Northern College president-CEO Fred Gibbons has announced he’ll retire from the position in June 2020.
Gibbons has worked at the college for more than 25 years, serving as president since 2009.
“There is something very special about working for a community college, because you are at the heart of transforming the lives of your students whether young or mature. Students come to us with dreams and ambitions and our role is to prepare them for success and to realize those aspirations,” Gibbons said in a Nov. 27 news release announcing his departure.
“As part of that process, I have had the privilege of working with some very special people and a very dedicated group of staff who put students first, the results of which saw Northern College ranked number one provincially for employer satisfaction with its graduates.”
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During his career at the college, Gibbons oversaw a number of major construction projects, including the Centre of Excellence for Trades in Technology (2010), the East End Family Health Team facilities (2010), and the Integrated Emergency Services Complex (2018).In addition, the Mining Innovation Hub is expected to open in the spring of 2020.
Gibbons additionally has served on a number of local boards and committees, including as president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, as director on the Timmins & District Hospital Board, and as chair of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation.
Provincially, Gibbons has chaired Colleges Ontario and the Committee of Presidents, as well as additional provincial and national organizations.
“On behalf of the board of governors and the entire Northern College community, I offer our sincere congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gibbons for his tireless dedication over the past 10 years as president and CEO,” said George Pirie, chair of Northern College’s board of governors.
“Under President Gibbons’ leadership, we have seen the college expand and thrive. We have also seen the creation of foundational partnerships with school boards, and Indigenous organizations and communities.”
Northern College maintains a presence in Timmins, Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, and Toronto, and has international education partnerships in Toronto and China.
There was no word on when the search would begin for Gibbons’ replacement.
