The Holland College Foundation has announced the recipients of its eighth annual Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Foundation Board of Directors Chair Shaun MacIsaac said that this year’s honorees are to be commended for their exceptional professional achievements and their contributions to their communities.

“Our 2015 award recipients, Wayne Stewart, Cory LeDrew, and Kevin Proude have all contributed greatly to their chosen industries and their communities,” said MacIsaac. “Their achievements and their passion is an inspiration to current Holland College students and alumni alike.”

Wayne Stewart graduated from Holland College’s plumbing program, obtained his Red Seal certification, and then moved to Calgary, Alberta.  He continued to work in the plumbing business before becoming a co-owner of Blackcomb Plumbing & Heating in 1998.

They bought A. R. Wright Plumbing and Heating in 2006, the second oldest plumbing company in Calgary, established in 1919, and Wayne is currently president of the company.

In 2006, Wayne was instrumental in starting a fundraising campaign to benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation in Prince Edward Island and Alberta. Together, with the support of the PEI Rumrunners Hockey Club, he established a golf tournament in which the members hoped to raise $5,000. Much to their surprise, they raised $40,000 and continued to exceed that amount each year. In ten years, they have raised $1 million.

Wayne is a champion and advocate for Holland College in Calgary as a proud alumnus. Through Wayne’s love of, and involvement with golf and hockey, both Alberta and Prince Edward Island continue to benefit from his efforts.

Cory LeDrew graduated from The Culinary Institute of Canada, Culinary Arts program in 2001, and after completing the program, began his career at Fairmont Hotels & Resort.

He quickly moved his way up the culinary ladder from restaurant chef to banquet chef to executive sous chef. He was also the head chef of the prestigious Banffshire Club Restaurant, a five-diamond restaurant at the Fairmont, Banff Springs.

In 2011, Cory received the Alberta Best Dish Award for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and in 2013-2014, he held the position of assistant food and beverage director at the Fairmont Jasper Lodge. In 2014, Cory left Fairmont to pursue his dream of operating his own hotel, and is currently the general manager of the Overlander Lodge.

Cory’s strengths lie in his creativity, his passion for his craft, and his leadership. Cory has a unique set of skills, both personal and professional. In 2012, Cory was recognized as The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Leader of the Year as well as the company Leader of the Year award.  In addition, Cory has embarked on many culinary adventures around the globe, including cooking for the Canadian Ambassador in Singapore and the opening of O-Bar in Cairo’s downtown core which has already become the number one venue in Cairo.

Chef LeDrew’s work has been profiled in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and blogs including City Style & Living, Virtual Gourmet, Food Service & Hospitality, and Advantage Magazine. His in-house beehive initiative was featured in Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry, 2nd Edition.

Cory has a clear strategic vision about how food can be a vehicle to enhance culinary pleasure, enhance nutrition, increase environmental stewardship, and contribute to community building, all of which makes him a standout in the culinary world. At present, Cory is the General Manager of Overlander Mountain Lodge & Jasper East Cabins, located in Jasper East, Alberta.

Kevin Proude is the owner and manager of Proude’s Shoes in Charlottetown.  He has worked diligently to ensure that his company remains a preferred choice in the local and regional footwear industry.

Kevin joined his father, Wayne, full time in 1988 after completing Holland College’s Retail Management program.  He grew up learning the business from his parents and has continued to explore ways for the family business to grow and thrive while maintaining the Proude’s Shoes commitment to do their best to properly fit their customers with quality footwear.  His achievements in this regard were celebrated in 2007, when Kevin and Wayne were recognized by the Atlantic Canada Shoe Traveller’s Association as Footwear Retailer of the Year for Atlantic Canada.

“Fitting comes before Selling” was the model of business that Wayne instilled in Kevin over the years, and it continues to be the goal at Proude’s Shoes. Proper customer attention and satisfaction leads all of Kevin’s endeavours. Such a perspective is why Kevin makes it a point to visit local hospitals and elder care facilities to fit customers. He is aware that for some customers, travelling to the store is simply not an option. Due to this, Kevin is always willing to take the store to the customer as one way of extending service.

It is not uncommon to see Kevin at a local car wash event or letting others know of a worthwhile charitable event. Kevin’s commitment to volunteerism was recently recognized as he was the recipient of the PEI Roadrunners Association’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Stewart, LeDrew, and Proude join past recipients Sue LeFort, Delaney Chisholm, Norma Lee MacLeod, Chef John Ledwell, Paul Livingston, Robert Webster, Barry Sheen, Kathy Ward Doucette, Steven Barber, Tim Banks, Louise Vessey, David Garcelon, Mayor Basil Stewart, Jeff Poirier, Eva O’Hanley, Jamie Hill, Sonya Corrigan, Alan MacLeod, Steven Collicutt, John Avery, Brent Blackmore, Alanna Jankov, and Kevin O’Brien as Holland College Distinguished Alumni.
Holland College President Dr. Brian McMillan said that alumni are part of Holland College’s ongoing success story.

“Holland College has more than 30,000 graduates worldwide making a difference in every sector imaginable. Their success brings us tremendous pride.”

A reception and awards dinner will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at The Tourism and Culinary Centre in Charlottetown. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Holland College Office of Alumni Relations at (902) 566-9590 or alumni@hollandcollege.com. Find out how to nominate an alumnus of Holland College for a Distinguished Alumni Award by visiting Alumni and Friends at hollandcollege.com. Nominations are accepted year round.