BCIT Distinguished Awards Gala
The Distinguished Awards is the signature event for BCIT, where we celebrate outstanding leaders and high-achieving BCIT alumni and their contributions both locally and internationally.
Watch the highlights of the 2019 Distinguished Awards gala below.
For information about this event, please contact awardsdinner@bcit.ca
Past award recipients
Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Michelle Wan
Software Developer, Elastic Path
Computer Systems Technology, 2019
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Faculty and Staff Association Award
Jamie Finley
Research Assistant, Natural Health and Food Products Research Group, Applied Research, BCIT
Biotechnology, 2003
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Derek Manky
Chief, Security Insights and Global Threats Alliances, Fortinet
Computer Systems – Data Communication, 2003
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Katie Klumper
Principal, Deloitte Digital & HEAT
Marketing Management – Communications, 2004
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Honorary Doctorate of Technology
Clive Beddoe
Principal Founder and past Chairman and CEO, WestJet
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Honorary Doctorate of Technology
Carol Lee
Chair, Vancouver Chinatown Foundation / CEO & Co-founder, Linacare Cosmetherapy Inc.
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Moshtagh Mohammadi
Engineering Technologist, McElhanney
Civil Engineering, 2018
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Faculty and Staff Association Award
Tara Wilkie
Part-Time Studies Instructor, BCIT Forensics; Forensic Nurse Examiner, Fraser Health Authority
Registered Nurse, 2012, Nursing, BSN, 2014
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Mischa Steiner
Founder and CEO, Awesense, Inc.
Electronics – Wireless Communication & Computer Networks, 2003
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Nigel Bennett
Co-Founder/Principal, Aqua-Guard Spill Response Inc.
Mechanical Engineering Technology, 1985
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Honorary Doctorate of Technology
Elyse Allan
Former President & CEO, GE Canada
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Honorary Doctorate of Technology
Roberta Jamieson
Former President & CEO, Indspire
Executive Producer, Indspire Awards
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Anne McMullin
CEO, Urban Development Institute Pacific Region
Broadcast Journalism, Diploma, 1991
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Brad Kirk
COO, Harilela Hotels Group
Hospitality and Tourism Administration, Diploma, 1978
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Kayla Di Bauda
Nursing, BSN, 2017
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Faculty & Staff Association Award
Joe Newton
Project Leader, Product and Process Applied Research Team
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Honourary Doctorate Recipients
Dave Tuccaro
President, CEO, and Founder of Tuccaro Inc.
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Honourary Doctorate Recipients
Sue Paish
CEO, Digital Technology Supercluster
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Frank Rizzardo
President and General Manager, Emcon Services
Civil and Structural Engineering, Diploma, 1973
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Suki Sekhon
President, CSR Group of Companies
Marketing Management – Real Estate, Diploma, 1984
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Nadia Dobrianskaia
Computer Scientist, Simba Technologies
Computer Systems Technology, Diploma, 2015
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Faculty & Staff Association Award
Amy Fell
Acting Director, BCIT SITE Centre
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Honourary Doctorate Recipients
David Emerson
Chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
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Honourary Doctorate Recipients
Diana Swain
Senior Investigative Journalist, CBC News
Host, CBC News Network
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Marty Edwards
Director of the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team, US Department of Homeland Security
Automation and Instrumentation, Diploma, 1990
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Randy Smallwood
President and Chief Executive Officer, Silver Wheaton
Mine Engineering, Diploma, 1990
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award Recipient
Lauren Lee
Security Operations Officer, Vancouver International Airport
Airport Operations, Diploma, 2015
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Faculty & Staff Association Award
Ralph Hargreaves
Retired, BCIT Assistant Instructor
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Honourary Doctorate Recipient
Dominic Barton
Global Managing Director, McKinsey and Company
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Honourary Doctorate Recipient
Julie Payette
Chief Operating Officer, Montreal Science Centre
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Markus Frind
CEO and Founder, Plenty Of Fish Media Inc
Computer Systems Technology (CST) Diploma, 1999
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Distinguished Alumni Award
John Knappett
Chief Executive Officer, Knappett Group
Geomatics (Survey) Engineering, 1974
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award Recipient
Deanna Hill
Media Strategist / Buyer, MacLaren McCann
Marketing Management Communications, 2014
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Faculty & Staff Association Award
Thomas Abbuhl
