Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (Sept. 12, 2017) – The Board of Governors of Sir Sandford Fleming College is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members as well as the election of a new chair and vice-chair.

Fred Clifford, Aaron Grant, and Catherine Praamsma have all joined Fleming’s Board of Governors, effective Sept. 1, 2017.

Fred Clifford, a resident of Northumberland County, graduated from Fleming in 1982. He went on to extend his accounting qualifications, which became the basis for senior level experience with Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Clifford’s board experience is extensive. He is currently serving on The Scarborough and Rouge Hospital Board of Directors. During his time on this board, he has served as Board Chair and was also instrumental in handling a mandated hospital merger.

Catherine Praamsma, a resident of Lakefield, is a former Territorial Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services. Prior to her retirement in 2015 she held the position of Regional Director General for the three territories, managing Health Canada’s programs and services. It is in this capacity that she was recognized for her leadership capabilities and awarded the 2014 Deputy Ministers Award for Management Excellence. Her sectoral expertise in health is significant as is her understanding of government relations, public policy and strategic development. Ms. Praamsma’s experience with boards includes both board membership and work reporting to boards of directors. She recently joined the Peterborough Public Health Board.

Aaron Grant is a hospital pharmacist with a strong interest in organizational improvement and the responsibility to carry out public service at the highest possible level with relentless focus on quality, innovation and patient care. Dr. Grant is dedicated to problem solving, has extensive experience in science and medicine, and understands research and its role in organizations and society at large. A resident of Northumberland County, Dr. Grants speaks multiple languages and has the experience of living on three continents in very different cultures.

Governor Dana Empey has been elected Board Chair, effective Sept. 1, 2017. She was first appointed to the Board in 2012, and has served as a member and chair of the Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Executive Committee. A Fleming alumna of the Tourism-Convention Management Program, Ms. Empey is the General Manager of Carlson-Wagonlit Stewart Travel in Peterborough. She has also taught part-time at the College, served on Program Advisory Committees and co-chaired a major fundraising initiative.

Governor Dan Marinigh has been elected Board Vice-Chair. Mr. Marinigh, who lives in Peterborough, is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Otonabee Region Conservation Authority. Prior to taking on that role, he held a number of positions in field operations, program development and policy with the Ministry of Natural Resources, including Director of the Integration Branch and Director of the Lands and Waters Branch. He has held membership on several boards and committees including The Ontario Aggregate Resources Board of Directors and the Anishnabek/Ontario Resource Management Council.

Governor George Gillespie (FCPA, FCA) has been elected Second Board Vice-Chair and is Chair of the Audit Committee. He has been a member of the Board of Governors since 2014 as an Order-in-Council appointee. In addition to the Audit Committee, Mr. Gillespie is a member of the Executive Committee. In 2016, Mr. Gillespie was invested as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He recently retired as a partner at McColl Turner LLP.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 74,000 alumni.

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Members of the media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370