My question is for the Minister of Colleges and Universities. Ontario’s colleges are critical in helping to provide our students with career-focused education that addresses our province’s labour needs and drives our economic prosperity. Ontario’s colleges produce graduates who go on to create jobs for others, make lasting contributions to their communities and help to attract new investments and opportunities.

The Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Premier’s Awards for college graduates recognize the tremendous contributions that help to make our province successful. Can the Minister of Colleges and Universities speak about the well-deserved recognition of the recent recipients of the lifetime achievement award?

But while it is a positive that our government acknowledges the great work of our college system, we should also take the opportunity to recognize the great people and students who are in our college campuses. Can the Minister of Colleges and Universities elaborate on some of the worthy recipients of this year’s Premier’s Awards for college graduates?

Thank you to the member from Brampton West for his question. I had the honour of presenting the Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award to two outstanding leaders who continue to make a lasting difference in Ontario’s public colleges. The 2022 recipients are Anne Sado, the former president of George Brown College—Anne was also the first female president of a college—and MaryLynn West-Moynes, former president and CEO of Georgian College, and also my former boss, so I know first-hand the amazing leadership that MaryLynn provides to Georgian College.

These two exceptional women deserve recognition for their hard work, dedication and contributions on advancing Ontario’s colleges. By acting as ambassadors of the college system, they have made a lasting mark on post-secondary education in our province. It was truly an honour to present them with the lifetime achievement awards.

Thank you again to the member for the question.

The remarkable and inspiring graduates of Ontario’s world-class colleges show how our colleges are preparing students with the skills, the knowledge and experience they need to have rewarding careers, supporting the workforce of today and tomorrow.

The Premier’s Awards for Ontario College Graduates recognize individuals who have not only demonstrated outstanding achievement within their college experience but who have also made significant social and economic contributions to their communities and beyond. Their incredible achievements—from developing career-training programs for young Black professionals to adding Canada’s Indigenous communities to Google Maps and Google Earth—are helping to strengthen our economy and make very real and tangible differences in the lives of Ontarians. The recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Ontario College Graduates are perfect examples of the potential our college students have and why we should all have confidence in every student’s future.

Speaker, college students are making a lasting impact, and we are so proud of what these incredible young Ontarians are accomplishing.