Loyalist College to honour Janak Alford with Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award

Belleville, ON, May 8, 2023 – Loyalist College proudly announces Janak Alford, Chief Technology Officer and Enterprise Architect at the Government of Canada, as the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, technological expertise, and visionary leadership.

“We are immensely proud of Loyalist graduate Janak Alford and look forward to presenting him with the Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award at this year’s Convocation,” said Mark Kirkpatrick, Loyalist College President and CEO. “I know Mr. Alford’s passion for innovation and his extraordinary personal journey will inspire this year’s grads to become innovators and leaders of change in our community and beyond.”

The Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award is presented each year during the College’s Convocation ceremonies, honouring a Loyalist graduate who has demonstrated outstanding community/professional leadership or, through volunteer service, has made an exceptional contribution to their community. A 2002 graduate of the College’s Architectural Technician diploma program, Mr. Alford is being honoured for his remarkable achievements as an entrepreneur, designer, and leader in enterprise technology.

As Chief Technology Officer and Enterprise Architect for the Government of Canada, Mr. Alford is the foremost expert assisting the federal government to improve, transform and modernize its IT systems to support a more secure, efficient Canada. Mr. Alford earned his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture from Carleton University. A prolific designer, project manager, builder and developer, Mr. Alford is also Executive Director of MadeMill, a Makerspace and Advanced Digital Media Lab at Bayview Yards in Ottawa; Chief Ecosystem Officer at Symaiotics Corporation; and founder and CEO of prototypeD TEAM Inc.

“As a proud Loyalist graduate, I’m honored to be recognized as the 2023 recipient of the Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award,” says Mr. Alford. “I can draw a clear line connecting my education at Loyalist to my many personal and professional experiences and accomplishments. The skills I learned in the Architectural Technical program prepared me for and accelerated my future education and entrepreneurship activities. I have become a better designer, thinker, and doer because of the education I received at Loyalist College. Two decades later, I still retain and apply these skills in all my creative design endeavours. Loyalist gave me the opportunity to show what I could accomplish and challenged me to grow.”

The Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award was established by the College Board of Governors in 1998 in recognition of Mr. O’Neil’s leadership as Chair of the College’s Foundations for the New Millennium Campaign. Recipients are approved each year by the Board of Governors before presentation at Convocation.

For more information about Loyalist’s Convocation ceremonies, visit loyalistcollege.com/convocation.

About Loyalist College
Loyalist College is located on the territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge our shared obligation to respect, honour, and sustain these lands and the natural resources contained within. Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $398.9 million annually to the regional economy – based on a November 2022 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit loyalistcollege.com.

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