For Immediate Release: September 10, 2004
Canadore and Georgian Sign Historic Agreement
Canadore College and Georgian College signed an historic agreement on Friday, September 10, 2004, which provides Canadore with full responsibility for providing college programs and services to the Parry Sound area.
“We are very excited to be the official college in the Parry Sound area,” said Canadore College President Barbara Taylor. “This extension of service to Parry Sound is a natural progression for us. It clearly fits within our Canadore 2012 vision of working in collaboration with our communities to focus on excelling as a community college, as we meet the needs of Northern community sustainability and economic development.”
Taylor was joined at the signing by Georgian College President Brian Tamblyn, representatives from both colleges and guests from the Parry Sound area. The event took place at Canadore’s newest campus, at 26 James Street in Parry Sound, the former Georgian College location.
“The two colleges signed a strategic alliance agreement in February, 2001, and the decision to transfer the campus to Canadore flowed from ongoing discussions between the two institutions,” said Brian Tamblyn, President of Georgian College. “Georgian is concentrating its efforts and resources on Muskoka south to the GTA, its overseas operations and a rapidly growing Institute of University Partnerships and Advanced Studies.”
“This agreement between Canadore College and Georgian College is a true win-win arrangement, as it supports both colleges’ strategic directions, while ultimately expanding the range of programs available to the residents of Parry Sound and surrounding areas.”
Canadore has indicated that its top priorities are its students and its communities, and that they will be working with Georgian to ensure that there are no disruptions to students currently enrolled in Georgian College programs.
Current levels of programming will be maintained over the next 12 to 18 months, including courses offered through Contact North/Contact Nord.
Canadore is already working with local municipalities, First Nations, private and public sector stakeholders, to plan full-time training opportunities for the Parry Sound district.
“Community leaders and representatives have told us that they want to work with us to meet the needs of the Parry Sound area,” said Barbara Taylor, President of Canadore College. “We have identified excellent opportunities within the area, to slowly build a sustainable level of programming with particular emphasis in skilled trades, hospitality tourism, and arts programming.”
Canadore will also be offering several new continuing education courses this fall, including:
·HTML Programming
·Conversational Spanish
·Teambuilding and Leadership
·Airbrake Endorsement
·WHMIS Orientation
·Digital Photography
·Specialty Desserts...Holiday Baking Done Early!
·Christmas Centrepiece Design
Background
In November 2003, the Canadore College Board of Governors directed President Barbara Taylor to investigate the feasibility of replacing Georgian College as the primary provider of college programming and services in the area.
Over the November 2003 to February 2004 period, a series of community and stakeholder meetings were held in Parry Sound. Canadore College representatives worked with Parry Sound area Mayors and Reeves, First Nations, the Near North District School Board, economic development organizations and concerned citizens to review community expectations and to determine if the communities wished to work with Canadore.
College staff also consulted with Georgian College, to establish a clear picture of the current financial status of the Parry Sound campus and to determine its sustainability at current levels of activity, as well as with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
At their April 20, 2004 board meeting, the Canadore College Board of Governors gave College President Barbara Taylor the go-ahead to extend service to the Parry Sound area. Georgian College had been providing service to the area and has been working with Canadore to transition responsibility of the Parry Sound campus over the last several months.