BCIT Department of Civil Engineering – Faculty / Work Experience Coordinator
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Honourary Doctorate Recipient
Bill Good
Host, CKNW
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Honourary Doctorate Recipient
Launi Skinner
CEO at First West Credit Union
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Bill Dow
Nuclear Medicine Program 1979
Dean, School of Health Sciences, BCIT
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Craig Crawford
Building Technology (renamed Architectural and Building Engineering Technology) 1983
Vice President, Operations, BC Housing
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Gillian Findlay
Broadcast Journalism 1983
Host, CBC TV News; The Fifth Estate
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Robyn Worcester
Renewable Resources Technology Program – Fish, Wildlife and Recreation 2002
Conservation Programs Manager, Stanley Park Ecology Society
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award Recipient
Ceilidh Millar
Broadcast Journalism 2013
BCIT Ambassador, Marketing & Communications, BCIT
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Dan Mott
Electrical Apprenticeship 1978
President, Mott Electric
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Distinguished Alumni Award
Peter Blake
Administrative Management DiplT 1981
Chief Executive Officer, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award Recipients
Kelly Third
Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2012
Registered Nurse, St. Paul’s Hospital
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award Recipients
Nicola Gardner
Bachelor of Business Administration 2012
Past President, BCIT Student Association
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement
Mark Angelo
Chair, The Rivers Institute at BCIT
Past Program Head, BCIT Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership
Peter Hrdlitschka
DiplT ’78, Building Technology
President, Ledcor Construction Limited, Western Canada
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Innovation
David Yochlowitz
DiplT ’87, Administrative Management, ’90 (OLA), Bachelor of Business Administration
Chief Executive Officer, ABC Recycling
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Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
Dr. Sanja Boskovic
Chief Instructor, BCIT Power Engineering
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership
Stuart Ballantyne
DiplT ’84, Marketing Management
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vancouver Giants
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to the Community
Leila El-Khatib
BBA ’09, DiplT ’00 Marketing Management – Entrepreneurship, BSc ’08 (UBC)
Director and Middle East and Islamic Trainer, 6 Degree Seminars Inc.
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service
Tim Shields
DiplT ’90, Civil and Structural Engineering
RCMP Strategic Communications Section, Vancouver BC
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence in Research Award
Dr. David Holloway
Instructor, BCIT Mathematics
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Brent Charleton
DiplT ’10, Marketing Management – Entrepreneurship
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Significant Contributions to an Industry (Construction)
John Hiebert
Building Engineering DiplT ’70
President, TASK Construction Management Inc.
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Innovation
Kalpna Solanki
Environmental Health DiplT ’89
President, BOBOBABY Inc.
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership
Eric Sorensen
Marketing Management DiplT ’81
CEO & President (Retired), Sun-Rype Products Ltd.
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Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
Anthony Chan
Program Head, BCIT Biomedical Engineering Technology
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Peter Kemp
Computer Systems Technology DiplT ’07, BTech ’09
Customer Service Representative, BCIT IT Services
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement
John Leech
DiplT Surveying ’70, DiplT Photogrammetry ’71
Executive Director and Registrar, Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership and Significant Contributions to a Trade or Industry
Donald Kayne
DiplT Wood Products ’78, DiplT Business Administration ’79
Vice President, Canfor Corporation
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service and Service to the Community
Ian Robertson
DiplT Marketing Management ’78
Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Armstrong Group (Rocky Mountaineer Vacations)
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Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
Jason Goodnough
DiplT Prosthetics and Orthotics ’94
Program Head and Instructor, Prosthetics and Orthotics, BCIT
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Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Julia Paskovic
Mediation ’05, Marketing Management – Communications ’08
Account Coordinator, Quay Strategies
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Innovation
Ryan Benn
DiplT ’01 (Marketing Management)
President Teldon Publishing and alive Magazine
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Significant Contributions to an Industry
Michael Drever
DiplT ’86 (Marketing Management)
President and CEO, CruiseShipCenters International
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership and Service to the Community
Eamonn Percy
DiplT ’84 (Electrical Engineering)
Principal, The Findaway Group
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching and Research Award
Dr. Bryan Folz, P.Eng.
