George Burton is currently serving his third term as president and CEO of Canadore College in North Bay, and according to a post on X, it will be his last.
"After deep reflection, I’ve made the decision not to seek a renewal of my contract," he stated on social media.
"My time as President of Canadore College will conclude on January 26, 2026. Serving this incredible community has been a profound honour. Together, we’ve built a student-first culture, transformed our campuses, created new opportunities through innovation and partnerships, and strengthened our connection to the communities we serve. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident that Canadore’s future is bright."
However, a blizzard of controversy has left a stain on Burton's legacy.
In 2019, in a letter addressed to Canadore Board Chairman Bob Nicholls and copied to Burton, lawyer Gillian Hnatiw said during an investigation the firm uncovered "over a dozen individuals who claim to have experienced similar types of career-limiting or ending discrimination or abuse while employed by Canadore" and were given the names of more than "two dozen" other individuals who endured similar experiences.
That case is still being litigated.
See: Canadore College notified of serious allegations of sex discrimination
And: Survey says: Canadore has second highest rate of reported sexual harassment of Ontario colleges
In 2020, OPSEU, the union representing professors and support workers at Canadore, called for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Labour to intervene at Canadore College "in the wake of an attempted cover-up of the independent investigation report concerning long-standing allegations of harassment and discrimination by senior managers at Canadore."
That report was buried by Burton, and despite union efforts, the report has never seen the light of day.
See: George Burton: 'Investigator's report won't be made public'
And: OPSEU calls for government intervention in Canadore's 'attempted cover-up'
And: Third party investigator to look into Canadore sex discrimination complaints
Burton was also involved in a scandal involving Invest North Bay, when he voted to give the company owned by the Chair of the Board at Canadore Bill Ferguson, in effect, his boss, a $1.2 million marketing contract, breaking the organisation's own conflict of interest rules.
See: Invest North Bay participating in a 'cover-up' charges Ferris
Late last year, Burton dipped his finger in local politics by lodging a code of conduct complaint against North Bay City Councillor Sara Inch to be investigated by the Integrity Commissioner's office. It cost the City of North Bay taxpayers nearly $4,000, according to a staff report.
See: College prez vs city councillor
Then, in the midst of a housing crisis, International students with no place to stay were forced to put up tents for shelter despite promises from a Canadore official that accommodations would be found. The students were also stopped from pitching their tents on college property. At the time, Burton called the protest that saw students sleeping in tents a “publicity stunt” organized by an outside group.
See: Canadore throws stranded students off its property. Left without shelter
Most recently, Burton oversaw a much-delayed Northern Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre of Excellence project on Lakeshore Drive that failed. It lost provincial funding after the Ministry of Health lost patience.
"Canadore College will be discontinuing the Northern Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre of Excellence project. We have been advised by Ontario Health that funding for the project has been terminated. All activities will be wound down early in the new year," said a college news release, adding, the school "will not be commenting further on this matter."
See: Canadore 'discontinuing' Lakeshore addictions treatment project
However, during Burton’s presidency, innovation at Canadore College has grown.
The College has created the opportunities for industry and academia to collaborate and succeed, including the Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping (ICAMP); Non-Destructive Testing Centre; Integrative Media Centre; Post Production at Canadore; and The Village - the only model of its kind in Canada, focused on collaborative interprofessional education and the integration of Indigenous, Eastern and Western healing and wellness practices.
Prior to his renewed appointment at Canadore, Burton served as Vice-President, Enrolment Management and Student Services at Loyalist College. While at Loyalist, he also assumed the role of Vice-President, Academic, in addition to his core business portfolios, and acted as the Executive Director of the Loyalist Training and Knowledge Centre.
Burton spent six years at George Brown College as Registrar and Director of Management and Student Information Services. Above and beyond his extensive experience in the Ontario college system, Burton also has an established background in the private sector, having held senior management assignments at Canada Trust Financial Services and Telmar HMS Ltd.
Meanwhile, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli praised Burton.
“George has really changed the face of Canadore. From expanding curriculum, developing the historic Villages centre, creating an innovation centre, building an indoor soccer complex, and planning for a new 160-bed Long Term Care facility - a college first, George has been at the front-end of this transformation. His contributions have made a difference in the lives of students, families, and businesses.”
