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Economic Developers and has secured more than $500 million for capital projects, legacy infrastructure, and business expansion with Indigenous groups. He has led Indigenous groups to precedent-setting agreements in the mining, forestry, energy, and broadband sectors resulting in equity for Indigenous peoples in natural resources and ownership of enabling infrastructure.

“I was honoured to be nominated by the college, where I started my education journey over 20 years ago. I was the only First Nations business student at the time, and I appreciated the small class sizes, professionalism and opportunities to learn in a team environment – something that is practiced in business every day,” Rasevych explained. “ I think it’s important to blend mainstream education with traditional Indigenous knowledge. To pursue opportunities to increase wealth in communities and provide hope for the future – that’s why I applied to business.”

This year, along with Rasevych, Confederation College nominated Tricia McGuire Adams, Goro Koyoma and David LeMay. These four alumni have demonstrated significant contributions to their community and demonstrated career success.

“We are excited and proud to see the accomplishments of our alumni,” said Kathleen Lynch, President of Confederation College. “Jason Rasevych and our other nominees are all wonderful examples of where a college education can take you. Each individual began their post-secondary studies at Confederation College, where they built a solid foundation for success.”

Brief profiles for the four Premier Award nominees follow:

JASON RASEVYCH

Jason is an Anishinaabe from Ginoogaming First Nation and has 20 years of marketing, finance, strategy, governance, and economic development experience, he was recognized as one of Canada’s Top Economic Developers and has secured more than $500 million for capital projects, legacy infrastructure, and business expansion with Indigenous groups. Jason has deep knowledge of Indigenous rights and the resource sector through his involvement in complex negotiations between First Nations, Industry and Government. He has led Indigenous groups to precedent-setting agreements in the mining, forestry, energy, and broadband sectors resulting in equity for Indigenous peoples in natural resources and ownership of enabling infrastructure. In 2019, he co-founded the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association to advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous business in pursuit of economic reconciliation in Canada. Jason also leads Deloitte’s Indigenous Trust service line, supports First Nations and Trustees to manage nearly $1 billion in invested funds, and supports the growth, education and development of First Nations and its members.

TRICIA MCGUIRE-ADAMS

Dr. McGuire- Adams is from Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek and holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Ganandawisiwin/Good Health Sovereignties and is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Dr. McGuire-Adams’ research challenges deficit-based narratives within Indigenous health research by centering Indigenous dibaajimowinan (stories) of physical activity, health, and wellbeing. Her CIHR and New Frontiers in Research funded program of research looks to Anishinaabeg land-based learning, physical activities, and gikendaasowin (knowledge) about Indigenous disabilities and sport, to further amplify Indigenous peoples’ practices of health and well-being. Dr. McGuire-Adams is passionate about fostering Indigenous research methodologies in research and teaching. Dr. McGuire- Adams has published two books: Indigenous Feminist Gikendaasowin: Decolonization through Physical Activity.; and Paradigm shifting: Centering Indigenous research methodologies, an Anishinaabe perspective. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.

DAVID LEMAY

David is an experienced Senior Executive & Board Member. President and CEO of Stuart Olson, a $1 billion integrated solutions provider serving the Canadian Construction and Industrial Services Market, with projects stretching from Ontario to the West Coast. Brought up near Thunder Bay, ON, LeMay is a construction electrician who worked in that city before relocating to Fort McMurray in 2006. He moved to Edmonton in 2009 and became president of Stuart Olson subsidiary Laird Electric. In 2010, he decided to get an executive MBA at Queen’s. He wrote his thesis on a plan to bring the company’s six divisions under one management team, which was accepted by Stuart

Olson and was appointed president and CEO.

GORO KOYAMA

Goro Koyama is an actor and foley artist best known for his work in Dune (2021), Blade Runner (2017), and Ford V Ferrari (2019), as well televisions The Handmaids Tale, Vikings, and Reign. He has achieved numerous awards including Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award, two Gemini Awards, and three Canadian Screen Awards. He has 306 film credits to his name, from 1994-present day. Currently living in the Greater Toronto Area

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Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has seven regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, as well as a growing Distance Education division.

Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 4,800 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $703.3 million annually.

For more information, please contact:

Jenna Kelos, Communications Officer

Phone: (807) 476, E-mail: [email protected]