The following story was written by freelance writer Deborah Reid:

Stunning is the word that leaps to mind looking at Priyanka’s sultry pose on the cover of the June 2021 edition of Elle Canada, dressed in a shimmering gown of delicate silver chainmail and crystals. The impact multiplies knowing that beauty has always been inside Mark Suknanan, a 2012 graduate of Niagara College’s Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program. It’s obvious, too, in speaking with him that his Guyanese parents did a good job of loving him – he’s human, humble and a whole lot of fun.

Suknanan recalls watching an Oprah interview with RuPaul where she asks the well-known drag personality if there’s a change in character in and out of drag. RuPaul replies, “I am not in drag escaping. In drag, I am myself.”

When Canada’s Drag Race premiered in July 2020, Canadians cheered Priyanka on. During the impossible months of pandemic isolation, she stole hearts, lifted flagging spirits and offered an escape from fear and anxiety. About the audition, Suknanan says, “I knew in my heart my life was going to change.”

That’s not the first time the “Queen of the North” had that feeling either. He can remember in detail when Michael Strachan at “The Zone” asked him to be a correspondent on YTV. A ten-year strong career in children’s television was a solid foundation. He knew how to play to the camera, create storylines and engage with a demanding audience of kids almost daily.

Suknanan’s first dream was to be a Much Music VJ. A couple of “adults” tried to plant seeds of doubt in him about his career path. But he was having none of it. “In the world of show business, people can’t always imagine you in the space,” he said, “so you have to show them.”

Priyanka was the first to win Canada’s Drag Race, but she was also the first queen of Indo-Caribbean descent in the worldwide Drag Race franchise. “One of the reasons I’m so happy to represent the Guyanese community and to be a brown person having success is because I was mostly alone growing up,” said Suknanan.

It was no surprise to his mother or friends when he started doing drag shows in Toronto’s gay village at 26. Now, five years later, he’s headlining Priyanka’s “Taste Test” tour, with shows in Canada and a run in the UK this past summer. There’s a newly released five pop song EP, Cake, with a murder mystery video that Suknanan had a big hand in crafting also.

“There were hard things said to me when I was young about the way I look, and I decided not to take them into consideration, and I decided to work hard and push forward and make all of these things,” he said.

Follow Priyanka on social media, and it’s clear every day is a new adventure. She’s not stopping at being Canada’s favourite drag queen. The world around her is full of wonder and opportunity, and she’s seizing it. This moment, and many beyond it, was made for Priyanka. ‘What’s her name?’

Seven distinguished members of Niagara College’s alumni community have been nominated for Colleges Ontario’s prestigious 2021 Premier’s Awards. Each week leading up to the awards presentation on November 18, we are sharing stories about our nominees to celebrate their accomplishments. All stories were submitted by NC Development and Alumni Relations and written by freelance writer Deborah Reid.

Related article: Meet this year’s NC nominees for Premier’s Awards

A group of College volunteers and alumni put the ‘NC’ in ‘making a difference’ at a recent community event aimed at environmental sustainability at Twelve Mile Creek.

On the morning of Sunday, October 17, they gathered on a Pelham property to participate in a Bring Back the Brookies initiative. Hosted by the Niagara chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada (TUCN), Bring Back the Brookies is a learning and restoration program focused on preserving and protecting aquatic habitat in Upper Twelve Mile Creek. The education and planting event was one of eight Bring Back the Brookies ‘Days of Action’ planned during the month of October, funded with support from the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.

The event was organized by TUCN Project Coordinator Kerry Kennedy, who is an alumna of NC’s Ecosystem Restoration program (2009) and wife of College president Sean Kennedy. She reached out to the College’s Office of Sustainability for volunteers to participate in the initiative as an opportunity to learn about brook trout as an indicator species of overall watershed health.

“If brook trout can survive, it means the key components of a healthy ecosystem are in place to support a diverse cold water community,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity to take action to improve resilience and mitigate climate change impacts on the watershed and the community. Planting trees and increasing forest cover help to address increased water temperatures and flood damage in the region.”

Kerry was inspired to enroll in NC’s Ecosystem Restoration program after moving to the Niagara region from Alberta and wanting to learn more about Niagara’s unique environment.  She noted that a large component of the program focuses on stream dynamics and aquatic ecosystems, which helped her to understand the potential impact of built environments on watershed health, along with opportunities to find solutions to these challenges.

Kerry became a member of TUCN and a volunteer on the chapter’s education committee before taking on the role as Project Coordinator in April. Passionate about activities that combine nature and education, she has also led the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation Youth Crops for the past two years, is President of the Niagara Falls Nature Club, and will be working part-time with the District School Board of Niagara Outdoor Education Centres throughout the school year.

Kerry applauded NC’s student volunteers who attended the Sunday morning event “with enthusiasm and an all-in attitude.”

“They were uber positive, friendly and ready for some fun before tackling the challenging planting conditions in this meadow,” she said. “We’re very appreciative that they chose to support the Bring Back the Brookies project and we hope they spread the word about Upper Twelve Mile Creek issues and solutions with their growing audience. They are proud and eloquent ambassadors for Niagara College.”

