Message from the President – July 16

Posted on Thursday, July 16th, 2020

Covid 19 Msg from the presidentJuly 16, 2020

Dear Colleagues and Learners,

Summer is proving to be a busy time for us, as you may well have seen and heard on several media reports about our Summer Pilot Program last week. There was great public interest in the limited return of some of our learners and employees, and also a sense of optimism internally as we took our first steps to reopen since the suspension of in-person activities in the winter.

I am pleased to report that the pilot program is proceeding very well. Our learners and employees have had to adapt to a “new normal” on campus that felt a little bit strange at first, but everyone is getting acclimatized, and the measures and protocols that we have put in place are helping us move forward safely. This is a learning process for everyone, and it is helping us gain valuable information about how we can best proceed with course delivery as we scale up our efforts for the Fall term. Thank you to everyone — learners and employees — for helping us restart some face-to-face academic activities in a safe and effective way.

I know that we still have many learners who are anxious to finish their studies for the Winter and Spring terms, work they were unable to complete due to the pandemic. I want you to know that we are actively working on ways to help you complete your course work. We are expecting more details from Chris Janzen, our Senior Vice President, Academic, very soon — as well as more information about Fall Term plans for both learners and employees. Please watch your inbox for these important updates.

It is also encouraging to see that the Provincial government is moving ahead with its Stage 3 economic reopening plans starting tomorrow, July 17, in many parts of Ontario. As a result, the vast majority of businesses, including those in Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth, will soon be able to reopen, and gathering limits will be increased to 50 for indoor events and 100 for outdoor events. All safety protocols and physical distancing guidelines set out by public health officials remain in full effect. This good news is a testament to the continued commitment and sacrifice we are making to protect our communities from the spread of COVID-19, and marks another careful step forward together.

Finally, this will be the last of my communiqués for a little while as I will be taking some days off with my family. I hope you have found these regular communiqués helpful, and a way to stay on top of all that is going on. During my absence, I will still be apprised of all that is happening at the College and my designates will be sure to send a communiqué to everyone if required.

I think this is the perfect time to thank all of you for your thoughtful and insightful feedback. Each time I have sent a communiqué, I have received notes from our learners and employees — sometimes a handful and sometimes many. Some of these notes have been very positive, and some have suggested areas where we needed to make changes or improvements. I want you know that I read your feedback and that it shapes our ongoing conversations about how our College adapts during these unprecedented times. Thank you to all for sharing your ideas, comments, and concerns. Your input has been greatly appreciated.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

Sincerely,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO

 


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