Fleming College

Fleming College is pleased to recognize two individuals for their outstanding commitment to volunteerism with the Brian L. Desbiens Community Service Awards.

Janet McCue, a local First Nations leader, received the external award while Patty Thompson, a faculty member at Sutherland Campus, received the internal award. The awards were presented at a breakfast with Brian Desbien last week.

Janet McCue is a long-time leader in the community and advocate for awareness and empowerment of Indigenous communities. In 2014, Janet was awarded the YMCA Peace Medal for her individual effort to make a difference in the community. In 2011, Janet was inducted into the Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame for Community Betterment. Janet’s leadership was demonstrated during coordination for ‘Our Space’, a community drop-in centre for the homeless and hungry.

As stated in her nomination, Janet is a First Nations leader who makes an individual effort to make a difference in the community. Since 2000, Janet has had extensive involvement with Project Natwin, an initiative that supports the people of Mishkeegogamong. Since April 2000, this organization has collected thousands of household items, food and clothing personally delivered to northern Indigenous communities, including Five Cree communities near James Bay, Attawapiskat and Moose Factory. Janet appears at many community events and often leads with a song of prayer and thanks. Janet’s leadership and contribution to the Indigenous community has made a tremendous difference.

Patty Thompson is a full-time faculty member and the Program Coordinator for Educational Support, and is also the Program Coordinator for the Community Integration Through Cooperative Education (CICE) program in the School of Justice and Community Development. Patty’s passion and dedication to the community is evident in her sustained commitment to volunteering with people who have developmental disabilities. The leadership she has demonstrated improves the lives of students, coworkers and people in the community. Patty actively volunteers with the Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough (DSAP) and was elected to be a member of their Board of Directors. She won the DSAP Community Service Award in 2015 and assists with their Golf Tournament, Spring Gala and awareness campaigns and events. Patty has also been involved with the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) as a Peterborough executive and has a passion and understanding for supporting individuals diagnosed with FASD. In addition, Patty was previously a Board member of Community Living Peterborough.

As stated in her nomination, Patty is an enthusiastic, caring and empathetic individual with a passion for life, teaching and helping others. She demonstrates inclusion for those with a wide variety of exceptionalities every day and is an outstanding role model for her students and colleagues. Patty is passionate, engaged, extremely knowledgeable and committed to community betterment through her kind spirit, volunteering, career choice and pursuits.

Patty invests extensive energy and time into organizations that support individuals with special needs and is driven to help others. For nearly eight years, Patty has coordinated and organized a life and recreation skills-based neurodevelopment camp for teens and adults. The camp gives those living with neurodevelopmental disorders the chance to attend a camp with curriculum developed to suit their needs, created by Patty. With her daughter Rachel, Patty also volunteers with various schools in the Caribbean during March Break where they bring donated technology and new software to various communities and consult with teachers who support students with special needs.

About the Brian L. Desbiens Community Service Awards
The Brian L. Desbiens Community Service Awards were created to recognize citizens who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to, and concern for, their community, country or beyond. Within volunteer work and through their career these candidates have exceeded expectations, putting their ideas and skills to practical use for the benefit of others. One award is given to an employee of the college while another is awarded externally, to a citizen of the communities the college serves.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.

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Media, for more information please contact:
Sara O’Halloran

Communications Officer

sara.ohalloran@flemingcollege.ca

705.749.5530 x 1366