Alumni Award of Excellence

Reid Boulet was enrolled in NWP's the Bachelor of Science University Transfer program from 2015-2017, where he completed the first two years of his undergraduate degree. He applied to the University of Alberta Doctor of Dental Surgery program, and was granted early acceptance after only completing two years of undergraduate course work. In 2019, he was awarded his Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of Alberta, and in June of 2021 he will be awarded his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree from the University of Alberta. He has recently been accepted into the University of Alberta General Practice Hospital Residency program starting in July, where he will complete a year of additional specialized training with a focus on hospital, trauma and acute care dentistry.

Throughout his time in dental school he spent many weekends volunteering at the student-run SHINE clinic providing dental care to people in Edmonton who cannot afford dental treatment. Reid was also fortunate enough to go on a mission trip to Guatemala for two weeks, providing dental care to individuals in remote areas who do not have access to regular care. In January 2020, he co-founded "Access for All Dentistry" which is focused on providing dental care to people who cannot seek dental treatment due to barriers around geographical location or finances. This has brought him to the Yukon territory on two separate occasions, and he plans to launch his first portable clinic in remote Alberta in November 2021. Alongside his extracurricular involvement throughout dental school, Reid has also consistently been able to maintain a very strong academic standing in both pre-clinical and clinical work.

Reid was born and raised in the Grande Prairie area, and would like to return to the Peace Country after completion of his training. During his time in post-secondary education, he's learned that nothing is impossible to achieve, it just requires the time, dedication and effort to achieve those goals.

I graciously accept this Alumni Award of Excellence from the Grande Prairie Regional College. I know there are many other very deserving nominees, and I am very humbled to have been selected for this year's award. I spent my first two years of undergraduate studies in the Bachelor of Science Transfer program at GPRC. I was very fortunate to have the chance to learn from many excellent professors, whose excitement to teach and care for the students allowed both myself and the rest of my cohort to thrive and move onwards to accomplish excellence in many professional programs across the country. The dedication of the faculty at GPRC is unparalleled. I am a proud Alumni of GPRC, and throughout my time at the College I learned many different skills to help me achieve my goals of becoming a dental professional.

Brian Calliou is the first in his immediate family to pursue a degree. Originally from the Sucker Creek First Nation near High Prairie, Calliou was a certified journeyman plumber and pipefitter who developed a dream for higher learning. NWP’s small campus-appeal enticed Calliou to attend from 1986 to 1988 before going on to the University of Alberta, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts and then a Master’s degree. He has currently applied to pursue a PhD in law and society.

Calliou has earned a Master’s in law, is an author, a prominent advocate and international speaker on Indigenous issues and culture, as well as Director of Indigenous Leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. There he develops programs and training which help Indigenous leaders learn how to move into their inherent right to self-governance, including drawing on Indigenous wisdom, values and culture to develop stable communities, economies and businesses.

Brett Hart completed his Motorcycle Mechanic Certificate from NWP Fairview in 2006. Since graduating with top marks and landing a Head Technician role at Blackfoot Motorsports, Hart has competed in the biennial Yamaha Technician Grand Prix competition since 2012.

This year’s competition, Hart achieved the Canadian Champion title and was sent to Japan to compete against the head technicians from all over the world. With his skill and passion for the trade, Hart successfully bettered all the competition and was named the first Canadian to have the World Champion in the Sports Model Class title. Hart’s positive and hard working attitude is an inspiration to all and embodies that nothing is impossible when you follow your dreams.

Kelly O’Hallahan, achieved much success in her Wolves career during her time at NWP and hasn’t stopped breaking barriers since. During her time at NWP she was honoured with the 2013 Female Athlete of the Year, named a two-time ACAC All-Conference player and a CCAA All-Canadian.

O’Hallahan left Grande Prairie to play professional basketball in Ireland, has made her mark and persevered through injury. She was named the 2017 and 2018 Basketball Ireland Player of the Year and her significant contribution led her team, the Marble City Hawks, to win the Ireland Division 1 National League Championship in 2017. O’Hallahan is a dedicated and passionate player who has helped change the future of ladies basketball both in Grande Prairie and Kilkenny, Ireland.

Walker graduated in 2006 from NWP with his Business Administration diploma, and has made an impact on the curling community locally, nationally and internationally.

Walker, who played for the Wolves curling team during his time as a NWP student, now plays lead for Team Gushue and has played in events on the World Curling Tour and Grand Slam of Curling, as well as the Canadian Olympic Trials. As a member of the Gushue team, Geoff has won the 2017 and 2018 Tim Horton's Brier championships, as well as the 2017 World Championships. 

Sansome completed his Motorcycle Mechanic Certificate from NWP Fairview in 2001. Since then, Sansome has achieved his Journeyman Red Seal accreditation in motorcycle mechanics, opened his own motorcycle repair, customization and fabrication shop, as well as taught motorcycle and marine mechanics.

Arlin has set the record for developing the world’s fastest front wheel drive electric car and has been featured on the Discovery Channel as an innovator in electronic controller development for electric vehicle propulsion. In 2015 Sansome formed Underground Electrics as a corporation dedicated to developing and promoting high performance electronic vehicle technology.

Hanson was a student of NWP from 2011 to 2015, achieving her Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Accounting Major through Athabasca University’s collaborative program.

Currently, Hanson works as a Chartered Professional Accountant with MNP and is one of nine Alberta students who made the national honour roll for their outstanding performance on the three-day National Common Final Exam (CFE) for the Chartered Professional Accounting program (CPA) in 2017.

Gerald is a Canadian actor, of Woodland Cree descent, who has left his mark on the community as a producer, writer, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Auger has a long list of Hollywood acting credits to his name and he recently teamed up with a group of his fellow NWP alumni to produce the independent short film, Bohemian Blood, which has been screened at film festivals internationally.

Gerald received his Marketing Management diploma and Small Business Management certificate from NWP in 1995. He served as President of the Students’ Association, Student Society for Alberta Vocational College and the Circle of Aboriginal Students while at NWP. Among his many awards Gerald received the Charles S. Noble Student Leadership Award from Advanced Education and the Province of Alberta.

Martens represented Canada at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships in March 2015 in the Junior Women’s race. She also represented Canada in the 2015 Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships in Edmonton where she won the silver medal in the 3,000 metre with a personal best time of 9:41.  Martens also won the bronze medal at the 2015 Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships in the 5000 metre.

Tom Sallows competed at both the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier and 2015 Ford World Men's Curling Championship as a member of the Canadian national curling team. The team won the 2015 Brier and won bronze at the Worlds.

NWP is very proud to recognize two of our Alumni this year who brought attention to our institution and to our community at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke Quebec when Team Alberta won three straight sets in Men’s Indoor Volleyball against host province Quebec for the Gold Medal. Jon Goldie served as Head Coach for Team Alberta, and was supported by Wolves Coach Mike Lauzon.

NWP Alumnus Jon Goldie is one of the top young coaches in Alberta. He is entering his eighth year as an assistant coach at Mount Royal University. He teaches at Middle Lake School in Chestermere, Calgary.

Wolves Coach Mike Lauzon is also an alumnus of NWP, and is well-known for his commitment to building his team on the strength of local players. He helped Jon coach Team Alberta to Canada Games Gold. Mike is currently Vice-Principal at Peace Wapiti academy in Grande Prairie.