Trent University President Leo Groarke Announces Intention to Step Down From Presidency

Trent University President Dr. Leo Groarke to step down from his presidency as of June 2024, deciding not to pursue a third term as president.

photo courtesy of trent university.

Dr. Leo Groarke has announced that he will not pursue a third term as president, and has instead decided to conclude his tenure as president and vice chancellor of Trent University at the end of June 2024. He will be leaving a legacy of accomplishments that have advanced Trent’s academic, administrative and community profile, says Trent.

“A university president and vice chancellor wears many hats, and President Groarke has donned them all,” said Debra Cooper Burger, chair of Trent University’s Board of Governors. “Over the past decade, the postsecondary sector has evolved in the face of both opportunities and challenges. President Groarke, through careful, critical, and compassionate leadership, has helped Trent University flourish as an academic institution, here in our local communities in Peterborough and Durham GTA, as well as globally. We are confident in the future of Trent, due in large part to President Groarke’s work ensuring a strong and healthy position for our University.”

Among the many highlights, President Groarke has led unprecedented year-over-year undergraduate and graduate enrolment growth, establishing a strong financial basis for the future of the University across both its Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses. Other fiscal successes have included a groundbreaking inaugural debenture, program development, the careful fiscal management of the institution, and, most recently, Trent’s partnership with the University Pension Plan established by the University of Guelph, Queen’s University, and the University of Toronto.

Emphasizing student success through the interdisciplinary education that Trent values, President Groarke spearheaded the launch of four Schools of Study at Trent—focused on the Study of Canada, Environment, Business, and Indigenous Studies. More than 20 undergraduate and 13 new graduate programs have also launched during President Groarke’s tenure. They include: Conservation Biology, Social Work, Data Science, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, the Medical Professional Stream, and Child & Youth Studies, as well as Master of Instrumental Chemical Analysis, Master of Nursing, Master of Management and Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Social Research.

Other initiatives have included creative international partnerships like the Law & Arts/Business, Chemical Engineering dual degrees and medical science programs with Swansea University, as well as innovative agreements for medical pathways with several institutions in the Caribbean.Recent initiatives include: the launch of paid co-op streams in more than 20 academic programs across the Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences; the creation of the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership; the addition of eight prestigious Canada Research Chairs; and a major expansion of experiential learning opportunities and study abroad programming. During President Groarke’s two terms, international enrolment at Trent has grown from 7 per cent to 15.5 per cent of University enrolment.

“I have been very fortunate to work with a strong Executive team, supportive Boards of Governors, and positive labour and student unions,” Dr. Groarke commented. “Together it has allowed Trent to evolve in ways that are good for our students, our researchers, and our communities. I am inspired when I see the hustle and bustle on our two expanding campuses, note the growth of the reputation of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and witness the breadth of our community engagements. There is always more that can be accomplished and I hope to contribute more in the year to come, and then as a professor when I pass the torch on to a new president on June 30, 2024.”

President Groarke has made connections with alumni and a culture of philanthropy key priorities during his two terms. He has overseen the successful completion of the $56.8 million Unleash the Potential Campaign, a $6.6 million Campaign for Trent Durham GTA, and recently launched the University’s most ambitious campaign to date – the $100 million Campaign for Momentous Change. These campaigns have added dynamic new spaces to Trent’s campus landscapes – including the Student Centre, Forensic Crime Scene Facility and Trent Durham’s residence and academic building. A personal philanthropic supporter of the University, President Groarke established the Louis and Paul Groarke Philosophy Endowment.

Equity, diversity, inclusion has been another priority during Dr. Groarke’s presidency. He has continued to emphasize Trent’s role as a leader in reconciliation and Indigenous education; prioritized the health and well-being of students, the campus and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic; supported initiatives stemming from an anti-racism task force report; and emphasized positive labour relations between administration and Trent’s unions.

Trent University’s continued ranking as the #1 undergraduate university in Ontario for 12 years in a row is further reflection of President Groarke’s contributions to the institution’s growing reputation nationally and internationally, and testimony to his leadership and pursuit of excellence for the institution and its staff, faculty, and students.

Celebrations to honour President Groarke at the end of his term in June 2024 will be planned and announced at a later date. The Board is currently developing the new Presidential Mandate, and details regarding the search for Trent’s ninth president and vice-chancellor will be shared as they are developed. Updates will be shared online.

