ALGONQUIN COLLEGE
Algonquin Celebrates the 2025 Alumni of Distinction

Algonquin College is proud to announce and celebrate its 2025 Alumni of Distinction graduates and a community partner whose leadership, innovation, and compassion are shaping industries, inspiring others, and strengthening communities. 

"These honourees remind us that the strength of Algonquin College lies not only in our programs and campuses, but in the people who carry that strength into the world," said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. "Each of them represents what's best about our College a commitment to learning, caring, and creating positive change in their fields and their communities." 

This year's Alumni of Distinction honourees include: 

• Hannah Thibedeau (Broadcasting - Television, Class of 1996) - Alumna of the Year Award. Executive Communications Officer, Global Public Affairs; award-winning journalist and former National News Anchor of CBC News. 

• Marcie Lane (Social Service Worker, Class of 2022 - Pembroke campus) - Brian Fraser Recent Graduate Award. Cancer survivor, Engagement Lead for the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group. 

• Riaz Sidi (Journalism - Print, Class of 2006) - Business Award. President at Sidi.io, a digital marketing agency recognized as one of Ottawa's Fastest Growing companies in 2022, 2023 & 2024 by the Ottawa Business Journal. 

• Eric Agyemang (Business Administration - International Business, Class of 2012) - Changing Lives Award. Founder and Managing Partner, Maple Bridge Ventures; ecosystem builder, investor, and passionate mentor for immigrants and refugees. 

• Sophia Jacob (Personal Support Worker, Class of 2000) - Community Services Award. CEO/Founder of the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network and community connector, collaborator, and advocate for equity. 

• Jamie Fine (Culinary Management, Class of 2013) - Creative Arts & Design Award. Singer, songwriter, recording artist, and producer. 

• Denise Ouellette (Nursing, Class of 1998) - Health Sciences Award. Palliative Care, Interprofessional Resource Team Staffing Office, and Patient Access and Flow - Unity Health Toronto; recipient of St. Michael's Clinical Excellence and Leadership Award and the Corporate Healthy Work Environment Award. 

• Guy Lepage (Journalism, Class of 1978) - Rena Bowen Volunteer of the Year Award. Disaster Management Volunteer, Canadian Red Cross. 

• Len Anderson (Business Administration, Class of 1994) - Science, Technology and Engineering Award. CEO at Renaissance Network Reinvent, Terra Nova Solutions Rewired, and Dafocom Solutions; developer of anti-hacking and cybersecurity systems supporting operational readiness of military assets. 

• Johannes Ziebarth (Electrician - Construction and Maintenance, Class of 1994) - Skilled Trades Award. President & CEO, Ziebarth Electrical Contractors (ZEC) and Landaira. 

• Kinaxis - Employer of the Year Award. Partnering with Algonquin College to offer students real-world experience and demonstrate the power of collaboration between education and industry. 

The Alumni of Distinction Awards Dinner is one of the College's most anticipated annual events a celebration of lifelong learning, connection, and shared success. The recipients are being honoured this year at a ceremony the evening of November 11.  

Full profiles of the 2025 honourees are available on the Alumni of Distinction Awards website.