Holland College announced the recipients of this year's Excellence Awards online this year due to the college's COVID-19 restrictions.

The Staff Excellence Award, which is presented to a staff member who has made an exceptional contribution within Holland College and the communities it serves, was presented to Arlene Heffell, an administrative officer at the Atlantic Police Academy.

Arlene embodies the values of a successful institution such as Holland College. The knowledge and experience that Arlene has acquired during her 38 years of service has proven to be invaluable within the APA and the Atlantic policing and public safety communities.

Paul Frizzell, a service worker in the college's facilities department received the Facilities Excellence Award, which honours a staff member who demonstrates exemplary performance and has made invaluable contributions within the facilities department and to Holland College as a whole. Paul has been a dedicated employee since 1985 and has a proven track record, and received the award in recognition of his positive attitude and professionalism throughout the years.

Dr. Tim McRoberts, director of Canada's Smartest Kitchen, was presented with the Leadership Excellence Award, which recognizes those who work primarily in a leadership role and make significant contributions to Holland College, post-secondary education, and the community. With over two decades of experience in several roles and departments within the college, Dr. McRoberts has been a positive influence on the college's teaching and learning practices.

The excellence awards and employee recognition accolades are typically celebrated in person on Holland College's Staff Appreciation Day. This year, president Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald and Jill Cameron, director of Human Resources, pre-recorded an announcement to acknowledge the milestones and awards in a virtual format.

"On behalf of our management team, I am honoured to congratulate Arlene, Paul and Tim on their significant accomplishments. They are very deserving of this recognition and demonstrate the high calibre of all of our employees," said Dr. MacDonald.

President MacDonald also commended 53 staff member who were recognized for their years of service to the college.

"Thanks to each of you for all you do to make Holland College a great place to work and learn. You are all integral to our success, and for that, we thank and appreciate you every day," he said.

A video of the presentation is available online on the college's YouTube channel.

In this picture: Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, left, and Forrest Spencer, executive director of the Atlantic Police Academy, present the Staff Excellence Award to Arlene Heffell.