Two new members for Okanagan College Board

By College Relations | November 12, 2019
           

Okanagan College Media Release

The provincial government recently named Okanagan residents Karley Scott and Dale Safinuk to Okanagan College’s Board for a one-year term, ending July 31, 2020.

Scott has her own business, Karley Scott Consulting, where she drafts law, policy and strategic plans with Indigenous communities and works as an arbitrator, reconciliation coach and carries out Indigenous awareness training. Scott also works with the Parole Board of Canada, participating in hearings in correctional institutions and granting or denying parole. Safinuk is a financial services executive with more than 20 years leadership experience, most recently as District Vice President of TD Bank Financial Group.

Both Safinuk and Scott have served on several community-focused boards and agencies. Scott has been with the boards of the Metis Community Services Society, as well as the local and provincial John Howard Society. Safinuk has served on the Ch’Nook Indigenous Business Education, the United Way of Kamloops, and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Scott and Safinuk replace departing Board members Charity Gerbrandt (who served six years on the Board) and David Porteous (who served a year on the Board).

“Karley and Dale bring extensive experience to the Board and a commitment to community service in their new roles,” says Board Chair Chris Derickson. “They will be valuable additions to our Board.”

“I believe in the power of education and it has been a large part of my life. I pursued post-secondary education at a young age and then returned later in life, after having my children, and I know how fortunate I am to have had this opportunity. Providing opportunities for post-secondary education is critical to our region, whether for young people or for those who are changing careers,” observes Scott. “I’m excited to be helping direct the development of an institution that has a great reputation for access and student success.”

“In my professional life, I saw the direct benefit of Okanagan College’s programs, hiring grads for a number of positions,” notes Safinuk. “I know the quality of the educational offerings and am looking forward to serving on the Board of Governors.”

Several current members of the Board of Governors were reappointed to their positions, including Bob McGowan, Tina Lee, Juliette Cunningham and Shelley Cook. McGowan’s term expires next July, while Lee, Cunningham and Cook have terms that expire in 2021. Other government appointed members of the Board include Derickson and Gloria Morgan, the Board’s Vice-Chair.

Elected members of the board include Devin Rubadeau (representing faculty), Blake Edwards (representing support staff),
Sophie Chair and Neeraj Sharma (representing students). Ex officio members of the Board include President Jim Hamilton, and Education Council Chair Chris Newitt.

 




TOP STORIES

RELATED STORIES

Sign up for weekly stories




Trending

Communications student standing outside the Centre for Learning building at the Kelowna campus
Meet Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores

April 4, 2023

Q: What's your name? A: Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores Q: What's your hometown? A: Quito – Ecuador – South America Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College? A: Well, I studied for a bachelor's degree in Law in Ecuador. Then, I worked for a while and got my Master's degree in Government and Culture of Organizations at the University of Pamplona.  When I returned to my country, professional opportunities arose for me. I mean, a Master's degree improved my career. Spain helped ...

Read more...
Animation student
Artistic students design future careers in animation

June 7, 2022

Grads of Okanagan College’s Animation Diploma program are finding their skills have never been in higher demand. First- and second-year students showed samples of their artwork and demo reels to industry partners at OC’s annual Animation Industry Night on May 17. “Lots of the work was very professional,” says James Wood, Chair of Okanagan College’s Animation Department. “Our program is short, but intense. The instructors make sure the students have a realistic understanding of what they need do to succeed in a competitive and demanding...

Read more...
JAMK campus
OC Business students embrace international study again

May 30, 2022

Business students from Okanagan College are once again able to travel to Jyväskylä, Finland to experience an international summer school at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences.  Finland’s education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.  OC Business Professor Blair Baldwin, who has taught Services Design at JAMK for several summers, says working in Finland has helped him innovate and create new teaching methodologies. “JAMK employs experiential learning across its curriculum,” he says. “They stress cri...

Read more...
Enactus 2022
Enactus Okanagan College tops the field, sets sights on national championships

May 27, 2022

Okanagan College students will once again be competing for the Canadian title after qualifying for the Enactus National Exposition with a first-place finish in their league during the semi-final round. Enactus teams at post-secondary institutions across Canada competed virtually earlier this month, and Okanagan College scooped up top position in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, and runner-up in the Scotiabank Climate Action Challenge for the Unusually Good Food Co. project. It also included national runner-up in Shaw and RBC accelerator...

Read more...