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Roy Weirenga Becomes New CAO For Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario

Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO) has introduced Roy Wierenga as their Chief Administrative Officer beginning May 8, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

Weirenga is bringing 35 years of student transportation experience to the position according to a press release.

The company is responsible for planning school bus routes for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir schools.

“I have always felt so fortunate and blessed to be able to work in a profession that supports students and education," said Wierenga. "When we do our jobs well in transportation, and students arrive safely and on time at school, this has such a positive impact on student success.”

The position is a bit of a homecoming since he began his career working in Peterborough for Trentway-Wagar Bus Lines and then as Manager of Transportation for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. Weirenga was involved in the establishment of STSCO in 2005 before accepting a position with the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) as General Manager.

In the past decade, Wierenga has been employed with Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR), working with industry and government committees that examined changes for improving student transportation across Ontario.

“I am thrilled that my journey in student transportation has now brought me back home to Peterborough where my career started many years ago," said Wierenga. "I look forward to working with the team at STSCO, our member school boards and bus operators, to find solutions that will ensure a safe and sustainable transportation network for our students and school communities going into the future."

Wierenga will replace long-serving CAO Joel Sloggett, who will be retiring from STSCO after 18 years.

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STSCO CAO Joel Sloggett Announces Retirement After 18 Years of Busing Consortium

After serving an 18-year tenure as Chief Administrative Officer for the Student Transportation Services of Central Ontario (STSCO), Joel Sloggett is retiring from the position, announced by the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNC) on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

STSCO is responsible for planning school bus routes for Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, PVNC and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir schools. He is retiring from his position in early May.

“I have appreciated working with many bus and taxi company managers over the years and interacting with several thousand drivers. I always enjoyed being challenged with issues and problems which require careful analysis,” said Sloggett. “Supporting the education of children by getting them to school ready to learn and home after an enjoyable day has been a big motivator over these many years.”

Sloggett started at PVNC in 1996 as a supervisor of planning and assessment. He was promoted to the Board’s Manager of Planning and Transportation role, which he held from 1996 to 2005 when STSCO was established and he was hired as CAO to oversee transportation planning for all three local school boards.

Sloggett served as President of the Ontario Association of School Business Officials Association (OASBO) in 2009-10 and was awarded the International Association of School Business Officials Pinnacle Award in 2010 for business operations leadership, recognizing STSCO’s innovative bus company performance monitoring system.

Sloggett plans to travel internationally and perform home renovations upon his retirement. 

“Every day has been a fast-paced, action-packed one in school busing and I will miss that,” said Sloggett.

An announcement introducing the new STSCO CAO will be released next week.

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Trent Leasing University-Owned Land to RDC to Build Student Housing Totaling Roughly 215 Beds on Water Street

Trent University has leased property for Residence Development Corporation (RDC) to build and operate an upper-year student housing building with approximately 215 beds near the Symons Campus in Peterborough announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Trent University.

The land is four-acres on Water Street, adjacent to and south of Tim Hortons. The housing complex is projected to open in late 2024. RDC also built University residence units further north on Water Street at Nassau Mills Road, on land leased from the University.

“We are thrilled to announce this new project by RDC to build additional student housing. RDC has a proven track record of building and operating safe, quality student housing,and this development will provide more housing options for upper-year students close to the Symons Campus,” said Julie Davis, vice-president of external relations and development. “There is a need for more housing in Peterborough and this new student housing project is just one of the ways Trent is working to help alleviate some of the housing pressures in our community.”

The land is already been zoned for residential use. RDC will build and operate the three-storey townhouse-style building.

“RDC has been working with the University since 2008 as we began the process of building out the Water Street student housing development,” said Brian Freeman, senior vice president of strategy and development at Campus Living Centres. “We have worked closely with a number of campus stakeholders since then and are proud to be part of the Trent community,”

Plans are underway to build a new residence on the Symons Campus which will be followed by a full replacement and expansion of Otonabee College, adding more than 700 new beds to the University’s current complement of residence spaces according to Trent. The University-Integrated Seniors Village will be anchored by a 224-bed not-for-profit long-term care home expected to break ground in 2024.

