Mohawk alumnus Greg Gagnon has “it”. Expertise,  character and passion that have led to two high esteemed awards.

Gagnon, Mohawk’s Accessible Learning Services (ALS) technician, received the 2023 Mohawk Award of Excellence and the 2024 Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan) Leadership Excellence Award for Non-Managerial Staff. 

“I was totally surprised when I got the Mohawk Award of Excellence,” Gagnon said. “I remember when Katie Burrows started presenting the award, and how it slowly hit me that she was talking about me. My hands were shaking the whole time after I sat back down. 

“At the event, they told us we’d be Mohawk College’s nominees for the CICan awards,” Gagnon said. “I thought there were others who deserved it more, but I gave it my best shot. When the deadlines passed without any news, I figured someone else had been chosen. So, when I got the email from then President, Ron McKerlie, I was blown away. It came late at night, and I had to wake up my wife to share the news with her.”

Receiving these awards could have something to do with Gagnon’s colleagues describing him as the “backbone of the Accessibility Learning Services team.”

It could also be because of his mentioned love for helping others. 

“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that what I do makes a real difference in someone’s journey,” Gagnon said.

Before working at the college, Gagnon was a Mohawk student. After some time in the Network Engineering and Security Analyst program, Gagnon said he realized programming was his “true passion.”

“Switching to the Software Development program led me to graduate with diplomas in both Software Support and Software Development,” Gagnon said. “My journey wasn’t a straight line. I took some time to figure things out – faced a few bumps along the way – but eventually I found my path. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing support and guidance from the staff and faculty at Mohawk College. Without their help, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” 

Gagnon said he had some helpful hands-on experience in his program that allowed him to learn more about his field.

After doing a couple of co-op terms at Mohawk’s job centre, he applied for and received a part- time job in the ALS department. 

“Working here has been fantastic,” Gagnon said. “I’ve met a lot of great people and learned so much from my amazing colleagues and students.” 

Now, Gagnon supports students with accessibility needs, as well as the college community. 

“I provide a range of services,” Gagnon said. “Collaborating with students, their academic departments, and their support networks to ensure they have the necessary tools to fully participate and succeed in their studies. This support includes facilitating live and closed captioning, providing technology to meet accessibility needs, and offering alternative formats for course materials. Additionally, I work with my department and the broader college community to address issues of accessibility and inclusivity, helping to create a more inclusive learning environment for all.” 

Proving his love for helping others, Gagnon stayed in ALS instead of following his plan to later move to tech because he said he realized his skillset largely assisted the team. 

“As I settled into my role, it grew with me,” Gagnon said. “We made improvements in areas like test booking and making documents and websites more accessible, plus we tried out some new supports. I didn’t expect it but combining my tech skills with my natural empathy turned out to be a perfect match and something I’m really passionate about.”

Gagnon’s empathy and compassion resulted in two awards, one of which is a national recognition. 

“Going to the convention and accepting the award in person with the other winners from Mohawk was amazing,” Gagnon said. “It’s a moment I’ll always remember.” 

Gagnon’s Mohawk pride is evident in the dedication and effort he puts in at the school. 

“I’m really proud to be an alumnus of Mohawk College,” Gagnon said. “I know firsthand the hard work it takes to graduate and how amazing our graduates are. Mohawk has a great reputation, and it just keeps growing. As an employee here, I’m thrilled to be part of that reputation and to help it grow. I love the work I do and the chance to support our students and community. It’s amazing to hear students say they appreciate the amount and quality of services we provide.”