University of Ottawa Alumni Association Awards of Excellence recognize exceptional talent

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Source: Gwen Madiba (Facebook)

3 May

by Sarah Onyango

Last night, at my Alma Mater, I had the pleasure of helping honour a wonderful and immensely inspiring young woman from our community. Thank you, Gwen, for including me in the group of supporters who cheered you on at Tabaret Hall as you received the 2018 uOttawa Alumni Association Award of Excellence in the “Young Alumni” category! And I am not surprised at all at the long standing ovation you received from diginitaries as well as the university leadership, fellow recipients and audience after that outstanding and heartfelt speech! Well done, dear Gwen, and may your star continue to shine as brightly as your smile! I’d also like to congratulate the other recipients: trailblazing broadcasting executive Catherine Cano (Meritas Tabaret Award for Alumni Achievement), visionary events producer Guy Laflamme (Alumnus of the Year), Jean Desgagné (Commitment to the University), mentor extraordinaire Tony Durst (Honorary Member of the Alumni Association), and GG-for-life Sylvie Bigras (Community Service).

Established in 2011, the Alumni Association Awards of Excellence aim to recognize the talent, effort and influence of the University’s graduates — locally, nationally and worldwide — who truly defy the conventional.

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Gwen Madiba, centre with her award  Photo credit : Sarah Onyango