Sheridan grad takes home Premier's Award

Award-winning producer Helen Lebeau (Media Arts ‘82) was among a group of Ontario college graduates to be presented with a Premier’s Award on Nov. 26.

Lebeau, who took top prize in the creative arts and design category, was chosen from a distinguished group of 17 nominees and received her award during a gala celebration in Toronto. She is the 18th Premier’s Award winner from Sheridan, and the tenth to win in the creative arts and design category.

Lebeau’s impressive career has paralleled the growth of one of the most successful entertainment companies in Canada. As vice president of production, she oversees animation at Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana studio. Her producing credits include Bravest Warriors, Hotel Transylvania, Max & Ruby, the Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award-winning Bubble Guppies, and International Kids Emmy Award-winning Mike the Knight.

Since graduation, she has consistently supported Sheridan students and initiatives, often returning to campus for speaking opportunities and to review student portfolios.

“Along with being a pioneer of Canada’s animation industry, Helen is an enthusiastic ambassador of Sheridan and its students,” says Janet Morrison, Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor. “I’m so proud of Sheridan’s tradition of excellence in creativity and the creative arts. Our graduates’ accomplishments are evidence of the powerful legacy of the education they received here.”

Lebeau joins a host of high-profile Sheridan alumni to have been presented with a Premier’s Award in the creative arts and design category. Over the past 25 years, Sheridan’s winning alumni have included award winning animators, a bestselling author and illustrator, and an Emmy-award winning casting director.

The Premier’s Awards were launched in 1992 to mark the 25^th anniversary of Ontario’s colleges. They are presented in seven categories: apprenticeship; business; community services; creative arts and design; health sciences; recent graduate; and technology. Sheridan’s other nominees this year were:

• Alan Dick, (Business Administration Marketing ‘85), senior vice president of global business services and integration management at Jacobs Engineering, in the business category.

• In the community services category, director of communications for Gender Equality Network Canada Diane Hill (Community Planning ’79).

• Entrepreneur and Motify founder Shauna-Kay Jones (Software Development and Network Engineering ‘15) in the recent graduate category.

• Eric Liberda (Environmental and Chemical Engineering Technology ’02), associate professor at Ryerson University, in the health sciences category.

• President and chief innovation officer of Delvinia Steve Mast (Architectural Technology ’92) in the technology category.

“We are proud of all our nominees and their incredible accomplishments,” adds Morrison. “Sheridan students have gone on to become leaders in their professions across a variety of industries, and these alumni are no exception.”