Category Archives: professional development


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GPOP CONFERENCE 2023 ┃April 22-23 ┃ Montreal, QC 


The Governance and President’s Office Professionals Annual Conference is almost here!  

Our annual gathering takes place alongside the CICan annual conference. Enjoy networking with your peers across the country, learn best practices, and treat yourself to professional development that will amplify your career!

Highlights include:

  • Keynote Speaker: Simon Trevarthen, Chief Innovation and Open Assets Officer, Fanshawe College
    • “One Step From Greatness: Time To Re-energize You, As A Leader, Innovator &
                             Organizational Influencer Maestro!” 
  • GPOP Awards
  • Members Panel (NEW THIS YEAR)
  • Networking Reception (generously sponsored by Prime Management Group Inc. (PMG) who specializes in national executive searches and recruitment of top talent in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.)
  • Roundtable Discussions
  • and much more!

Join us at the Palais des congrès de Montréal for what is shaping up to be one of GPOP’s best conferences yet!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

To register for the GPOP conference click here: https://conference.collegesinstitutes.ca/about/ 

For hotel and travel information click here: https://conference.collegesinstitutes.ca/travel/ 


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Transitioning to Virtual Meetings

WEBINAR ┃ May 25, 2020 ┃9:30 am PST, 10:30 CST, 12:30 EST, 1:30 AST

FACILITATED SESSION ┃Coming soon

We have some exciting news to report!

Our way of working has shifted dramatically due to COVID-19, and most of us are quickly adapting to new technologies and new ways of facilitating our work.

Natasha Himer, a senior governance consultant at Watson in Vancouver, has offered to provide GPOP members a free one-hour webinar on transitioning to virtual meetings called “Practical Points from the (Virtual) Boardroom.”  Many of you will remember Natasha as the keynote speaker at the GPOP conference in Victoria in 2018.

The webinar will have a broader focus than post-secondary education, but will be very relevant and timely to those working for post-secondary presidents and boards.

To register for the free webinar on Monday, May 25, click here.

Natasha has also very generously offered to facilitate a one-hour facilitated session for GPOP members to share experience and best practices on virtual meetings.  The format will include a panel followed by time for questions and answers.  It will be fairly informal to allow room for open discussion.  We will get back to you soon with a date.

We hope you can join us!

GPOP Conference & PD Committee

Heather Martin, Camosun College (Committee Chair) | Kellie Basi, Justice Institute of BC | Jenny Forestell, New Brunswick Community College | Melissa Pringle, Durham College | Sylvie Taher, CICan


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2019 Hicks Morley Fellowship Recipient

Congratulations to Alice Schuda for being selected as this year’s recipient of the Hicks Morley Fellowship. Alice is the Communications and Administrative Officer for the Board of Governors at Centennial College in Toronto, and this award enabled Alice to attend her first GPOP conference held recently in Niagara Falls. In applying for the award, Alice spoke about the “invaluable source of mentoring and resources” that GPOP has provided to her in her role over the past three years. The Hicks Morley Fellowship was created to support the attendance of a member at our annual conference, and we are grateful to Hicks Morley for their ongoing financial support. All members are encouraged to apply for the $1,000 award to support their attendance at next year’s conference in Montreal!


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Update on GPOP Conference 2019

We are already less than a month away before members will meet up in Niagara Falls for our May 4-5 conference. The PD Committee has been working hard to pull together a program that will inspire, engage and re-energize attendees. Highlights include:

  • Saturday evening keynote Sharon Thira, who will speak on Indigenous culture, history and learning
  • Welcome reception at Milestones Restaurant at Marriott on the Falls
  • Sunday’s facilitated discussion on “Life Balance”, roundtable discussions on topics relevant to our roles, and GPOP award presentations
  • Re-connecting with colleagues and making new friends!

Further details can be found on the GPOP website by clicking on the drop-down menus under Conferences. The final agenda will be posted in the next few weeks so keep watching this space!

