Hugh Wright Bursary
To celebrate Hugh Wright, and his tremendous impact on Algonquin College, the Hugh Wright Bursary has been created in his honor. After a 29-year career with the College, the Associate Director of Corporate Training will be retiring on May 1st.
Hugh joined the College’s Algonquin Management Centre in 1991 and during his first few years led the delivery of numerous workforce development programs including: jobsOntario, CS Bridging Program for Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAIT), Canada Revenue Agency PLAR Project, the Technology Marketing Program, and the development of a series of fast-track programs. He also helped lead the development of several multi-year training agreements with the Canadian Armed Forces, Hydro One, Royal Canadian Mint, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the House of Commons and the Cree of James Bay.
In 2009, Hugh was part of the management team that opened the downtown Algonquin College Corporate Training Centre. Over the next 10-year period, Hugh helped build and lead the Corporate Training team as it launched a comprehensive calendar of public workshops, tailored group training both in-class and online, and significantly grew the number of clients and individuals the Corporate Training team served annually.
This past year, Hugh expanded his role, in collaboration with Lisa Benoit of the Perth Campus, to spearhead the delivery of the $6 million Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities funded Eastern Ontario College Consortium SkillsAdvance Ontario contract. The project supports the workforce training and skills needs of Eastern Ontario’s steel and aluminum manufacturers and metal fabricators affected by the recent trade disputes. Building on the success of this project, Algonquin recently received approval for a nearly $14 million extension of the program through 2021 from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
Hugh’s leadership has also greatly benefited the College. For the past several years, Hugh has been an active member of the Algonquin College Administrative Staff Association helping foster professionalism, excellence and integrity for all members, advocating on issues of importance to administrative staff, and liaising with senior management to assist in the resolution of issues affecting members.
For over 29 years, Hugh has lived and breathed the College’s mission, vision and values. His work ethic, caring nature and his exceptional leadership skills have left a mark on all of us who have had the privilege to work alongside him.