OCNews

On March 24, the OC community, friends, family and colleagues from across the country tuned in for Jim Hamilton’s retirement celebration. The event took place via Zoom and took attendees on a journey through Jim’s 41 years of association with Okanagan College.

Regional Dean Phil Ashman emceed the event and chatted with Jim as video messages from past and current colleagues and associates played. These included recorded remarks from B.C. Premier John Horgan, Westbank First Nation Chief and former OC Board of Governors Chair and Vice Chair Christopher Derickson, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Denise Amyot, Provost and Vice President Academic Dr. Andrew Hay, Associate Vice President External and Strategic Initiatives Allan Coyle, donor and former Cabinet Minister and MLA Rick Thorpe, OC Business alumnus Drew Vincent, former VP Finance and Administration Robert Eby, former Regional Dean John Lent, and Alice Mansell who consulted in the transition from OUC to the creation of Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan.

Attendees had a chance to hear live addresses by Gloria Morgan, Chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors and incoming President Dr. Neil Fassina, along with closing remarks from Jim.

The evening culminated with a slideshow of photos from a commemorative photobook presented to Jim as a gift to mark his dedication and many years of service to OC. The book contains images of key milestones and memories spanning the past five decades.

Watch the event recording here. Click here to view comments from attendees.