News Release


News Release

Ontario Honours College Leaders and Visionaries

McGuinty Government Presents Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

NEWS

November 28, 2011

Each year Ontario recognizes individuals who demonstrated exceptional leadership and helped promote excellence at colleges. This year, the award acknowledges two education and community leaders.

Patricia Lang and Ivan Filion are the recipients of the 2011 Minister's Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding contribution to Ontario's college system.

Under Patricia Lang's leadership, Confederation College has become a catalyst for social and economic growth in Northwestern Ontario. From helping displaced workers transition to new jobs, to developing partnerships with governments, businesses, industry and communities, Confederation is now a key player in regional economic development. Patricia Lang served as president of Confederation College from 2000 until this past summer.

During more than 30 years, Ivan Filion has been a champion of cooperative education, helping colleges meets the needs of industry, regional development, and environmental protection. He developed an award-winning industrial training partnership, expanded training opportunities for francophone students, and led a highly successful environmental initiative that helped bring elk back to Northern Ontario. Among his many roles, Mr. Filion served as Interim President of Cambrian College. He remains active as an independent consultant in education leadership and environmental engineering.

Ontario's investment in postsecondary education is an important element of Putting Students First, the McGuinty government's plan to build a highly skilled and educated workforce, giving Ontario the competitive edge in securing a strong economy for the future.

QUOTES

"The Lifetime Achievement Awards is reserved for truly outstanding individuals who have made an enduring difference to the college system. Patricia Lang's and Ivan Filion's commitment to Ontario's postsecondary education has helped our province develop a skilled and well-trained workforce that is ready to meet the demand of the new economy." 
– Glen Murray, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

QUICK FACTS

  • 83 per cent of 2009-10 college graduates were employed within six months of graduation.
  • In 2010-11, an estimated 180,540 students were enrolled full-time at Ontario's publicly funded colleges.
  • The Minister's Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2005.

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