CICan Conference


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Register Early: Special Rates for GPOP Members

The 2018 GPOP and CICan conferences are not far off.  The Early Bird registration deadline for the CICan Conference is March 15, 2018.  However, CICan is offering special GPOP rates for individuals who want to participate but cannot attend the full conference.  The GPOP discount rates are available until conference day.  Click here for an overview of how and where to register.

 

GPOP’s Saturday and Sunday events only, at a rate of $200 (regular registration; no code necessary). Registration fee includes:

  • April 28: GPOP Networking Reception at Finn’s Restaurant, (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
  • April 29: GPOP 2018 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

 

GPOP events and Sunday CICan events, at a rate of $295; use case-sensitive code GPOPSun (registration code required). Registration fee includes:

  • April 28:  GPOP Networking Reception at Finn’s Restaurant, (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
  • April 29:  GPOP 2018 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
  • April 29: Official opening of CICan conference, with keynote speaker Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O.B.C. (3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
  • April 29: Opening Reception (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)

 

GPOP events plus Sunday and Monday CICan events, at a rate of $500; use case-sensitive code GPOPSunMon (registration code required). Registration fee includes:

  • April 28: GPOP Networking Reception at Finn’s Restaurant, (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
  • April 29:  GPOP 2018 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
  • April 29: Official opening of CICan conference, with keynote speaker Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O.B.C. (3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
  • April 29: Opening Reception (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
  • April 30, Monday CICan sessions

We hope to see you in Victoria!

 

 

 

 

 


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Governors Networking Session at 2018 CICan Conference

The following message is from Carol Dolbel, Special Assistant, Governance and Planning, Planning and Statistics, at Colleges & Institutes Canada (CICan):

The team at CICan is gearing up for the Annual Conference in Victoria and they would like to invite you to save the date and begin your preparations to attend!

CICan is planning another interactive Governors Networking Session that will allow participants to engage deeply on governance issues while networking with other directors and sharing tools, strategies and good practices.

Join us in setting the agenda for 2018 by sending your topic suggestions to cdolbel@collegesinstitutes.ca by January 16, 2018.

Save the date and share the opportunity with your Governors and Directors:  Sunday, April 29, 12:00 p.m. – 3: 00 p.m.  This year’s conference theme is NA’TSA’MATH – Working Together as One. The event will be held from April 29 to May 1, 2018.

We do hope you will join us in Victoria! 

 


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Nominations for GPOP Board of Directors Open Until March 30/17

If you’re interested in an opportunity for professional growth, consider service on GPOP’s Board of Directors

Any active member of GPOP is eligible to serve on the Board. Directors are elected at the AGM, this year taking place on Sunday, April 30, 2017.  Board members need not be able to commit to attending our AGM in order to contribute, as the Board conducts its business via conference call and email.

GPOP By-Laws state that there shall be no less than seven and no more than twelve Directors. All Directors who have served a full first term, are eligible for immediate re-election to a second term.

The following Directors’ terms continue through to the 2019 GPOP AGM:

  1. Marlene Beaulieu, CNC (BC)
  2. Nicole Blanchette, Norquest (AB)
  3. Cheryl McMurray, Fanshawe (ON)
  4. Christbell Pinchin, NSCC (NS)
  5. Sandi White, Holland College (PEI)

Each of the following Directors has indicated she will be stand for election to a second term, to conclude with the 2020 AGM:

  1. Joanna Campbell, Okanagan College (BC)
  2. Laureen Dailey, Douglas College (BC)
  3. Diana Falcon, Langara College (BC)
  4. Jenny Forestell, New Brunswick Community College (NB)

The following GPOP members have indicated their readiness to run for election to the Board in 2017:

  1. Melissa Pringle, Durham (ON)
  2. Lianne Birkbeck, Lambton (ON)
  3. Dianne Marcellus-Kerr, Lethbridge (AB)

 

If you would like to join the nominees standing for election this Spring:

The 2017 Nominating Committee consists of Jenny Forestell and Nicole Blanchette. If you are interested in finding out more, please don’t hesitate to reach out to either Jenny or Nicole.  The next round of nominations will take place in 2019, unless a vacancy occurs.  Please feel free to register your interest for this round of nominations, or for future consideration – it is good practice to have a list of interested candidates ready to fill vacancies as and when they occur.