DiplT ’77 (Civil and Structural Engineering)
Faculty, BCIT Department of Civil Engineering
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Annalea Krebs
DiplT ’07, International Trade and Transportation
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Leadership
John Nagy, FCGA
DiplT ’77 (Financial Management)
Partner, Reid Hurst Nagy CGAs
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Significant Contributions to a Trade or Industry
Diana Swain
DiplT ’87 (Broadcast and Media Communications)
News Anchor, CBC
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Innovation and Service to the Community
Sandra Wilson
DiplT ’81(Financial Management)
Founder and Chair of the Board, Robeez Footwear
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award
Thomas Abbuhl, A.Sc.T.
DiplT ’77 (Civil and Structural Engineering)
Faculty, BCIT Department of Civil Engineering
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Katherine Gerry, R.N.
BScN ’06 (Nursing)
Staff Nurse, St. Paul’s Hospital
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement
Marshall Heinekey A.Sc.T
Dipl.T ’75 Civil & Structural Engineering (BCIT), BTech ’82,
Civil Engineering (Ryerson), Diploma of Adult Education ’85 (UBC),
MBA ’93, (Asia Pacific International University)
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award
Carroll Nelson
MBA ’87, Business Administration and BA ’70,
Home Economics (UBC)
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Significant Contributions to a Trade or Industry
Robert Calnan
Dipl.T ’77 Nursing (BCIT),
BScN ’87 and MEd ’90 (UVIC)
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Applying Technologyand Technical Skills
Robert W. Deverall
Dipl.T ’76 Chemical and Metallurgical Technology (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to the Community and Professional Leadership
Peter Robinson
Dipl.T ’76 Fish, Wildlife, Recreation (BCIT), BA ’88 (Geography)
and Post Baccalaureate Diploma ’96 (SFU), MA ’03 Conflict
Analysis and Management (RRU)
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Erin Smith
Dipl.T ’04 Financial Management, ASTB and BBA ’05 (BCIT)
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence In Teaching Award
David Huesken
Instructor’s Diploma ’83(UBC),
Adult Education Diploma ’01 (VCC),
BEd ’02 (U of A), MEd ’04(Albright School of Education, City University)
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award
Euclid Seeram
BSc ’75 (Carleton), MSc ’90, Instructional Computing (SFU),
FCAMRT
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
Pouyan (“Leon”) Farasati
Diploma of Technology (Hons) ’04, Business Administration (BCIT),
BASc ’02, Computer Engineering (University of Waterloo)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Significant Contribution To A Trade Or Industry (International Call/Contact Centre Industry)
Carol Borghesi
Diploma of Technology, Marketing Management (Hons) ’81,
International Marketing (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Entrepreneurial Innovation
Robert O’Neill
Diploma of Technology ’72,
Hospitality Administration (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Significant Contribution To A Trade Or Industry (High-tech Industry In BC)
Morgan Sturdy
BBA ’83 (SFU), Diploma of Technology,
Marketing Management ’73 (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Lifetime Achievement
Dr. G. Wynne Powell
Honorary Doctor of Technology ’96 (BCIT), FCGA,
Diploma of Technology ’68, Administrative Management (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Public Service
Andrew Hazlewood
BAA ’85, Environmental Health (Ryerson), Advanced Certificate in Environmental Health ’83 (Ryerson),
Diploma of Technology ’72, Environmental/Public Health (BCIT)
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Distinguished Alumni Award For Community Service
Nancy McKinstry
Canadian Securities Course ’83, Diploma of Technology ’70,
Marketing Management (BCIT)
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BCIT Distinguished Alumni Award For Entrepreneurial Innovation
Dr. J. Basil Peters
PhD ’82, Electrical Engineering (UBC), BASc (Hons) ’77,
Electrical Engineering (UBC), Diploma of Technology ’73, Electrical and Electronics (BCIT)
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BCIT Alumni Association Excellence In Teaching Award
Elaine Woo
BSc ’01, Chemistry and Environmental Toxicology (SFU), BC Licensed Assayer ’79,
Diploma of Technology ’78, Chemical and Metallurgical Sciences (BCIT)
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BCIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leadership Award
David J. Bran
Diploma of Technology ’03, Marketing Management (BCIT)
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Nominations
Do you know outstanding individuals who have distinguished themselves in their lives and careers? Nominate a leader for an Honorary Doctorate, a BCIT alumnus for a Distinguished Alumni Award, or a current BCIT student for an Outstanding Student Leadership Award.