This year’s Awards of Excellence were presented to eight incredible recipients on Monday, June 3rd, 2024.
In 2024, the uOttawa Alumni Association is pleased to recognize the following alumni and community member:
- 2024 Meritas-Tabaret Award – June Girvan (BEd ’85)
- 2024 Alumna of the Year Award – Kathryn Tremblay (BCom ’95)
- 2024 Award for Commitment to the University – Raoul Barbe (LL.L. ’62, DESD ’64) and Yolande Larose (BA ’71)
- 2024 Young Alumni Award – Alexis Normand (BA ’06, B.Ed. ’07)
- 2024 Young Alumni Award – Ritesh Kotak (JD ’22)
- 2024 Community Service Award – Sunshine Tenasco (BA ’02, BA ’03, BEd ’04)
- 2024 Community Service Award – Dr. Steven Stein (MA ’76, PhD ’78)
- 2024 Honorary Member of the Alumni Association – Marina Kun
June Girvan, O. Ont. is a leading social justice activist, philanthropist and gratitude practitioner in Ottawa. Her community building work began in service to her children.She has served as a mother, educator, and supervisory officer with the Ontario Ministry of Education. Of African, European, and Jewish descent in Jamaica, she hones her humanity in relation with the humanity of all children of the maple leaf, children of all human colours of the sun. She founded the J’Nikira Dinqinesh Education Centre – Every Child is Sacred, named for her children. She serves as president of Black History Ottawa, under the theme of Our Canadian Story: Legacy Worth Preserving and having the UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2014) adopted throughout the municipality, to advance Ottawa. She co-founded Ubuntu Collective Ottawa to engage community in our shared history, humanity and legacies, and the mathematics of ubuntu.
Watch June Girvan's highlight video.
Kathryn Tremblay is an award-winning Canadian entrepreneur and staffing enthusiast with over 35 years of experience, specializing in the human aspect of human resources. As owner and co-founder of Altis Recruitment and Altis Technology—two specialized brands that together form one of Canada’s largest independent recruitment firms—Kathryn has dedicated her entire career to improving the staffing process. A champion of people, Kathryn regularly serves as a career ambassador to new Canadians, is an avid mentor to women in the workforce and early-stage entrepreneurs, and provides one-on-one coaching to support young women in achieving their academic dreams.
Judge Barbe has had a remarkable career, which began when he earned his licenciate in civil law in 1962 and then continued with teaching at the Faculty of Law until 1971. He then worked for the Government of Quebec as a legal expert before being named judge to the Court of Quebec and to the Professions Tribunal. In 2005, in keeping with their philanthropic ideals, Raoul Barbe and his spouse, Yolande Larose, created a foundation to support university research and the Francophonie, with particular focus on fostering appreciation for the judiciary. This foundation, a continuation of the research conducted by Raoul Barbe himself, annually awards grants and scholarships to students and professors who conduct research on the judiciary, thus strengthening the couple’s legacy.
Alexis Normand is a first-rate Francophone singer-songwriter who has earned international success with her trio, Rosie & the Riveters. She recently broadened her artistic horizons by delving into documentary production, and has even won a prize for her first short doc, Assez French. As a co-spokesperson for Rendez-vous de la Francophonie, she has helped strengthen ties between Francophones across Canada. Alexis is also a solo artist who explores the complexities of being Francophone in a majority Anglophone setting in her latest album, Mementos.
Ritesh Kotak is a technology and cybersecurity analyst who has dedicated his career to exploring how emerging tech will impact society. He is also a licenced lawyer in Ontario and practises in the area of privacy, cybersecurity and emerging tech. Ritesh began in public safety, delving into cybercrime and innovation. He transitioned to “big tech” for two years, specializing in innovation and smart cities. Later, he pursued law school, earning a JD with a focus on law and technology. Ritesh is a frequent contributor on mainstream media and is an international public speaker.
Sunshine Tenasco is a social entrepreneur and author who believes that business is an exciting place to create positive change. In 2015, Sunshine launched Her Braids, a business that creates awareness about the issues of clean drinking water in First Nations communities. She is also the founder and chair of Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit that provides Indigenous entrepreneurs with a trusted community, mentorship, training, funds, customers and an audience to start and grow their businesses. Through Pow Wow Pitch, Sunshine is cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.
Steven Stein is a distinguished clinical psychologist who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact on the community throughout his illustrious career. As the founder and executive chairman of Multi-Health Systems, he led the organization to unparalleled success, earning it recognition as one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies and as one of the country’s best Managed companies. Steven Stein’s pioneering work in emotional intelligence led to international best-sellers, like The EQ Edge, while his psychological assessments have positively impacted millions worldwide, including collaborations with international military, government agencies, corporate giants and the entertainment industry. His commitment to social responsibility is evident in his various community endeavours, including his involvement in charitable foundations and partnerships with organizations like the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs.
Marina Kun, who has been president of Kun Shoulder Rest Inc. since 1975, has revolutionized the string instrument industry with ergonomic and innovative shoulder rest products. With a dedication to craftsmanship, Kun Shoulder Rest has thrived for over five decades, elevating Ottawa's global presence in music, health and prosperity. Marina Kun's philanthropic endeavours extend beyond business, notably through the Marina Kun Scholarship at the University of Ottawa, supporting aspiring musicians worldwide. Her generous contributions to arts organizations demonstrate her commitment to enriching communities globally, embodying the ethos of innovation and compassion in both business and philanthropy.