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Fleming College Hosting New Prospective Students In Spring Open House This Saturday

Fleming College is looking to attract new prospective students as their Sutherland, Frost and Haliburton campuses are hosting their Spring Open House this Saturday.

Photo courtesy of FLeming College.

The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It features guided tours while guests can learn about the services offered to students according to Fleming College. Information is available regarding financial aid options, the application process and life in residence. Instructors and teachers will be on-site to give information regarding their classes and answer any questions gusts may have.

The Sutherland Campus has displays and demonstrations in various campus labs, classrooms and the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre and the varsity department will be hosting games like basketball, Plinko and spike ball.

Frost Campus features state-of-the-art simulators where guests can catch some live tree climbing and Loggersports demonstrations. There is also a raffle for one guest to win the opportunity to hit the detonator button during the campus’s wildly popular blasting techniques demonstration.

The Haliburton Open House features live demonstrations in our spacious art studios, including felting, ceramics and a look at the Photo Arts Dark Room at the Haliburton School of Art + Design.

The Open House for Fleming’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program takes place at the Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy in Norwood, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fleming College is covering the application fees for the first 50 applicants at the Sutherland Campus, the first 25 at the Frost Campus and the first 10 at the Haliburton Campus. Gift cards will be handed out to the first students who confirm their offer at the three Fleming College campuses. Anyon confirming their offer by April 15 will be automatically entered into a draw to win a $500 gift card to the Campus Bookstore.

Fleming is also bringing back the Cash for College contest for domestic students who confirm their offers to a Fall 2023 program by Sep. 9. The winner receives $5,000 for tuition; Last year’s winner was enrolled in Fleming’s Practical Nursing program.

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Applications Open For Steve Montador H.O.P.E Bursary For High School Students With Sports-Related Injuries

Applications for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) H.O.P.E. Bursary in honour of Steve Montador are open with the deadline on May 1 until midnight.

(from left to right) Mike Martone (H.O.P.E.), David Graham , Eliza Graham and Chad Cavanagh (H.O.P.E.). Eliza was last year’s recipient of the bursary. Photo courtesy of Vince Bierworth and GPHSF.

The bursary is for high school students that have a reduced academic workload due to the suffering effects of sports-related injuries and are transitioning into college or university.

All applicants will be reviewed by a committee consisting of H.O.P.E., Team 55, GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation,and the Canadian Mental Health Association. All applicants will be notified of their status by May 16.

To be considered for the Bursary, you need to be:

• A student at a Peterborough City/County-based high school and registered in a first-year program at college/university

• Suffering from post-concussion syndrome sustained from a sports-related injury

• Be in satisfactory academic standing

• Have financial need

Students can apply for the bursary by downloading the registration form online.

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Renewal Sees Fleming Students Launch Peterborough Museum and Archive Exhibition As Guest Curators

Fleming College’s Museum Management and Curatorship (MMC) students have renewed the Peterborough Museum and Archives’ (PMA) long-term exhibitions to be guest curators for a Victorian Era exhibition announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

MMC students after learning from two semesters will reimagine the PMA’s Victorian Era exhibition. The renewal includes key visual changes, decolonizing the exhibit narrative, contents and language and creating a more inclusive and diverse exhibition.

‘Welcome to Boomtown’ exhibition focuses 1860 through 1900 in Peterborough. It captures what life was like as the region and its surrounding Indigenous communities experienced growth, hardship and change according to a press release. Visitors will appreciate previously untold stories, view artifacts and archival materials from the PMA’s extensive collections and have new opportunities to interact with the exhibition, the region’s heritage and each other.

The exhibition opening takes place on Thursday from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Peterborough Museum and Archives, located at 300 Hunter St. E. in Peterborough. Admission is by donation.

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Joan Carragher, PVNC Catholic Director of Education Announces Retirement

Joan Carragher, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board director of education, has announced her retirement from the position effectively on Aug. 31.

Photo courtesy of PVNC.

Carragher held the position since December 2020.

“This has truly been an inspiring role. Every day I am amazed by the abilities and passions of our dedicated staff in schools and at the board office and I have had the pleasure of working on behalf of our students who give me so much optimism for the future,” said Carragher. “I sincerely thank the Board of Trustees who entrusted me with this important work. I did not take this privilege lightly and I am grateful to have had the opportunity.” 

