An interview with Barbara Taylor, Interim President, Canadore College

Q.What are some of the most popular programs at Canadore?

A.We've got great programs, and our areas of specialty include our aviation programs, hospitality and tourism, and we're also very strong in health and community services. Those are the areas where we serve the local population, as well as provincially, nationally and also internationally.

Q.What kinds of opportunities are there in aviation?

A.For starters, we're opening a new, 87,000-sq.-ft., $5.5 million aviation facility this September, which is a Superbuild project. It will be located in North Bay in the Jack Garland Airport. North Bay has one of the largest airports in the country, with a 10,000-ft. runway and a 3,000-ft. runway. It will be a key part of the economic development of the region. The aviation programs include a two-year aircraft maintenance program, avionics, a two-year electronics program in the aviation industry, a one-year aircraft structural repair program, and a partnership with Gateway Helicopters for helicopter pilot training, which is a one-year program. This is an exciting time for us, because it will position us at the forefront of the aviation industry.

Q.What kind of practical experience can a Canadore student get?

A.All of the programs, in one way or another, have a workplace component. It's the integration of theory and practical education. In our three-year business and accounting program, students have the opportunity to complete a co-op component. Our hospitality program has a partnership with Fairmont Hotels, and students do a three-month internship at one of their hotels, often in Alberta, which is excellent job training for them. All of the curriculum is very much student-driven, and we accommodate students from coast to coast.

Q.What kind of career guidance can a student get?

A.We offer outstanding career guidance. Every student has access to a faculty advisor, and they get a lot of support and guidance while there here. Students at Canadore don't get lost in the shuffle. We have small class sizes, so there's very good student/teacher ratios. We're small enough that we are able to provide that, but we also offer a very vibrant and dynamic campus life. We currently have 3,000 full-time students, and 6,500 part-time students.

Q.What is waiting for Canadore students when they graduate?

A.Canadore students have tremendous opportunities. Our KPI (Key Performance Indicator) for employer satisfaction is 94%. Employers are very happy with our grads, which means that they are getting and keeping jobs. Our graduates are working here and around the world.

Q.What sets the college apart from the rest?

A.I think that Canadore is one of the best kept secrets in Ontario. We are 180 minutes from downtown Toronto. What we have is a college that has excellent amenities, and is close enough to Toronto and Ottawa, but far away enough to offer something different. We're just on the outskirts of North Bay, and we share territory with Nippising University. We're situated on 720 acres of the most gorgeous Canadian shield you'll find anywhere. We've got the beauty of a gorgeous scenic setting, but you can hop on the bus and in five minutes you're in downtown North Bay. You can see Lake Nippising from the campus, there's inexpensive housing, and it's a safe and active community.

Q.What's in the future for Canadore College?

A.Our aviation program will be expanding and we will provide an additional 65 spaces for students. We're looking at incorporating an aviation security program, and a logistics management program as it relates to aviation. On May 10 and 11, we're hosting a symposium on the environment to discuss sustainable development, and we're incorporating business and environmental aspects. It's open to students and the greater community. In conjunction, we're running a contest with provincial high school students to submit essays on sustainable development, and the winner gets to go the symposium. We're also offering tuition prizes to Canadore College.



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