Camosun College announces Promising and Distinguished Alumni recipients

A leader in business and in the community, Len Wansbrough graduated from Camosun's Business Administration program in 1983 with the goal to establish himself as a Certified General Accountant.

Len has been an owner and manager of small and medium sized businesses that varied from start up to growing an established, multi-location company with over 150 employees. In 2001, he decided to focus on his passion for creating real estate communities on Vancouver Island and, since that time, several of Len's efforts and developments have been recognized by the Canadian Home Builders Association, Lee Valley Tools Commercial Award of Excellence and Gold CARE Award. He's currently the President of Metropolitan Capital & Westridge Landing Centre.

In the community, Len is well-known for his willingness to give his time and financial support to varying charities and organizations. He has spent time as President of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, Board of Governors at Royal Roads University, Victoria Foundation, and Director of the Western Community Seniors Low Cost Housing Society, to name a few. Len and his family generously support students in the BBA program at the college through a bursary established in memory of his father Bill Wansbrough.

When told he was named the Distinguished Alumnus for 2014, Len responded with humility. "I'm very humbled by the award.  Alumni from Camosun make significant contributions to our local and world community.  It's an honour to be recognized and represent them. "

Youth worker and role model Jenny Shaw graduated from Camosun's Associate of Arts program in 2005. Since then she has garnered respect from the kids she works with and her peers in the community.

As a life-long learner, Jenny is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology at Simon Fraser University. She received the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for her PhD research project Interrupted Lives: Youths' Experiences of Transnational Migration and Prolonged Family Separation in 2013.

Jenny is a Neonology Facilitator and former Youth Worker for the North Shore Multicultural Society in North Vancouver where she develops and implements strategies to engage newcomer youth in a variety of after-school programs.  As a Neonology trainer and facilitator, Jenny puts on anti-oppression, anti-discrimination workshops that engage elementary and high school students in discussions on how to create more welcoming, inclusive communities. She's also self-employed as a yoga instructor with over six years of experience. Yoga has given her the means to manage her busy lifestyle.

"I have always been very proud to tell people that I started my academic pursuits at Camosun College," says Jenny about being named Promising Alumnus for 2014. "Winning this award reminds me just how much Camosun supports students' success even years after they graduate. This award is a great honour and deeply meaningful to me as a Camosun alumnus."