“Joan’s steadfast leadership was instrumental in leading the Board through some of the most challenging periods of the pandemic and into recovery,” said Kevin MacKenzie, board chairperson. “Joan also led the development of the Board’s current multi-year strategic plan, which will continue to guide the Board’s direction for years to come. We thank Joan for her leadership, her mentoring, her calm demeanor in the face of many challenges and her unwavering commitment to our students, staff, families and school communities.”

Carragher was born and raised in Prince Edward Island and moved to Ontario in 1990 to begin her career in Catholic Education at the Toronto Catholic District School Board. She joined PVNC Catholic as a teacher in 1999, served as vice-principal and principal before becoming a superintendent in 2012. She served roles as superintendent of schools/special education and superintendent of learning/leadership and human resources. The Board of Trustees hired Carragher as Director of Education in December 2020.

Carragher plans to return to P.E.I. with her husband Michael following retirement. They have two daughters Charlotte and Emma, who are both PVNC Catholic graduates. 

The Board of Trustees has begun the process to fill the director’s role, making a job posting.

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Photos: St. John C.E.S Students Get a Taste of French Culture at Delectable Fine Foods

France came to grade 4-8 students from St. John’s C.E.S as they received a French culture and history lesson from Delectable Fine Foods owner Christel Rumgay at her store on Monday and Tuesday.

Eleven-year old Marcus Alldread (left) gets a peek at a uniquely-looking tricoloured gouda from Christel Rumgay, Delectable Fine Foods owner (right).All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Students learned the origins of cheese, its making process and how it impacts French culture, all while receiving food samples.

The trip to the local artisanal store is part of St. John’s French learning curriculum based on the French Enriched School Environment Funding grant (up to $500).

The grant allows schools to explore unique experiences for learning about the French beyond its language.

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Exploring Sustainability at Lakefield College School

Lakefield College School’s (LCS) outdoor-oriented curriculums encourage students to take environmental responsibility and respect the Earth through learning and growing outside the classroom.

photo courtesy of Lakefield college school.

“Our main campus is over 150 acres and our Northcote Campus is just over 160 acres,” said Outdoors Every Day manager Garret Hart. “We have a philosophy in the school that is ‘Outdoors Every Day’ which is why we have our students out in the woods and on the lakes canoeing, swimming, hiking and exploring year-round.”

Hart says one of the College’s main goals is to teach students how to enrich their relationship with the Earth.

“Sustainability for us is really about the connection for students to the broader, natural world, and some more concrete things like food systems. There’s a disconnect, people think that meat comes on styrofoam trays and apples come in a plastic bag,” continued Hart. “Giving kids the opportunity to plant a potato and come back to harvest it in the fall and see this bounty that they’ve created, it’s a pretty important step.”

Through sustainability classes in every grade, LCS looks at themes such as Leave No Trace camping, regenerative agriculture and carbon emission reduction.

“There’s so much that we can use just outside of our door to help students understand the impact that they have on the environment, and the impact the environment can have on them,” said Assistant Head of Sustainability Janice Greenshields. “We really hope that students leave here understanding how to be more responsible for the environment as well as how they can use the environment for healthier lifestyles for the rest of their lives.”

Lakefield College School senior Esme Campbell is in charge of sustainability on campus, working with the environmental club the Lakefield Environmental Action Force (LEAF.)

She says part of her role involves working with her teachers to make LCS more sustainable.

“(This role) was a really good way for me to get more involved with the school community. We ran a thrift store to promote shopping sustainability, a clean plate challenge to focus on food waste, and we also did a holiday market where we worked with local vendors from Peterborough and Lakefield to promote shopping locally,” said Campbell.

The school’s current initiatives for sustainability encompass themes of land, water, waste and climate anxiety; they'll focus on these initiatives more intensely throughout Earth month this April.

“I think it’s really beneficial to have the opportunity to work outside. We went to Northcote and fermented carrots, where we learned about how the fermentation process works which was really interesting. With the hands-on approach we were really able to (stay) engaged which made it a lot more interesting than working and learning from the textbook,” continued Campbell.

Students and parents interested in learning more about sustainability and exploring enrolment at Lakefield College School can visit the website and the Summer Academy Seed to Table programs. There are three to choose from.

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