The Learning Specialists Association of Canada would like to announce the winners of its LSAC National Awards. These awards recognize the contributions of our members to their institution, the profession, and to LSAC. The awards were presented during the gala event of the LSAC 2019 national conference held at Olds College in Alberta, Canada.

Student Award

Kelsey Turner of Mount Royal University was awarded the Student Award for her work as both a Learning Peer assisting students with their organic chemistry course and a Senior Learning Peer helping other Learning Peers and organizing events like the Last Night Against Procrastination.

The LSAC Student Award is presented to a student who has had a positive impact on learning skills programming, services, or research at their institution.

Emerging Professional Award

Claire Hooker from Queen’s University was awarded the Emerging Professional Award for her work supporting student learning through the development of resources and programming that explores the intersectionality of learning skills and writing skills development.

The LSAC Emerging Professional Award is presented to an individual who has worked in the learning specialist industry between two and six years at the time of nomination and who has demonstrated a novel or unique approach to learning skills programming, services, or research that resulted in a substantial impact at their institution.

Distinguished Professional Award

Peter Walsh from the British Columbia Institute of Technology was awarded the LSAC Distinguished Professional Award for his work pioneering many student success programs early in his career, including support for student-athletes, the integration of counselling and research-based strategies into learning skills support, and the creation of 28 learning skills videos that were published in the 2000s and remain relevant today. Peter has also been a champion of professionalizing the learning specialists field for two decades. He served on the executive of the Learning and Study Skills Association (LASSA) and was one of the founding members of LSAC.

The LSAC Distinguished Professional Award is presented to an LSAC professional member who has worked in the learning specialist industry for six or more years, has demonstrated either leadership or innovation that resulted in an impact to further student success, and has been actively involved in LSAC through presentations, volunteering, sitting on committees, or serving on the Board of Directors.

Team Award

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Learning Centre was awarded the LSAC Team Award for their work on the creation of a formalized and comprehensive peer tutoring and peer coaching training program. Since its development, the team has trained many other learning professionals as their program has been adopted across multiple institutions.

The LSAC Team Award is presented to a project, team, or group that has worked either on an outstanding project or within an outstanding centre that has met high standards of leadership, met the expected learning outcomes, and followed a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

  

LSAC also honoured institutions and colleagues who continue to foster professional development within the LSAC community:

• Aaron Chubb, University of Lethbridge

• Catharine Ozols, Mohawk College

• Humber ITAL’s Peer Assisted Learning Team

• Krista Elliot and Candace Chard , UOIT

• Lyn Benn, Christina Page, and the team at Kawntlen Polytechnic University

• Miranda Mckenzie, Laurentian University

• Sandra Griffin and the team at Olds College

• Sandra Smith, University of the Fraser Valley

• Sean Hughes and the team at John Abbott College

• Simon Fraser University

• University of British Columbia

The Learning Specialists Association of Canada (LSAC) is a voluntary, national association for professionals who focus on the application of learning theory in higher education. By offering instruction in learning strategies and study skills, LSAC members support and further the educational goals of students, faculty, staff and school administrations. LSAC's purpose is to develop, encourage, and model sound professional and ethical standards among its members while facilitating the dissemination of current and emerging trends and research in learning. More information about LSAC can be found online at www.learningspecialists.ca.

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