Ottawa, June 29, 2020 – Niagara College President Dan Patterson was honoured by his peers of the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Presidents’ Leadership Network who named him as the 2020 recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. He is recognized not only for his leadership at Niagara College, but for his outstanding contribution to Canada’s post-secondary system as a whole, throughout his distinguished career.
Dan Patterson has been Niagara College’s president since 1995 and announced his retirement earlier this year. Over his 25-year tenure as president, he has overseen a dramatic transformation of Niagara College. Enrolment has almost tripled – from 4,500 to 13,000 full time students who come from more than 90 countries.
He has also provided national leadership for the entire college sector, sitting on the CICan Board of Directors since 2014, as well as on several other committees promoting education, economic growth and innovation in the Niagara region and beyond. He has helped support many of his peers as faculty and a mentor through CICan’s Leadership Institutes.
“As one of our longest sitting presidents, Dan Patterson has left an indelible mark on Niagara College, but also on the entire network of Canadian colleges and institutes”, noted CICan President and CEO, Denise Amyot. “Under his leadership, Niagara College has grown into a vibrant institution that has both strong local and national impacts. He has had an extraordinary career, but he stood out for his contagious enthusiasm and his generosity when it came to supporting his peers and sharing his knowledge and expertise with others.”
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
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For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Tel. : 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter : @CollegeCan