CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Conestoga graduate honoured with Premier's Award

Megan Walker, a Practical Nursing graduate, has been honoured with a 2025 Premier's Award for contributions to health care and community well-being. 

Established in 1992, the awards celebrate the accomplishments of college graduates and leaders whose work has strengthened Ontario's post-secondary system, economy, industries and communities. Colleges Ontario, in partnership with the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, administers the program. Recipients in seven categories were chosen from submissions open to the province's 24 public colleges.

Megan Walker, a Practical Nursing graduate, has been honoured with a 2025 Premier's Award for contributions to health care and community well-being.

"Ontario has the best workers in the world, and our college graduates are helping grow that workforce every day," said Premier Doug Ford. "Congratulations to these recipients who are leading innovation, creating jobs and strengthening communities in every corner of our province. We're proud to recognize their achievements and the vital role they play in building Ontario's future."

Walker is one of the most influential voices in pediatric health care, accessibility and inclusive community development. As the founder and CEO of WeeCare Pediatric Home Health Care, she has transformed how medically complex children receive support at home, at school and throughout the broader community. Building on WeeCare's impact, Walker also founded WillowCare, adapting her innovative pediatric model to serve adults with complex care needs, and expanded WeeCare to Burundi, co-founding Ubuntu WeeCare, the first special needs centre in the country.

A board member with the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, Walker is also a published author and speaker who promotes pediatric-specific care models globally. Her work continues to break down barriers, advance equity and build inclusive, compassionate communities for children with complex medical needs.

The awards will be presented at a special, invitation-only event in Toronto on November 24, where Linda Franklin, former president and CEO of Colleges Ontario, will also receive the Minister's Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Ontario's colleges are proud to celebrate this year's outstanding graduates and to honour Linda Franklin's legacy of leadership," said Maureen Adamson, president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. "These awards show how a college education transforms and helps build Ontario's future."

In addition to this year's recipient, several other Conestoga graduates have been recognized with Premier's Awards:

• Fiona Coughlin (Community Services, 2024)
• Jehan Salim (Community Services, 2023)
• Jennifer Green (Apprenticeship, 2022)
• Massi Basiri (Business, 2021)
• Meti Basiri (Business 2021)
• Clarice Ward (Apprenticeship, 2019)
• William Werth (Recent Graduate, 2019)
• Kevin King (Health Sciences, 2019)
• Don Gosen (Apprenticeship, 2018)
• Allie Libertini (Recent Graduate, 2018)
• Marianne Walker (Health Sciences, 2015)
• Tahani Aburaneh (Business, 2013)
• Chameli Naraine (Business, 2012)

Conestoga's Premier's Awards recipients are part of the college's more than 225,000 alumni network, making contributions to the local community and the world. More than 5,200 graduates are local entrepreneurs, and according to the 2023 Conestoga: Adapting for Prosperity report, Conestoga's alumni contribute over $6.2 billion to the provincial economy annually.