Meet Concordia’s 4 winners of the Quebec Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal

Four Concordia students have received the Lieutenant Governor’s Youth Medal. Awarded by Manon Jeannotte, the lieutenant governor of Quebec, this distinction honours students whose involvement, dedication and leadership positively impact the community.

“This marks the third consecutive year that Concordia has had four students recognized by this prestigious award, showcasing the ongoing commitment our students have to improving both our campus and community,” says Julie Foisy, director of the Student Success Centre.

“Hannah, Jessica, Catherine and Rudy’s dedication to making a positive impact on society is truly inspiring. Their exceptional leadership, academic excellence and commitment to community make them true role models at Concordia.”

Meet the winners

Hannah McGregor-Pelletier

Bachelor of Arts, Joint Specialization in English and History, Minor in Education

Hannah McGregor-Pelletier is a Kanien’kehá:ka student from Kahnawake. She is an integral member of the Indigenous student community at the Otsenhákta Student Centre (OSC). During the 2022-23 academic year, McGregor-Pelletier attended every event hosted by the OSC.

As a student employee, she assisted in coordinating Concordia’s second annual Pow Wow and organized a community-building day trip to Kahnawake for staff. She also continues to work with the Indigenous Student Ambassadors program at Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, where she graduated before attending Concordia.

This term, McGregor-Pelletier participated in a land-based learning program hosted by the OSC and Indigenous Directions. There, she participated in talking circles with Elders and travelled to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In her daily life as a student, McGregor-Pelletier has become a familiar figure for welcoming Indigenous students to Concordia, accompanying them on campus and introducing them to the OSC. For McGregor-Pelletier, this volunteer work reflects her traditional community values.

“The advice I would give students is: do not doubt yourself — try it! I promise you will feel more confident and maybe even powerful after you get involved. You will do amazing, no matter what you choose.”

Rudyard Pejo

Bachelor of Arts, Major in Human Relations, Minor in Psychology

Rudyard Pejo has been an integral figure within the Filipino Organization of Concordia University Students (FOCUS) since 2021. Elected as co-president for the 2023-24 academic year, Pejo is dedicated to celebrating Filipino identity and fostering a supportive environment for his peers. He has significantly contributed to FOCUS’s growth and dynamic presence on campus.

Pejo hosted and planned a variety of community-building events, including a networking event for Filipino Concordia undergraduates and alumni, Tara, Mag Usap Tayo! (C’mon, Let’s Talk!): A Queer and Ally Date Night, a panel on promoting visibility of Filipinx queer experiences and allyship, and SHOWPAO: The Festival, where he provided a platform for Filipino-Montrealer businesses and organizations to promote their services.

Pejo has held multiple roles at Concordia, with CU Wellness as an administrative assistant, and with FutureBound as a communications program assistant. In all his roles, Pejo earned a solid reputation for his keen organization, authenticity, creativity and relationship-building skills.

“The most important skill I’ve developed working on these projects is resourcefulness. Since I initiated several one-of-a-kind FOCUS events, I had to reach out to internal and external contacts at Concordia to find the right people, resources and expertise to effectively execute my initiatives.”

Catherine Starr-Prénovost

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

Catherine Starr-Prénovost is dedicated to welcoming and supporting new students as a Homeroom student facilitator and a Welcome Crew mentor, helping ease their transition to university life. In these roles, Starr-Prénovost ensures that new students’ needs are met, helping them build their support networks and planning and coordinating student-centred programming for incoming first-years.

Her leadership skills, thoughtfulness and depth of knowledge of student services at Concordia have established Starr-Prénovost as an invaluable resource for students and colleagues alike.

Starr-Prénovost has also demonstrated exceptional dedication to student mental health as the president of the Concordia Students’ Nightline during the 2022-23 academic year.

In recognition of her volunteer work and commitment to the Concordia community, she was also recently awarded an Outstanding Contribution Award from the Concordia Council on Student Life.

“These projects have really given me the opportunity to develop adaptability and flexibility, learning as I go and trying to grow from each experience.”

Jessica Winton

Bachelor of Arts, Urban Planning

Jessica Winton is recognized for her work as an advocate for trans and queer students. As a student in urban planning, Winton has also extended her studies outside the classroom in her work on sustainability initiatives, streamlining waste management at Concordia.

As the events coordinator at Queer Concordia, Winton supported community-building and helped enliven Queer Concordia during the changes brought about by COVID-19 and the return to campus. Winton’s events were vital in cultivating welcoming spaces for all students and particularly for supporting and uplifting trans students at Concordia. In the next academic year, Winton will be a senior executive at Queer Concordia.

Additionally, Winton’s sustainability work has contributed to helping people navigate the waste streams at Concordia. As a sustainability ambassador, Winton led the creation of the Waste Invaders educational arcade game. She also acts as the community engagement lead and a research assistant on the Openwaste.AI app.

“Being a part of these communities already, I can see what’s missing and how to improve things. Sometimes it just takes one person’s effort (me)!”

Find opportunities to get involved in student life at Concordia.