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Emergency management grad students win at annual CHRNet symposium

Two graduate students enrolled in the Master of Disaster & Emergency Management (MDEM) degree program won awards at the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network annual symposium.

Catherine Kenny (left) and Zalma Sahar show off their awards

Catherine Kenny and Zalma Sahar were honoured in Montreal in late 2016. They both won the CHRNet Larry Pearce Education Award, placing second and third, respectively.

"We are very proud of our graduate students from the Disaster & Emergency Management Program, two of whom won awards at the 13th Annual Canadian Risk & Hazards Network Conference,” says David Etkin, MDEM graduate program director. “Congratulations Catherine Kenny and Zalma Sahar! You are the future of the emergency management profession and exemplify the best qualities of those who work in this field.”

The education award recognizes Larry Pearce’s extensive contribution to disaster risk reduction in Canada. Award recipients must demonstrate the capacity to be leaders in making significant contributions to the disaster risk reduction field. First place winners receive $1000, second place $750 and third place $500.

Kenny was also one of five people to receive a CHRNet Symposium Travel Bursary. The $500 bursary is granted to students and emerging professionals in the disaster and emergency management field to reduce the cost of attending the annual symposium. The bursaries also encourage and promote research, participation and collaboration among Canadian disaster risk management professionals.