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Former Northern College president recognized with provincial honours

Fred Gibbons receives Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to education
fred_gibbons_retiring
Fred Gibbons, the former president of Northern College in Timmins, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. (NOB file photo)

Former Northern College president Fred Gibbons has received a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to education.

Gibbons was among four people named by the province on Nov. 29 to receive a Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Created in 2005, the award acknowledges those who have made enduring contributions to Ontario's college system throughout their career.

Gibbons, who was president of the Timmins college between 2009 and 2020, spent more than 25 years in the community college education system.

During his tenure at Northern, Gibbons oversaw a number of major construction projects, including the 35,000-square-foot Centre of Excellence for Trades in Technology (2010), the East End Family Health Team facilities (2010), and the 40,000-square-foot Integrated Emergency Services Complex (2018).

Gibbons led the creation of several joint venture partnerships with colleges and universities in China and worked closely with postsecondary institutions in Ontario to create partnership pathways for graduates, including with Queen’s University and Algoma University.

He additionally has served on a number of local boards and committees, including as president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, as director on the Timmins & District Hospital Board, and as chair of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation.

Provincially, Gibbons has chaired Colleges Ontario and the Committee of Presidents, as well as additional provincial and national organizations.

Gibbons announced his retirement in November 2019.