Georgian College named Empower Simcoe’s 2026 Community Partner of the Year

Sept. 28, 2026

Georgian College is proud to be recognized as Empower Simcoe’s 2026 Community Partner of the Year, an honour that celebrates the college’s ongoing collaboration with Empower Simcoe and its contributions to building a more inclusive and connected community. 

Presented through Empower Simcoe’s Gift of the Heart Awards, the Community Partner of the Year award honours organizations that generously contribute their time, talent and energy to enhance the lives of people of all abilities through their support of Empower Simcoe and its wide range of programs and services. 

For Georgian, the recognition reflects a partnership in shared commitment to inclusion, community engagement, applied learning and student success.

Receiving Empower Simcoe’s Community Partner of the Year Award is a tremendous honour for Georgian College and a meaningful reflection of the strength of our partnership. We’re deeply grateful to be recognized by an organization that shares our commitment to building inclusive, empowered communities. This award celebrates what we’ve accomplished together, but it also inspires us to continue working together to create even greater opportunities and impact for students, clients, families and the broader Simcoe County community.

Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College 

Working with Empower Simcoe brings together education and community expertise to create meaningful opportunities for students and the broader community. Through student learning, employment connections and community engagement, the partnership bridges the classroom and community while connecting Georgian students, faculty and staff with professionals and leaders in the sector. 

Together, Georgian and Empower Simcoe continue to find ways to connect people, share knowledge and support initiatives that advance inclusion and well-being across Simcoe County. The partnership has created meaningful opportunities across several areas: 

• Student success: Creating opportunities for student learning, placements, employment and community engagement. 

• Applied research: Collaborating on research and initiatives that address community and workforce priorities. 

• Community engagement: Connecting Georgian and Empower Simcoe expertise to advance inclusion and support people of all abilities. 

• Shared impact: Building relationships and exploring new opportunities to strengthen the Simcoe County community. 

Being named Empower Simcoe’s 2026 Community Partner of the Year recognizes the strength and impact of an ongoing partnership with shared goals. Georgian is proud of this recognition and looks forward to continuing to build on the relationship through opportunities in student learning, employment, applied research, advocacy and community engagement. 

Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College (third from left), with (from left), Carolyn McGoey Garvey, Georgian College Board Chair, Dr. Claudine Cousins, President and CEO, Empower Simcoe, Valerie Scott, Board President, Empower Simcoe, Suzie Addison-Toor, Vice President, Student Success Georgian College, and Alim Remtulla, Vice President, People and Culture, Georgian College.