Excitement is building for the Paris Paralympic Games. What better way to celebrate than by shining a spotlight on our incredible alumni who have made their mark in past summer Paralympic games?

Join us in celebrating these incredible athletes and their achievements as we cheer on the new generation of Paralympians.

Andrea Nelson (Class of 2022) showcased her talent at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, making us proud with her remarkable performance. She will be at the Paris games working as a reporter and host with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), taking viewers behind the scenes and interviewing athletes post competition.

Darda Sales (Class of 2006) has shown she is a true powerhouse in swimming and wheelchair basketball. Darda's relay swim team clinched gold at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics and silver in Athens in 2004. She continued to shine as a member of the Canadian wheelchair basketball team at the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil.

Darryl Gratrix (class of 1998) is on a mission. He wants to spread the word about opportunities for well-paying, highly satisfying jobs in skilled trades.

“There are over 100,000 students graduating from high school in Ontario every year and I don't think many of them have a lot of knowledge about what the different skilled trades are or what those careers look like,” he says. “For Ontario to be a leader in the world, we need to be drawing some of our brightest and most talented students into the trades.”

The road to skilled trades wasn’t a straight one for Darryl, who has a university degree in Geography and jokes that he “wasn’t what you’d call mechanically inclined,” but during the summers when he was at university, he worked in the planning department of a small municipality where he used AUTOCAD and GIS CAD systems. He enjoyed it.

By his third year of university, he was looking for another career path with his co-op experience in mind and heard there were job opportunities in tool and die making. After touring a tool room at a plant in Penetanguishene, Ontario, he enrolled in what was formerly called Mechanical Engineering Technician Tool and Die program at Georgian.

“I've learned that with the right training and mentors I can learn almost anything. I think that is the main reason I'm so passionate about spreading the word about the skilled trades,” says Darryl, who is currently the tool room manager at Molded Precision Components.

Darryl is still connected to Georgian as a part-time teacher in the Precision Skills program and as a member of the program’s advisory committee.

Tyson Laevens (class of 2022 and 2024) is the 2024 winner of our iPad mini contest. Tyson updated his alumni profile information in April and was automatically entered to win. Thank you to our Alumni Association affinity partner belairdirect for providing the iPad mini!

A recent business trip to China brought Georgian representatives, including President and CEO Kevin Weaver (centre), to the vibrant city of Beijing, China. No journey would be complete without a special reunion with Georgian alumni thriving in the region.

The alumni reception was a meaningful gathering, showcasing graduates making their mark across diverse industries—from automotive innovation and entrepreneurial ventures to the CEO of a craft brewery.



These talented individuals are not just contributing to their fields; they are driving change and making a significant impact worldwide. Georgian graduates are truly making a difference on the global stage!

Georgian College is looking to the community to help with student housing endeavours in Owen Sound and Orillia.

In Owen Sound, the college is expanding its student housing options and looking for landlords to support students. Learn about how you can help.

In Orillia, Lakehead University has partnered with Georgian to expand student housing options with the introduction of the home-sharing platform, SpacesShared. Learn more about this innovative idea.

High-fidelity obstetrics manikins, purchased with funds raised through the Frontline Support: Health-care Heroes Closer to Home campaign, are not only helping Georgian students but also medical professionals at Barrie’s Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), who experienced hands-on obstetrics training in the Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes Health and Wellness Wing. Read about the collaboration. 

Georgian alumni, Angeline King (class of 2016) and Saskia Paquette (class of 2013 and 2018) accompanied eight Indigenous Georgian College students from various programs who recently traveled to the University of Wollongong in Australia.

The group, along with 12 other students from Cambrian College and Algonquin College, learned about Australia’s Indigenous people and explored their history and culture. The experience was part of a first-of-its-kind, immersive virtual reality project to foster connections among diverse Indigenous communities.

Below are stories of success that we've read about:

Nursing alumni from the last class of 1974 are celebrating their 50^th anniversary since graduating with a reunion in Owen Sound, Sept. 4 and 5. Read more

Erin Rogers (class of 2002), National Sales Manager for G Adventures, is celebrating 19 years with the company and is celebrated in this article. Read more

Alex Jacobs (class of 2023)

As Essa Township’s Recreation Programmer, Alex Jacobs is building a better sense of community with the township’s new recreation guide. It’s just one more way our alumni are giving back to their communities. Read more

The Georgian College Alumni Association Executive Council (AAEC) is led by a dedicated group of volunteers who help fulfil the Alumni Association’s vision. We are now recruiting for the next slate of committee members to serve on the next council term, beginning in September. This is an exciting opportunity to expand your social network, while helping students and other alumni achieve their goals.

 Visit us online to learn more about joining the council and download an application. 

It's less than one month away! Join the Georgian Alumni Association for a night of fun and friendship at the 7:07 p.m. game on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Rogers Centre for University and College Night.

Tickets are $74 and come with a Georgian College/Blue Jays tumbler and pair of Alumni Association sunglasses. Get your tickets now! This event always sells out and you don't want to miss joining us at this highly anticipated event.

Smart job hunting in 2024: Trends, tactics and truths

Online event: Wednesday, Aug. 28 - live webinar noon to 1 p.m.

Unlock your career potential by registering for our next Alumni Association Speaker Series webinar on job hunting in 2024, featuring alumni leaders who work in the human resources and recruiting fields. Discover the latest trends; learn how Artificial Intelligence is transforming job searches; and master the art of online versus in-person interviews. Get insider tips and practical strategies to supercharge your job hunt! 

Do you have a topic you'd like to see covered in our Speaker Series? We want to hear from you! Email us with your ideas for webinar topics, featuring fellow alumni, and help shape our regular webinar series. Check out our library of past sessions for inspiration and join us in creating engaging and informative events.

Georgian nursing students will benefit from a unique golf tournament taking place Sept. 20. 

Kempenfelt Rotary Club will host up to 36 enthusiastic golfers as they scramble to conquer 100 holes of golf in a single day at their fourth annual 100 Holes of Golf event. 

Alumnus Ali Khonsari (class of 1997, hon. degree 2024) is a lead organizer of the event. The club is partnering with Georgian College to support nursing students by creating new financial awards in perpetuity. This will help ensure our nursing programs are accessible to talented students regardless of financial means in our region. 

Consider supporting a golfer’s fundraising goal or becoming an event sponsor to help Kempenfelt Rotary reach its goal of raising $100,000 with the help of matching funds up to $50,000. Your contribution will make a significant impact on the next generation of health-care professionals.

Are you considering advancing your professional career goals through education? We’re thrilled to bring members of the Georgian College Alumni Association access to MORE through a 15 per cent discount on eligible Continuing Education courses and programs. Georgian Alumni Network members can access the code and list of eligible courses here. If you aren’t a member, sign up to take advantage of all the benefits.

Have questions? Email alumni@georgiancollege.ca