Honorary Fellows and Distinguished Service
Since 2006, Okanagan College has been presenting Honorary Fellow and Distinguished Service awards to deserving individuals as part of its annual Convocation ceremonies. The awards recognize distinguished achievement or service and the recipients represent a broad spectrum of regional, provincial, national and international contributions. The awards acknowledge a diverse array of people, from those who have advanced literacy among youth to individuals whose work has helped create awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture. A list of recipients can be found below.
Nominations for 2025 Honorary Fellows are now being accepted
Deadline for Nominations: Nov. 18, 2024
Honorary Fellow award description and criteria
The award of an Honorary Fellow is recognition by Okanagan College of distinguished achievement or outstanding service.
The criteria for the award are mentorship, excellence, eminence and accomplishment.
The College welcomes nominations that reflect the values of the College and the diversity of Canadian society. Nominees will be persons who have made significant contributions to the College, the Okanagan Valley, the Province, the Nation or on an international level.
The award will not normally be given to a serving politician or current employee of the College.
Nominations are reviewed by a standing committee of Okanagan College’s Education Council and confidential recommendations for recognition are made to the Education Council and the Board of Governors.
2023 Honorary Fellow recipients
Okanagan College is bestowing its highest honour on three notable residents, each of whom has made unique and meaningful contributions through education, public service, mentorship and philanthropy.
Terry Flannigan, Dr. Silvina Mema, Michael Tindall, and Grant Stevens have been selected by the College as its 2023 Honorary Fellows.
Terry Flannigan
As the Director of Development for Okanagan College (then OUC) from 1991 to 1995, Flannigan was a community builder who created the College’s Development department, laying the foundation for new programming, facilities, and student support in the decades that followed.
As the Director of Development for Okanagan College (then OUC) from 1991 to 1995, Flannigan was a community builder who created the College’s Development department, laying the foundation for new programming, facilities, and student support in the decades that followed.
Flannigan’s leadership has extended beyond academia: he’s chaired numerous fundraising campaigns, including several United Way campaigns, the 2000 BC Seniors Games Society, and the 2007 Heart of Gold Gala in support of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.
He’s received several awards for his contributions including, the Distinguished Service Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Manulife Financial Outstanding Achievement Award, and The Dina and Mel Kotler Humanitarian Award.
Silvina Mema
Dr. Silvina Mema completed her MD at the University of Buenos Aires, in Argentina before moving to Canada to pursue a master's degree in physiology. She has worked as a Medical Health Officer at Interior Health since 2016.
Silvina Mema
Dr. Silvina Mema completed her MD at the University of Buenos Aires, in Argentina before moving to Canada to pursue a master's degree in physiology. She has worked as a Medical Health Officer at Interior Health since 2016.
In addition to her extensive work in developing COVID-19 response models for Okanagan College and Interior Health, she has played a key role in developing initiatives to address the toxic drug crisis. One notable example is the launch of a website specifically created to be accessible for people who use drugs alone, providing essential information and support. She also spearheads drug checking and harm reduction initiatives for the Shambhala Music Festival.
Additionally, she collaborates with the City and BC Housing on local initiatives concerning homelessness, striving to ensure safe housing options for individuals in need.
Dr. Mema also generously volunteers her time as an assessor and mentor to international medical graduates and new physicians in Canada.
Michael Tindall
As a retired broadcaster and business executive, Michael Tindall made many meaningful contributions in his career. Since he retired, he’s worked tirelessly to support the City of Vernon and the Okanagan Valley.
Michael Tindall
As a retired broadcaster and business executive, Michael Tindall made many meaningful contributions in his career. Since he retired, he’s worked tirelessly to support the City of Vernon and the Okanagan Valley. He has served on numerous boards including, the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, Okanagan College Foundation, the Vernon Chamber of Commerce, the Okanagan Partnership, Kalamalka Rotary, the Vernon Women's Transition House, Community Futures North Okanagan and British Columbia and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.
For over thirty years, Tindall has generously volunteered his time and expertise to Okanagan College. From 2002 to 2007, he served as a Director on the Okanagan College Foundation Board of Directors. From 2017-2018, he took on the role of Chair of Okanagan College Foundation’s Vernon Trades Capital Campaign. Presently, he Chairs the Vernon Campus Sunflower Childcare Centre Campaign.
His unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions have been key in securing state-of-the-art environments for students to train in and will help to outfit and equip the new high-quality, affordable, Sunflower Childcare Centre on Okanagan College’s Vernon Campus.
Grant Stevens
Grant Stevens is an accomplished Operations, Media, and Human Resources Executive, who currently serves as the Chief Corporate Services Officer (CCSO) for KF Aerospace, a leading Canadian aerospace company with over 1100 staff.
