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Canadore College
News Release
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TORONTO – Canadore College graduate, Elina Katsman, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to health sciences at the Premier’s Awards gala event last night.
Katsman was one of 21 nominees in the health sciences category for her commitment and dedication to her profession.
Elina Katsman (Toronto, Ont.) – President and Founder of the Smile Foundation and Sonrisas, and graduate of Canadore’s Dental Hygiene program.
Nearly 30 years ago, Katsman developed a passion for promoting oral health in the Dominican Republic after vacationing there.
Her Healthy Smiles project in the Dominican has provided services to over 3.5 million clients to date with 150 active volunteers mobilizing operations for 15 clinics across the country.
She has been offered the prestigious position of Honourary Consul to the Dominican Republic for Canada, is the recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Award, and has received various awards and medals from the Mayor’s Office, Dominican government, and the Canadian Embassy for her social work.
She is also recognized within her profession by the Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Sunstar Foundation, and the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity.
Katsman created the first Dental Hygiene program at the private Universidad Odontologica Dominicana in Santo Domingo and teaches at APlus Institute, a dental hygiene college in Toronto.
“This award is such a great honour,” said Katsman. “There are many children around the world who cannot smile because they are too poor and too unhealthy. We can make a difference and I urge you to each help just one child.”
The annual Premier’s Awards honour the important social and economic contributions made by college graduates to the province and to the world.
Nominations are submitted by Ontario’s 24 colleges and are presented in six categories, Business, Creative Arts and Design, Community Services, Health Sciences, Technology, and Recent Graduate, and reviewed by a selection committee.
The College also nominated Jason Corbett, Manager of Development and Community Relations at One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre and graduate of Canadore’s Law Clerk program as well as Thomas Chatfield, Director at Stratus Aviation Services and graduate of Canadore’s Avionics Maintenance Technician program for their exceptional achievements.
Over 100 nominees and 13 winners were celebrated at a gala event at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto Tuesday among 800 peers, college representatives, industry leaders and in the company of Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario and Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
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