Amber Schmucker, Sustainability Program and Outreach Coordinator, was thrilled that NC students were invited to participate and issued a call for volunteers through the Office of Sustainability.

“Over the past 1.5 years, there have been limited opportunities for students to get involved with environmental work in their community,” she said. “Now that it is safe to do so, community initiatives like the Bring Back the Brookies are great opportunities for students to practice and hone the skills they learn at NC, outside of the classroom.”

Second-year Environmental Technician student Lindsay Taylor valued the opportunity to get involved and noted that the initiative provided her and her peers with a good sense of what sustainability looks like at the community level. Taylor has not only been working with NC Sustainability as part of her co-op placement, she also recently formed ncStewards, a club of environmentally focused students on campus which has been collaborating with NC Sustainability for various initiatives.

Once the participants arrived, they had a chance to walk the property and take in the information displayed on multiple, easy-to-read signs about the Twelve Mile Creek watershed and the importance of particular water quality parameters for brook trout. They watched a demonstration on how to use planting equipment before they set forth to begin planting smaller vegetation on a nearby field.

Before the planting began, the group had an opportunity to participate in a fun Frisbee activity. Equipped with a series of Frisbees which featured a brief description of the life-cycle phase attached to one side and a representative image of the brook trout on the other, the team was tasked with putting the Frisbees in order, from the beginning of the life-cycle to the end.

“I appreciated how Kerry Kennedy, the event coordinator, organized an all-ages fun activity for us to play before getting our hands dirty,” said Taylor. “It helped to raise our spirits and create a sense of camaraderie among people we were meeting for the first time.”

The event also captured the interest of NC President Sean Kennedy, who embraced the opportunity to assist as well as participate alongside the students.

“He was interested in seeing the work I’d been planning and helping out with this initiative,” said Kerry. “When he learned Niagara College was coming, this seemed like the perfect day to tuck his pants into his socks, put on some work gloves, get dirty and have a chance to connect casually with this engaged group of Niagara College students and the many alumni who were working to support the project.”

The October 17 morning event drew six student volunteers from NC, the College president and five Ecosystem Restoration alumni — three who assisted with the project leadership and two who volunteered as participants.

Other sessions were also organized on October 16 and on the afternoon of October 17 involving other groups from the community. More than 230 participants have registered for the overall series of Bring Back the Brookies events.

Bring Back the Brookies

For information about Bring Back the Brookies visit bringbackthebrookies.ca.

ncStewards

ncStewards represents a group of environmentally focused Niagara College students. Their goal is to promote and engage in practices that further the objective of sustainability on campus and within the Niagara community. NC Sustainability and ncStewards went on to collaborate for various events and activities. Visit ncstewards.ca or follow the group on Instagram at @ncstewards.

The following was submitted by NC Development and Alumni Relations:

Although Niagara College was unable to host its usual Golf Classic tournament this
year, our supporters continued to show their enthusiasm for helping students achieve
their dreams by participating in NC Golf Day held at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club on September 21.

Eighty golfers, including college staff and alumni, as well as community and business leaders from across
Niagara and the GTA, enjoyed a day of golf and great weather in support of the College.

The event was much different than in past years, and we greatly missed our students’
participation, but thanks to the community’s tremendous support, $25,000 was raised
for scholarships and bursaries for our student-athletes.

We are grateful to the following sponsors who supported our 2021 Golf Day:

Presenting Sponsors

Rankin Construction
TD Insurance

Golfer Gift Sponsors

Campus Living Centres
Commercial Cleaning Services

Corporate Foursome Sponsors

AOS Group
Avaya Canada
Canadian Tire Financial Services
Combat Networks
Deloitte
District School Board of Niagara
Garland Canada
Paragon Security
PenFinancial Credit Union
TD Commercial Bank
Telcon Datvox Network Cabling
Birdie Sponsors
City of Welland
KPMG

A big thank you to these loyal and dedicated sponsors. The event would not be possible
without their support and attendance.

Please save the date for our 20th Annual Golf Classic to be held on Tuesday,
September 20, 2022. 

Generosity is pouring in from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), in the spirit of helping to advance equitable representation in the beverage alcohol industry.

The LCBO has donated more than $60,000 to Niagara College to establish a new LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Bursary. The bursary will provide financial support to students who self-identify as a woman from a diverse background currently under-represented in the beverage alcohol industry, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) who are enrolled in the College’s beverage programs.

The LCBO’s Spirit of Inclusion Initiative is working with partners to establish mentorship, bursaries and continued education for diverse women who are looking to begin or advance their training in the winery, brewery and distillery fields.

“It is our responsibility to use our influence and resources to increase diverse representation and foster inclusion within the beverage alcohol industry,” said George Soleas, President and CEO, LCBO. “The Spirit of Inclusion Initiative is a holistic, long-term commitment to support diverse women looking to begin or advance their careers in the winery, brewery, and distillery fields. Its success relies on the strength of our incredible community and trade partners, and I am excited for the impact we will achieve together.”