Grant Stevens
Grant Stevens is an accomplished Operations, Media, and Human Resources Executive, who currently serves as the Chief Corporate Services Officer (CCSO) for KF Aerospace, a leading Canadian aerospace company with over 1100 staff. He’s played a crucial role in expanding and developing the workforce of KF Aerospace across the country and has been instrumental in developing Okanagan College’s aerospace programming.
He generously donates his time and expertise to numerous community service and philanthropic endeavours. He serves as a member of the Central Okanagan Human Resources Senior Leadership Group, acts as the President of the Ringette Hockey Association, and has been an active member on OC’s Okanagan School of Business's Program Advisory Committee for the last seven years.
Stevens has been recognized for his outstanding contributions with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Fellow title from Mohawk College, being named in the Top Forty over Forty by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce in 2021, and being a finalist for HR Professional of the Year in 2015 by CPHR BC & Yukon.
Honorary Fellows
2022
Dennis Gabelhouse
Cliff Serwa
Howard Soon
2020
Pamela and Wilfred "Grouse" Barnes
Robert Foord
Louis Thomas
Don Turri
2019
Tom Christensen
Robert Louie
George Galbraith
2018
Mollie QuilQuil Sneena Bono
Rick Thorpe
Patrick Waunch
2017
Randy Manuel
Sharon Shepherd
Edna Terbasket
2016
William Redmond
Anthony von Mandl
Dr. Rita Winkler
2015
Rod Butters
Norm Embree
Rick Pushor
Annette Sharkey
2014
Garry Benson
Raghwa Gopal
Jim Henderson
Margriet Ruurs
2013
Alan Gatzke
Barry Lapointe
Ernie Phillip
2012
Yasmin John-Thorpe
Lane Merrifield
Janet Shaw
2011
Bev Busson
Mel Kotler
Tom Landecker
2010
Peter Haubrich
George and Trudy Heiss
Dorothy Tinning
2009
Charles Armstrong
Robert Fine
Barbara Marchand
2008
Jeanette Armstrong
Richard Cannings
Robert Cannings
Syd Cannings
Ken Harding
2007
Ross Gorman
Lorraine McGrath
Ken Smedley
2006
Albert Baldeo
Mike Roberts
Lois Serwa
Distinguished Service Award recipients
This award is to honour and recognize former Okanagan College employees, who have given outstanding service to Okanagan College, who share and support the mission, vision and values of Okanagan College, and who are active within and outside the Okanagan College community. This award will not be given as a matter of routine and is extended to only those who are most deserving.
Nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Service Award are now being accepted
Deadline for Nominations: Nov. 18, 2024
2023 Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Jim Hamilton
Jim Hamilton became president of Okanagan College in 2004, as the institution transitioned from being a university college. While he was at the helm, OC was the only college in the province to meet or exceed student enrolment targets each year, all while the number of programs available were also rising.
He helped bring approximately $170 million in capital projects to the College’s sites across the region, including trades buildings in Penticton, Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vernon, and new student housing for Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm.
While at OC, Hamilton served as chair of both the B.C. Trades Training Consortium and the British Columbia Council for International Education, and was an engaged Board member for several organizations, including the Kelowna Innovation Society and the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society.
In 2016, Hamilton received a Distinguished Service Award from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), where he served as a Board member for a term, recognizing his leadership in the sector nationally.
Although now enjoying retirement, he continues to be actively engaged locally, with the post-secondary sector provincially, and OC in particular. Hamilton is the current co-chair of the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer, a member of the Thompson Rivers University Board of Governors, and a member of the Okanagan College Foundation’s Sunflower Fundraising Committee, in support of the childcare centre being built at the Vernon campus.
Hamilton will be honoured and presented with his Distinguished Service Award on June 10, during the afternoon convocation and commencement ceremony at OC’s Kelowna campus.
Previous Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Okanagan University College Honorary Doctorates
2005 Katy Bindon William Bowering Roy Brown Rowland Grant Mike Harcourt Ronald Jeffels Tom Kerr |
2005 |
2004 Arthur Carty Andrea Deakin Lambert Schmalz Alison Smith Gerry Zimmermann |
2003 James English D. Ross Fitzpatrick Thomas Foord Jack Whyte |
2002 Daphne Odjig Patricia Proudfoot |
2001 Mary Louie Harry McWatters |
2000 Tony Onley John Woodowrth |
1999 Roger Ames Stephen Cannings Vicki Gabereau John Thomson |
1998 Charles Fipke |
Okanagan University College Distinguished Service Award Recipients
2004 Graham Bruce |
2003 Gary Mellor |
2002 Alex Recsky |