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Northern College

PRESENT:

Chair Walsh, called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the last meeting of the term. President Penner shared that last week’s finding of the undocumented remains of 215 Indigenous children at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in BC is a painful reminder of the poli

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Referenced from: Board of Governors

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Tuesday, June 8, 2021 1:00 p.m.

PRESENT:

Board :

  • D. Walsh (Chair)

  • C. Stringer (First Vice-Chair)

  • D. Rizzuto (Second Vice-Chair)

  • A. Penner (President & CEO)

  • P. McConnell

  • C. Reasbeck

  • H. Studholme

  • G. Waghorn

  • L. Kozak

  • M. Fahimian

  • D. Lessard

  • J. Harrington

  • L. Howe

  • P. Fortier, Executive Assistant

  • D. Nankervis, Executive Assistant

  • M. Dumas, V.P. Corporate Services

  • A. Klooster, V.P. Academic & Student Success

  • C. McEachern, Ex. Director, Student Services, Institutional Research & Registrar

  • C. Heavens, Ex. Director, Community, Business Dev. & Employment Services

  • S. Hunter, Director, Marketing, Communications and External Relations

Regrets :

  • J. Molyneaux

  • M. Metatawabin

  • L. Trapper

  • C. Ellis

1. CALL TO ORDER

1.1 Remarks from the Chair

Chair Walsh, called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the last meeting of the term. President Penner shared that last week’s finding of the undocumented remains of 215 Indigenous children at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in BC is a painful reminder of the policy of assimilation that operated in Canada for more than 100 years and the cultural genocide that devastated Indigenous communities, families and lives. We must all ensure this tragedy is not repeated or forgotten . Out of respect for the children, President Penner invited the Board to bow their heads and observe 215 seconds of silence.

Staff:

NORTHERN COLLEGE

BOARDOFGOVERNORSMEETINGNO.455 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Zoom

1.2 Acknowledgment of Territory

The Chair acknowledged the lands of the Ojibway, Cree, Algonquin and Metis Peoples that our campuses occupy. The First Nation communities now located on these lands include Beaverhouse, Flying Post, Wahgoshig, Taykwa Tagamou, Mattagami, Matachewan, Temagami, Timiskaming, Moose Cree, Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Attawapiskat and Weenusk.

2. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Chair Walsh called for disclosures of actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest. Governor John Harrington declared a conflict with items 5.4.1 and 5.4.2 Approval for ReRoofing Contracts, as well as item 5.5 Governor Appointments. Governor Carly Stringer has a conflict with item 5.7 College Legal Representation.

3. AGENDA

Item 6.3 Sexual Violence Reporting was added and item 7.2 Key Performance Indicators was removed.

Moved by:

J. Harrington

Motion

Seconded by:

M. Fahimian

38-06-21

THAT the agenda for the Meeting No. 455 of the Board of Governors of Northern College of Applied Arts & Technology dated June 8, 2021 be adopted as amended.

Carried

The Chair asked if any governor wished to comment on or remove any items from the Consent Agenda. There were no requests to remove items.

  • 4.1 Receive Board Committee Minutes
  • 4.2 Program Advisory Committee Appointments
  • 4.3 Program Advisory Meeting Schedule
  • 4.4 2020-21 Board of Governors’ Work Plan
  • 4.5 2020-21 Board Goals
  • 4.6 Correspondence and Information Report
  • 4.1 Receive Board Committee Minutes

Moved by:

G. Waghorn

Motion

Seconded by:

P. McConnell

39-06-21

THAT Consent Agenda items be approved, including all applicable motions.

THAT Board Committee Minutes be received.

4.2 Program Advisory Committee Appointments

THAT the Board of Governors approve appointments to Program Advisory Committees as presented: Beth Nowak, Mackenzie Carrier, Chantal Mann, Seamus Murphy, Paul Jalbert, and Angele Desormeau.

Carried

5. DISCUSSION ITEMS

5.1 Approval of Minutes of Meeting #454 held May 11, 2021

Moved by:

H. Studholme

Motion

Seconded by:

D. Rizzuto

40-06-21

THAT the Board of Governors approve the minutes of meeting #454 held May 11, 2021, as presented. Carried

5.2 Approval of the 2020-2021 Annual Report

President Audrey Penner thanked all of management for their work and accomplishments during a very challenging year and invited members of the Executive Team to report on some of the many initiatives achieved over the past term.

Executive Director Christine Heavens highlighted initiatives achieved under the Accessibility Strategic Direction, starting with Student Service and Advising Services who instituted a universal approach to meeting students’ needs with virtual student orientation sessions, outreach, boot-camps, and mental health support. Ms. Heavens also spoke about the success of the Skills Catalyst program to deliver sector-specific skills training through flexible, hybrid delivery; employer and job-seeker workforce development surveys that garnered great responses and provided key information for meeting the training and development needs of individuals and industry; and a new taskforce on equity, diversity and inclusion whose work will continue to define a robust portrait of Northern as an ideal college for students, faculty and staff.

V.P. Aaron Klooster reported on Signature Programs highlighting an MoU with Sandvik Mining with enhanced training for existing battery electric vehicle technicians, and to meet the growing need for skilled workers in this sector. Mr. Klooster also highlighted an innovative and flexible approach to the Haileybury Campus’ Mining Engineering Technician program with the launch of its new January Jump Start initiative, resulting in increased enrolment. The Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technician program also innovated with a newly established articulation with Lambton College for graduates to pursue their Technologist diploma. Two female graduates from the Kirkland Lake Welding program garnered prestigious awards and were celebrated in the Weld Magazine in 2020. In closing, V.P. Klooster informed the Board about physical upgrades and curriculum redesign made to the Computer Engineering Technician Program making it more accessible to students and providing a new pathway to a bachelor’s degree, and refreshed curriculum for School of Veterinary Sciences courses.

V.P. Mitch Dumas focused on Northern Experience achievements, including the Board of Governors’ hiring of our new President, Dr. Audrey Penner, and the launch of the college’s new Strategic Plan in January 2021. A new 3-year Academic Plan was released and will help to oversee the college’s innovative approaches to learning, curriculum, student life and enrolment growth, in the context of a post-Covid environment. A great partnership was developed with the City of Timmins and Friends of the Porcupine River Watershed to improve the conditions in and around Porcupine Lake. An innovative approach to college tours and virtual fairs was instituted for a truly digital reflection of Northern’s four campuses linked directly to Google Maps and embedded on the college website. A very successful virtual graduation was held in June 2020 and another will be held this June 11 th as well. Mr. Dumas concluded by highlighting investments in state-of-the-art equipment for the Innovation Hub that will enhance its innovative research and development capacity.

Executive Director Cam McEachern reported on Indigenous Perspectives initiatives indicating that equipment is being readied to be installed at the Moose Factory Trades Shop. Preliminary work has been undertaken to identify a location for the Sacred Garden at the Timmins Campus, along with identifying key collaborators on what will be a model and unique teaching tool. Mr. McEachern expects great success with both initiatives in the coming year. A graduate profile document was developed in the winter and is currently undergoing a formal review and approval process. Lastly, the college played an instrumental role in supporting last February’s virtual Great Moon Gathering conference via Zoom, which attracted educators from across the province and facilitated wider discussion and considerable leadership in that area.

President Penner complimented the team for their success through an exceptional year and indicated that we will incorporate best practices discovered, moving forward. There were no questions from the Board.

On behalf of the Board Chair Walsh congratulated college staff for their contributions and achievements this past year.

| Moved by: | P. McConnell | Motion | |

Source: https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/BoardMeeting455.pdf