VCC student honoured with CICan Leadership Excellence Award
Vancouver Community College (VCC) is pleased to congratulate fourth year VCC Nursing student, Eddy Gooch for receiving Gold in the Leadership Excellence Award for Students from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
According to CICan’s website, “CICan Awards of Excellence recognize and promote excellence within Canadian colleges and institutes. The Awards showcase the extraordinary contribution of individuals to their college/institute communities and highlight the role of our institutions in social, cultural, and economic development.”
Eddy came to VCC in 2019 as a mature student after a long career in hospitality and construction. In addition to full-time study and clinical placements in his Nursing program, Eddy is one of VCC’s most enthusiastic champions.
As a member of the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) First Nation and a Sixties Scoop survivor, Eddy is a fierce advocate for Indigenous healthcare and mental health and is actively involved with VCC’s Indigenous Education and Community Engagement department as a student aide.
As a compassionate student mentor, Eddy is a member of the college’s mental health initiatives and was part of the steering committee that helped facilitate the development of VCC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework and the signing of the Okanagan Charter.
“My journey as a student at VCC has been amazing,” explains Eddy. “Returning to school after being gone for so many years I really found a community here. It became something that helped me out and supported me, as I have supported others during my time here.”
Eddy was recognized by CICan along with other award winners at an awards luncheon as part of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics World Congress 2023 which took place in Montreal, QC on April 24.
He adds, “I'd really like to thank the faculty at VCC for recognizing something in me and nominating me for this award. It is an honour to receive this prestigious award from CICan.”
Read Eddy’s story: A new wave in nursing