In 2015, the Learning Specialists Association of Canada’s membership voted to create a number of awards to recognize the contributions of our members and future members to their institutions, the profession, and to LSAC.
On the recommendation of an ad-hoc committee, the Board of Directors approved the creation of awards to recognize students, emerging professionals, distinguished professionals, lifetime achievement, and groups / teams. Nominations are accepted between national conferences and reviewed by an ad-hoc committee of LSAC members in good standing, and awards are presented at the following national conference.
Award winners will have their conference registration fee waived and will have their awards forwarded to them after acknowledgement at the AGM at the conference. As well, winners will be acknowledged on the LSAC website.
Nominations for the following 2025 awards are extended to Wednesday, April 23, 2025 (11:59pm Eastern):
The LSAC Emerging Professional Award is presented to an individual who has worked in the learning specialist profession between two and six years at the time of nomination. The nominee may be either a full-time or part-time employee and is not required to be an LSAC member.
The nominee must have demonstrated (1) an approach to their work which upholds LSAC members’ ethical responsibilities, (2) impact on students or others, and (3) innovation in their approach to their work. The nominee must have demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The nomination may be submitted by anyone, including self-nominations. All nominations require two letters of support: One from a professional member of LSAC, and one from anyone in the institution who was impacted by the nominee, ideally a person who benefits from the nominee’s work.
Fernanda Batista (2023)
Nina Sulkin is one of the Student Success Facilitators within the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.
The LSAC Distinguished Professional Award is presented to an LSAC professional member who has worked in the learning specialist profession for six or more years at the time of nomination. The nominee may be either a full-time or part-time employee. Note: Potential nominees who are close to retirement should consider applying for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The nominee must have demonstrated, throughout their employment in the learning specialist industry, leadership and/or innovation that resulted in an impact on student success. The nominee must have demonstrated (1) an approach to their work which upholds LSAC members’ ethical responsibilities and (2) commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The nominee must have also been actively involved in LSAC, for example, through presentations, volunteering, sitting on committees, or serving on the Board of Directors.
The nomination may be submitted by anyone. Nominations require two letters of support: One letter of support from a professional member of LSAC, and one from anyone who could speak to their professional contributions.
Sandy Carpenter (2023)
Jenna Olender is the Manager, Learning Skills and Development at Wilfrid Laurier University.
The LSAC Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an LSAC professional member who is either close to retirement or who has retired at the time of nomination. The nominee may be either a full-time or part-time employee.
The nominee must have contributed significantly to the learning specialist profession. The nominee must have demonstrated leadership, mentorship, and impact. The nominee must have demonstrated (1) an approach to their work which upholds LSAC members’ ethical responsibilities and (2) commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The nomination must come from a professional LSAC member in good standing. Nominations require two letters of support: One from a professional member of LSAC, and one from anyone in the community who has benefited from the nominee’s work.
This award can only be earned once.
Joanne Buckland (2023)
Lyn Benn (2021) is the Director, Student Development & Success at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, UNBC.
Peter Walsh (2019)
Maryann Kope (2017)
Richard (Zack) Zajchowski (2017)
The LSAC Undergraduate Student Award is presented to an undergraduate student who has had a positive impact on students or others. The nominee must have demonstrated (1) an approach to their work which upholds LSAC members’ ethical responsibilities and (2) commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The nominator must be a professional LSAC member in good standing as defined by the LSAC bylaws.
Supporting documentation is not required but may include up to two testimonials and letters of support.
Aleenah Hassan (2023)
Christine Kwong is the recipient of the 2021 LSAC Graduate Student Award. Christine has been a graduate student group facilitator at the University of Toronto since 2019.
Evgeniya (Jane) Tsekhovaya is the recipient of the 2021 LSAC Undergraduate Student Award. Jane has held several roles within the Academic Success Centre at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management.
The LSAC Graduate Student Award is presented to a graduate student who has had a positive impact on students or others. The nominee may also have had a positive impact on research related to learning skills. The nominee must have demonstrated (1) an approach to their work which upholds LSAC members’ ethical responsibilities and (2) commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The nominator must be a professional LSAC member in good standing as defined by the LSAC bylaws.
Supporting documentation is not required but may include up to two testimonials and letters of support.
Andrea Reid (2023)
The LSAC Group / Team Award is presented to a project, team, or group that has worked either on an outstanding project or within an outstanding centre between January 2023 and now, that has met high standards of leadership, and that has met expected learning outcomes. The nominee must have demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The project, team, or group may be either within an institution or across institutions and may include either time-limited projects or ongoing services. At least one member of the team must be an LSAC professional member in good standing.
Provide evidence to demonstrate that the team’s or project’s learning outcomes or objectives have been achieved, such as attendance numbers, qualitative feedback, pictures, or changes in grades.
The nomination may be submitted by anyone. Nominations require two letters of support: one from a professional member of LSAC who is not part of the project, team, or group; and one from anyone who has been impacted by the project, team, or group, ideally a person who benefits from the nominee’s work.
2023 – Alyssa Foerster, Johanna Amos, Lydia Skulstad
A team consisting of Sandra Smith (University of Fraser Valley) Ruth Silverman, and Julia Lane (both from Simon Fraser University), quickly and expertly expanded a single-day on-campus annual event to a week-long Canada-wide program called Procrastination Avoidance Week (PAW).
Thank you for taking the time to join our LSAC community today. Before we begin, we would like to pause to intentionally express our gratitude for the land we are on today and to all the Indigenous Peoples past, present and future that have and continue to be stewards of these lands. We recognize that moving forward we are mutually responsible for the caretaking and preservation of this land for future generations.
We commit to co-creating an accountable space. In our LSAC community, we are committed to creating an accountable space where we welcome individual growth, learning, and unlearning. In this space, we recognize and gently remind one another that we are all tender humans with our own stories and experiences, both positive and negative. We aim to lead with kindness, openness, and patience as we identify and break down barriers to create a safer space for us all.