Ottawa, July 29, 2024 — Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. The new directors were elected during CICan’s Annual General Meeting on June 25, 2024.
Dr. Gail Beck, Clinical Director of the Youth Psychiatry Program at The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, joins the CICan Board with a distinguished career dedicated to community well-being. Notable leadership roles include Governor and Chair of the Board of Governors at Algonquin College, along with senior positions within medical associations, where she has spearheaded high-profile initiatives, such as raising $10 million for medical student bursaries. Dr. Beck’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Order of Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Federation of Medical Women of Canada’s May Cohen Award.
CICan also welcomes Alayne Crawford, Associate Partner at IBM Canada, who has extensive experience in government relations and strategic leadership. Her distinguished tenure at IBM and previous roles in government and advocacy, including past president of the Government Relations Institute of Canada, underscore her deep expertise in public policy and corporate governance. Recently appointed to the Board of Governors at La Cité, Alayne is a staunch supporter of the college sector and fostering youth success in the workplace. She actively mentors young professionals at IBM and throughout the industry, having been honoured herself as a young professional with PR Canada’s Top 30 under 30 Award for Government Relations in 2016.
Dr. Beck and Ms. Crawford’s appointments will help strengthen CICan’s Board as it provides strategic oversight to CICan’s new strategic directions as outlined in its recent Roadmap to 2026.
“I am honoured to welcome these exceptional community leaders to our Board,” said CICan President and CEO Pari Johnston. ” Gail and Alayne are committed champions of the college sector, with a passion for skill development, innovation, and community well-being. Their diverse experience and expertise will be pivotal in steering us through a rapidly changing landscape as we work to fulfill the current and future needs and aspirations of our 135 members and their communities.”
CICan’s Annual General Meeting also provided an opportunity to express gratitude to outgoing Board members Don Bureaux, President of Nova Scotia Community College and Carmen Abela, Founder and Managing Director of WindReach Consulting Services Inc., for their invaluable dedication and service. CICan also took the opportunity to reflect on the association’s accomplishments over the past year, as detailed in its 2023-2024 Impact Report.
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About Colleges and Institutes Canada
CICan is the national and international voice of Canada’s largest post-secondary education network. It advocates, builds capacity, and drives knowledge to strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics to meet Canada’s biggest challenges. With more than 95% of Canadians living within 50 km of a member institution, and thanks to its extensive reach around the globe, CICan works to future-proof communities in Canada and abroad.
We respectfully acknowledge that CICan’s offices in Ottawa are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.
For more information:
Katrina King
Senior Digital Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
Email: kking@collegesinstitutes.ca
Twitter: @CollegeCan