By Bill Best
Autumn has returned to Northern Ontario. The trees are turning colours, the wind is blowing cooler every day and, most exciting for all of us at Cambrian, students are back in class. Apart from graduation, this is truly one of my favourite times of the year.
And, this year, is proving exceptional.
At Cambrian College this fall, there’s an energy in the air – enrolment is up, and more than 4,100 students are busy preparing for an exciting future. They are supported by dedicated faculty and staff who are working hard to make sure Cambrian College continues to be the best place to learn and work, and for employers to find the best new hires in Ontario.
But Cambrian is not alone. In fact, my colleagues at Laurentian University and Collège Boréal share this very same sentiment. Today, across Sudbury’s post-secondary landscape, there is an unprecedented sense of teamwork and collaboration. We may be competitors, but we also know that together we are stronger, and our students and our community appreciate a partnership that continues to grow.
We have heard it said that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
The recent series of funding announcements in support of Greater Sudbury’s three post-secondary institutions over the last month certainly reflect that age-old adage.
This fall, each of Greater Sudbury’s post-secondary schools have been able to work effectively with both the provincial and federal governments to secure an infusion of $40 million into our community – funding that will ensure Greater Sudbury is a post-secondary destination of choice, and a place that will provide a whole new generation of learners with a healthy start to their careers.
The investment made by the federal and provincial governments is jaw-dropping. Funding of this proportion is historic in our sector, and doesn’t simply arrive on our doorsteps.
It requires a vision and plan that will see our schools prosper, grow and benefit our students. It requires tireless advocacy. It requires members of Parliament and provincial parliament to support, convince and, at times, fight for shrinking dollars that are available to post-secondary intuitions during difficult economic times.
But most importantly, it takes teamwork. Each of us working at every level – from Ottawa, from Toronto and in Sudbury. Together, and thanks to MPs Lefebvre and Serre, and Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, we are more than the sum of our parts.
I am energized to continue working together toward an exciting future, and to seeing Cambrian College, Collège Boréal and Laurentian University grow, our students prosper and our great city succeed.
Bill Best is the president of Cambrian College in Greater Sudbury.
