To the OC Community:
Flags have been lowered at Okanagan College campuses in memory of former Okanagan University College President Dr. Katy Bindon who passed away on Sept. 9.
Bindon served as President of OUC from 1997 to 2004.
During her tenure, she oversaw significant growth across the institution, including obtaining recognition from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), as well as other federal research agencies. Under her stewardship external research funding grew from virtually nothing to $6.8 million in 2004-2005. She also played a role in the continued growth and diversification of the College’s program array.
“Katy was a respected educational leader and friend, who brought a significant depth of experience and a wealth of new ideas to her role as Okanagan University College’s President,” says current Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton, who served as part of the committee that was involved in hiring her in 1997. “Her dedication to building more access to higher education in this region for more people was unwavering. The contributions she made to the development of post secondary education in this region are important. They form a critical part of the development of the post secondary landscape that we see today. She knew – and helped others realize – that a community-connected post-secondary institution is one of the vital pillars of economic, social and cultural development. She was an intelligent visionary leader who will be greatly missed.”
Bindon was born in Toronto and she earned her bachelor's degree (Hons) in History at Sir George Williams University in 1972, followed by a master's degree in 1974 and a Ph.D. in 1979 from Queen's University.
She began her career in post-secondary teaching history at Concordia in 1978. She was appointed Principal of the School of Community and Public Affairs/Ecoles des Affaires Communautaires et Publiques in 1981.
In 1986, Bindon was appointed Vice-President (Academic) of Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. In 1991, Bindon accepted the position of Principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, the West Coast campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Following her time at the College, Bindon went on to serve as president of the Royal University for Women in Bahrain. In recent years she has been associated with an international scholarship program emanating from Oman.
She is survived by her son Jeremy, his wife Katie, four grandchildren, her sister Ann and brothers Richard and Peter and their families. Details about any service will be shared as they become available.
Members of the OC community wishing to leave remembrances of their time working with Bindon, or condolences for her family, can do so here.
Dr. Katy Bindon Scholarship
A Scholarship Fund in Katy’s name was established in 2005 in honor of her tenure as President of OUC and continues to provide support to single parents who are residents of the region as they transition from OC to UBC Okanagan to complete a degree. If you want to contribute to the fund, you can either call or contact Richard at the OC Foundation (ext. 4772, email RMcAdam@okanagan.bc.ca) or donate online and specify the donation is for Bursaries and Scholarships and indicate “Dr. Katy Bindon Scholarship” in the message field, as well as indicate the donation in memory of Katy Bindon in the Dedication Information field.