News & Updates

Northern College Alumni wins Premier’s Award

TIMMINS, ON:  Northern College is pleased to celebrate the achievements of alumni Lynne Innes, winner of the 2024 Health Sciences Premier’s Award.

Graduating from Northern in 2002, Innes secured the win for Health Sciences for her work with Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA). Described as a trailblazer, Innes has been breaking barriers as the first female and youngest Indigenous leader of a multi-site health authority in Ontario.

“This is such a proud moment for all of us at Northern,” stated Mitch Dumas, President & CEO at Northern. “It is core to our mission at Northern to not only provide our students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen field, but to instill them with a motivation to grow and make a true impact on the world around them.”

“Lynne is an exceptional example of this,” added Dumas.

Throughout her career, Innes has worked to improve access to care, enhance healthcare services and ensure that First Nations people receive care close to home. Innes’ efforts have led to meaningful improvements in service delivery along the James and Hudson Bay coasts. Balancing professional responsibilities with family life, she embodies matriarchal strength, navigating career demands while honouring her cultural roots.

“Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s Premier’s Awards and the Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award!” stated Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario in a news release issued by the province. “These awards reflect the incredible work you have done to strengthen our postsecondary system and our communities, helping to inspire future generations of graduates and leaders to give back to our incredible province. Thank you, and well done!”

Innes’ win marks the second year in a row that Northern College alumni have been celebrated by the province, joining Christina Kioke as the second Indigenous Northern College alumni to be awarded this esteemed honour.

“Northern has long committed itself to providing access to education for Indigenous peoples, developing strong pathways that allow potential students to acquire the skills they need to succeed, at home,” stated Dean Lessard, Senior Vice President Academic at Northern. “We are incredibly proud of Lynne and her accomplishments; she embodies our Northern spirit and does her alma mater proud.”

We offer our sincere congratulations to Innes on her well-deserved win, Northern is proud of the work she does as an exemplary Alumna.