Congratulations to the 2021 CSRT Award Recipients!
We're excited to announce the 2021 CSRT Award Recipients!
The awards were conferred virtually at the CSRT Annual General Meeting (AGM) on
June 10th, 2021.
Colya Kaminiarz Professional Achievement Award
This award was created to honour Colya Kaminiarz for the significant contributions he made to the profession and the professional association.
The award recognizes RTs who have made a significant contribution to professional practice and/or have influenced others toward high levels of achievement in professional practice.

Rena Sorenson - 2021 Recipient
Robert Merry Excellence in Education Award
This award was created to honour Robert Merry who made significant contributions in the field of education in respiratory therapy.
The award recognizes RTs who have made a significant contribution to the practice of RT Education and/or have influenced others toward high levels of achievement in RT education.

Lynn Poulin Daley - 2021 Recipient
VitalAire Respiratory Home Care Award
The award recognizes respiratory therapists who have made significant contributions to the field of respiratory home care services and/or who have influenced others toward high levels of achievement in the field of respiratory home care services.

Elizabeth French - 2021 Recipient
Louis Phillip Belle-Isle
Scholarship for Graduate Studies
The Louis Phillip Belle-Isle Scholarship for Graduate Studies was recently established in honour of a former CSRT Board member, dear friend and colleague Louis Phillip Belle-Isle.
The scholarship recognizes and supports CSRT members who demonstrate academic and/or professional excellence and are enrolled in a graduate studies program.

Robert Biddlecombe - 2021 Recipient

Cindy Bruce-Barrett - 2021 Recipient
Award for Professional Achievement in AA Practice
This award recognizes Certified Clinical Anesthesia Assistants (CCAAs) who have made a significant contribution to anesthesia assistance (AA) practice, and/or have influenced others toward high levels of achievement in AA practice.

Marco Zaccagnini - 2021 Recipient
CSRT / CBRC Exam Achievement Awards
These awards (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) will recognize the 3 highest marks achieved by a CSRT student member on the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC) each exam year.

2021 Gold Medal Recipient
Hannah Diemert
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts

2021 Silver Medal Recipient
Elora Tung
Fanshawe College of Applied Arts

2021 Bronze Medal Recipient
Yu Chao Jin
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

2021 Bronze Medal Recipient
Kyla Suss
University of Manitoba
CSRT Award for Student Excellence
To recognize graduating students at each Canadian respiratory therapy education program who demonstrate academic and/or professional excellence (as determined by their program).
The CSRT encourages education programs to present this award during the graduation ceremony at each education program.
The recipient of the CSRT Award for Student Excellence will receive a certificate of recognition from the CSRT, a CSRT pin, and a one year CSRT membership.
FORMPapadakos Student Poster Presentation Award:
This award was established in 2011 to recognize the highest quality education for respiratory therapy students.
This award is sponsored by Dr. Peter Papadakos, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester; Departments of Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, and former member of the CJRT Editorial Board.
This award is presented for the best student poster presentation. Presentations are marked in part for originality, technical accuracy and creativity and visual appeal.
The winning entrant receives a cash prize of $500.
Distinguished & Honorary Awards
Distinguished Life Membership
The conferral of Life Membership represents the highest form of recognition by one’s peers, and is accordingly classified under the CSRT Distinguished Life Membership category. A person who is a CSRT Registered Member and has rendered distinguished services to the society may be honoured by the society to this classification of distinguished membership.
The number of Distinguished Life Members at any given time shall not exceed fifteen.
List of Distinguished Life Members
Dr. Michael B. Andrews
Denny Beaudin
Debbie Cain
Charles Frank Frew
Eleanor R. Lord
Ian Reid
Mohamed Shariff
Honorary Life Membership
Honorary Life Membership is conferred upon individuals who have provided meritorious service to the CSRT. This award will be conferred at the President’s banquet during the Annual Education Conference in years where there is a recipient.
A person who is not otherwise eligible for registered membership in the CSRT, or is an industry partner. An individual who has rendered distinguished service to the profession of respiratory therapy or to the CSRT, may be honoured by the society to this classification of Honorary Life Membership.