Indigenous 
St. Lawrence College (SLC) is pleased to announce its 2026 Premier's Award nominee is Christine Bruce, a 1997 graduate of SLC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program and a nationally recognized leader in laboratory medicine.
Christine Bruce is Senior Director of the Laboratory Medicine Program at University Health Network (UHN) and Executive Director, Regionalization – Northwest Ontario Laboratory Service. Beginning as a frontline laboratory professional, she has built a career focused on improving access to diagnostics, advancing laboratory medicine, and strengthening Canada’s healthcare workforce.
Following the pandemic, Bruce developed an innovative laboratory support model that helped sustain critical diagnostic and pathology services across 34 Northern Ontario hospitals facing staffing shortages and potential closures, ensuring rural, remote, and Indigenous c ommunities could continue accessing specialized services such as pathology expertise, molecular diagnostics, and cancer testing closer to home. She has also helped address workforce shortages by creating 80 new student placements, developing career pathways for laboratory assistants, and contributing to more than 60 net new laboratory medicine positions. Her commitment to innovation continues through advancements in digital pathology, molecular testing, whole genome sequencing, and AI-enabled diagnostics, helping expand access to specialized laboratory expertise across geographic and organizational boundaries.
“Christine’s career demonstrates the power of a college education to create meaningful change in communities and across the healthcare system,” said Glenn Vollebregt, SLC President and CEO. “Her leadership, innovation, and commitment to improving access to care embody the very best of SLC. We are proud to have Christine represent SLC as our 2026 Premier’s Awards nominee.”
Bruce credits her college education with providing the hands-on technical knowledge, problem-solving skills and confidence that prepared her to contribute immediately to the healthcare workforce. After graduating, she began her career at a small rural laboratory in Bancroft, Ontario, an experience that gave her a strong understanding of community-based healthcare delivery and helped shape her commitment to improving access for underserved communities.
Her achievements have earned numerous honours, including an Honorary Diploma from St. Lawrence College in 2022, the A.R. Shearer Pride of the Profession Award from the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science in 2024, and the 2026 Trillium Award from the Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario.
“I am truly honoured to receive this award and proud to represent St. Lawrence College,” said Bruce. “This recognition reflects not only my own journey, but the work of so many talented and dedicated people I’ve had the privilege of working with throughout my career. I’m grateful for the foundation SLC provided and for the opportunity to contribute to stronger, more accessible laboratory services for patients and communities across Ontario and around the globe.”