Representatives from Niagara College applauded the LCBO’s Spirit of Inclusion Initiative and welcomed the donation, which will provide much-needed financial support for students

“We thank the LCBO for their generous gift which will make it possible for many under-represented students in our beverage programs to achieve their dreams,” said Marc Nantel, Vice President of Research and External Relations. “The LCBO’s Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Bursary demonstrates their commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion, while supporting student success. Both are core values at the heart of Niagara College.”

Dean of NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute Craig Youdale noted the importance of striving for more equity, diversity and inclusion in the beverage industry, which has made progress in recent years but still has much more to achieve.

“The LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Bursary is helping to achieve a more equitable landscape in the beverage community,” said Youdale. “We look forward to seeing the results of our collective impact and more opportunities for more diverse women to enter our beverage alcohol program, thanks to the support from the LCBO.”

This fall, the first LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative bursaries will be awarded to four NC students – one from each of the College’s beverage programs – to cover tuition and ancillary program costs, including:

• $9,773 for an Artisan Distilling student (one-year program);
• $9,653 for a Winery and Viticulture Technician student (to be dispersed over two years of the program);
• $8,448 for a Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management student (to be disbursed over two years of the program); and
• $5,261 for a Beverage Business Management student (a new one-year program launched in September 2021).

After the first LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative bursaries are distributed at NC this fall, the balance of the funds will be available to award additional recipients during the 2022-2023 academic year.

To be eligible for the new bursary, students must demonstrate proof of financial need; be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person; and self-identify as a woman from a diverse background including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, women with disabilities, first generation Canadians, 2SLGBTQ+, and non-binary gender.

For more information about financial aid at Niagara College, visit niagaracollege.ca/fees-finances/financial-aid/.

The Canadian Food and Wine Institute, located at Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, is the College’s centre for food, wine, beer and distilling education. It is home to NC”s Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery – the first of their kind in Canada.

The following story was written by freelance writer Deborah Reid:

When Niagara College alumna Lora Tisi (Fashion Arts, 1979) created the atmosphere for Northern Reflections in 1985, her inspiration was from summers spent at her grandparent’s cottage. Remembering the reflection of pine trees on the surface of a glassy lake, hearing the low wail of loons at dusk, the smell of a wood fire in the air, and living mostly in her bathing suit. It’s where she felt a deep sense of belonging.

She is a natural-born storyteller – a woman with a vision and the talent to convey it. The magic, she knows, is in the details. One of the best expressions of her commitment is how the change room doors at Northern Reflections slammed shut on a tight spring hinge like the screen door at a cottage. “I tried to make the experience of my childhood as real as possible,” said Tisi.

In the brand-defining sweats, there are more details to get right. Sweatshirts have two problems -the way the ribbing around the sleeves and waist blows out and the silkscreen image flaking. She found a technical maker and had six-dozen sweatshirts printed with the Northern Reflection’s logo. Packing them into her Chevette, she drove them to a store in Guelph. A few days later, they were all gone.

For Canadians, the success of Northern Reflections is no secret – within four years, a hundred stores would dot the country, followed by success in America. In nine years, Tisi rose from Buyer to Executive Vice President, and three years later, in 1995, she made the company President.

After 17 years, she left to become President of American Eagle Outfitters in Canada to grow its global platform. She was behind a strategy to launch 46 stores nationally in 108 days – starting with smaller regional malls and finishing with big stores at Yorkdale in Toronto and the West Edmonton Mall.

Tisi needed a vibrant story to appeal to young people and began recruiting college and university athletes as brand ambassadors, sponsoring wardrobes on hit television shows, and hosting in-store live music events. “We wanted to be the voice of the cool kid, and I learned a lot about amplifying that message,” she said.

Following her role with American Eagle Outfitters, she spent five years as President of RW&CO. Reaching men was the big challenge, and she recruited Canadian hockey players like Montreal Canadiens, P. K. Subban to help tell those stories. It’s a formula that tripled sales. It’s also the first time she recruited an Indigenous ambassador – Canadian model and actress Ashley Callingbull from the Enoch Cree Nation.

“We’re lucky in life if we’re part of one great team,” she said, reflecting on her 37-year career. “For me to have found three is incredibly humbling.”

Looking to create a legacy, Tisi focuses on giving, applying her knowledge as an international retail strategist to mentorship in Indigenous communities and growing a market for Indigenous products.

Her beloved paternal grandmother was a Six Nations Iroquois Elder, and she identifies as mixed-race Indigenous.

She is a board member for the Indigenous Advanced Education Skills Council (IAESC), an organization addressing the low graduation rate among young people – 36 percent compared to 72 percent in the Canadian population. Their ambitions are to grow Indigenous post-secondary institutes in Ontario – teaching curriculum free of colonial structure and a minimum of 50 percent Indigenous content.

“My goal is to be two ears and one mouth and interact in that proportion,” she said. “I seek first to understand and then find ways to give back.”

Seven distinguished members of Niagara College’s alumni community have been nominated for Colleges Ontario’s prestigious 2021 Premier’s Awards. Each week leading up to the awards presentation on November 18, we are sharing stories about our nominees to celebrate their career achievements. All stories were submitted by NC Development and Alumni Relations and written by freelance writer Deborah Reid.

Related article: Meet this year’s NC nominees for Premier’s Awards