 

Nicole Blanchette

Please direct your nominations to

Jenny Forestell, Chair, Nominating Committee, on or before Thursday, March 30, 2017

 Email:  jenny.forestell@nbcc.ca    Telephone: 506-453-6840

 


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Act Before March 15/17 to Take Advantage of Great Conference Rates for GPOP Members

Are you going to join your governance and president’s office peers in Ottawa this Spring?

REGISTER EARLY – SPECIAL RATES FOR GPOP MEMBERS

It may be hard to believe, given the weather some of us have encountered lately, but Spring and the 2017 GPOP and CICan conferences are not far off.

That means it’s time to register.  The Early Bird registration deadline is March 15, 2017, and CICan is offering special GPOP rates for individuals who want to participate but can not attend the full conference. Click here for an overview of how and where to register.

 

GPOP’s Saturday and Sunday events only, at a rate of $200 (regular registration; no code necessary). Registration fee includes:

  • April 29:  GPOP Networking Reception (time TBA)
  • April 30: GPOP 2017 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

 

GPOP events and Sunday CICan events, at a rate of $295; use case-sensitive code GPOP0430 when registering (case sensitive registration code required). Registration fee includes:

  • April 29:  GPOP Networking Reception
  • April 30: GPOP 2017 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
  • April 30: Official opening of CICan conference, with keynote speaker Julie Payette (3:30 – 5:00 p.m.)
  • April 30: Opening Regional Festivities (6:30 – 9:30 p.m.)

GPOP events plus Sunday and Monday CICan events, at a rate of $500; use case-sensitive code GPOPSunMon when registering  (case sensitive registration code required). Registration fee includes:

  • April 29:  GPOP Networking Reception
  • April 30: GPOP 2017 Conference and AGM (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
  • April 30: Official opening of CICan conference, with keynote speaker Julie Payette (3:30 – 5:00 p.m.)
  • April 30: Opening Regional Festivities (6:30 – 9:30 p.m.)
  • May 1: Monday CICan sessions

 

Like these Ottawa Spring blossoms, these registration rates won’t last forever!

Are you following us on Twitter yet?
If you do, you’ll receive an alert any time we publish conference or other updates to the GPOP website


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Join Us in Ottawa for GPOP’s 2017 AGM and Conference

PLAN TO JOIN US FOR GPOP’S 2017 AGM, CONFERENCE AND NETWORKING EVENTS IN OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Marlene Beaulieu
Nicole Blanchette
Cheryl McMurray

An update from your 2016-17 Conference and Professional Development Committee – left to right, Marlene Beaulieu (College of New Caledonia), Nicole Blanchette (NorQuest College) and Cheryl McMurray (Fanshawe College)

Saturday, April 29/17: We will kick off events with a reception at a local Ottawa establishment. This will be a perfect opportunity to put the face behind the email and meet your GPOP colleagues in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The cost of the reception is included in the CICan:GPOP pre‑conference registration fee.  Keep checking this page; we’ll have more details in the weeks to come.

Sunday, April 30/17: Now that you have made lots of new friends, don’t forget to join us for our AGM and a day full of professional development. The day will kick off at 8:00 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast. 

Heather Allaby

We will welcome speaker Heather Allaby, Community and Government Relations Advisor, New Brunswick Community College.  Heather’s presentation is Connections that Count: Positioning Boards and Presidents’ Offices for Strong Media, Government, and Community Relations.

One of the most important aspects of our group is the ability to share best practices and learn from each other. In order to maximise our annual opportunity to meet in person, the day will also include interactive roundtable sessions where you can share best practices, ask questions and learn from each other.

Are you following us on Twitter yet?
If you do, you’ll receive an alert any time we publish conference or other updates to the GPOP website