Loyalist college to confer honorary diplomas on seven industry and community leaders at 2024 Convocation ceremonies

Belleville, ON, May 1, 2024 – Loyalist is proud to announce the seven remarkable individuals who will receive honorary diplomas at the college’s 57^th Convocation ceremonies taking place from June 4 – 7.

Honorary diplomas are awarded to individuals who embody Loyalist College’s core values through their outstanding achievements and community impact. They stand as examples of excellence for Loyalist students as they embark on the next phase of their lives.

“This year’s honorary diploma recipients are a truly exceptional group of individuals, united by their exceptional leadership, innovative mindsets and commitment to enriching their respective fields,” says Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick. “As our graduates cross the stage this June, surrounded by their friends, family and supporters, the accomplishments and wisdom of these honorees will inspire and empower our students to pursue their career goals with compassion, conviction, and tenacity.”

This year’s honourees include:

Rick Caddick, CMM III

Deputy Fire Chief, City of Quinte West and Mutual Aid Coordinator, Hastings & Prince Edward Counties

In 2020, Rick Caddick joined Quinte West Fire and Emergency Services as the Deputy Fire Chief. With over 20 years of experience in fire services, he previously served as Fire Chief for the Municipality of Brighton and Fire Chief for the Township of Stirling-Rawdon. Mr. Caddick is an Emergency Management Certified Municipal Manager with multiple fire-related accreditations and was recently awarded the Bill Williams Humanitarian Award from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. Rick is also the Mutual Aid Coordinator for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and Coordinator of the local Regional Training Centre. Rick is a sitting member of the Provincial Fire Prevention and Public Education Committee with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

Peter Gabriel
No Limits Youth Organization Co-Founder and Skyhawks Football President

Quinte Skyhawks President Peter “Coach Gabes” Gabriel launched his football career playing for the Frontenac Falcons before going on to play for the Ravens at Carleton University. After completing his education, Peter began giving back to his community and supporting young athletes by coaching high school football in Kingston. In 2003, Peter and his family settled in Belleville, where he took on the role of assistant coach at Quinte Secondary School. In 2012, Peter and his wife Brenda founded the No Limits Youth Organization, which provides the opportunity for youth to explore, discover and achieve through sport and recreation, with the goal of positively impacting their lives and supporting a stronger and healthier future. No Limits has grown to support 1,000+ youth through opportunities at JG Dance Studios, Swish Basketball and Skyhawks Football. Peter’s commitment to nurturing young talent reached a milestone in 2017 with the founding of Quinte’s first-ever rep football club, the Quinte Skyhawks. The Skyhawks program has grown to include U12, U14, U16, U18, flag football, adaptive football and the U22 CJFL program, in partnership with Loyalist College.

Shamsa Hassan
Founder of Afiya Beauty 

Shamsa Hassan is a Quinte West-based business owner, natural skincare products developer, and champion of sustainability and green business practices. She is a Loyalist research industry partner who speaks proudly of her connection with the college at events and industry exhibitions around the globe. Recognized as a leader in creating space for diverse representation in the clean beauty and wellness industry, Afiya Beauty has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 female-led bio-based innovators of the year. Using evidence-based, botanically forward ingredients, Afiya supports people of colour with their skin health needs without using harsh chemicals. Afiya’s leading R&D continues to find ways to repurpose non-edible food by-products, including fruit and vegetable peels, seeds, and leaves, and turn them into proprietary potent plant extracts.

Dr. Karima Velji
Chief of Nursing and Professional Practice; ADM, Ministry of Health

Dr. Karima Velji, RN, Ph.D., CHE, FCAN, is the Chief of Nursing & Professional Practice and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Province of Ontario. She is a health care leader with a proven track record in fostering the engagement of both patient and system partners to drive innovative models of care, unleashing the potential of high-performing teams to achieve stellar results. She has held senior leadership positions in several Academic Health Science Centres and has operated a successful consulting company. Dr. Velji has cross-appointments to the University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario, Ontario Tech University and Nipissing University. She has won several outstanding achievement awards, including the Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Administration Award, the University of Toronto Distinguished Alumni Award, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) Margaret Cormack Award of Excellence in Nursing Leadership, and the Award of Excellence in Teaching from the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. At the global level, Dr. Velji is a sought-after consultant on policy development, credentialing, training and academic planning in East Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Jamie Kennedy
Chef and Owner of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens

Jamie Kennedy is a celebrated Canadian chef, author, and owner of Jamie Kennedy Kitchens. A pioneer of the “farm to table” movement in Canada, Jamie is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award and was appointed to the Order of Canada. Jamie attended culinary school at George Brown College in Toronto, attaining his Red Seal certification in 1977 and becoming a certified Sommelier in 1998. Jamie has contributed to the culinary landscape in Canada through his leadership in award-winning restaurants such as Scaramouche, JK ROM, Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, Windows, The Gardiner, and more. He is an avid partner in community food fundraising and outreach, working with The Stop, Second Harvest, Empty Bowls and Slow Food.

Tabatha Bull
President and CEO of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Tabatha Bull is Anishinaabe and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation. As President and CEO of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), Tabatha is committed to helping rebuild and strengthen the path towards reconciliation and a prosperous Indigenous economy to benefit all Canadians. As an electrical engineer, Tabatha supports Indigenous inclusion and diversity in Canada’s energy sector. Serving the Indigenous community through the CCAB’s support for the Indigenous economy, Tabatha is an appointee to many boards, including the Dexterra Group, Wigwamen Inc., CN’s inaugural Indigenous Advisory Council, and Catalyst CEO advisory board in Canada. Awarded CEO of the Year in 2022 by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023, Tabatha is dedicated to diversity and removing systemic barriers to improve opportunities for Indigenous businesses and women across all industry sectors.

Dr. Robert Sanderson
Former Mayor, Port Hope

Bob Sanderson is the former mayor of Port Hope, serving for eight years and completing his final term in 2022. A longtime participant in municipal government, Dr. Sanderson was first elected to council in 1979–80 and secured the mayor’s seat in 2014. With his veterinary medicine and business background, Dr. Sanderson owned and operated several veterinary practices and has extensive corporate experience in the animal health industry, having held senior positions at the Mars Corporation and IDEXX Laboratories. He was also previously the owner/operator of several Port Hope dining and accommodation establishments.

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities.

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Contact:
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
613-921-0784
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com