News

The NIC Board of Governors gains an experienced business leader and passionate community member, thanks to the recent addition of elected Kwakiutl Chief Councillor Leslie Dickie.

Dickie was officially sworn in at the board’s November 24, 2016 meeting in Port Alberni, along with two new student board members, Justin Whitehead and Jerry Mundi.

“I am impressed with Leslie’s business acumen, local knowledge and passion for her community,” said NIC Board Chair Derek Lamb. “She will serve the Mount Waddington region and NIC’s Board of Governors well and it is my pleasure to welcome her to the board today.”

Dickie is the elected chief councillor of Kwakiutl First Nation in Fort Rupert. A successful business person, she is the president of Deer River Holdings Ltd. and previously owned JD’s Small Engine Repair and the Fort Nelson branch of H & R Block. She holds an Advanced Management and Entrepreneurship certificate from UBC’s Sauder School of Business, Ch’nook Scholars program.

“It’s a privilege to represent the Mount Waddington region at NIC’s board table,” said Dickie. “Post-secondary education is integral to the future of our communities and NIC is a vital link in
ensuring our students’ success.I look forward to working with the NIC Board of Governors to
ensure the college continues its important work for years to come.”

Dickie is active in her community, playing key organization and coordination roles with the
Comfort Quilters and the Kwakiutl Elders. She also serves as the treasurer and team coordinator for First Nation Minor Hockey and as treasurer for women’s golf in the region.Students Justin Whitehead and Jerry Mundi were also sworn in this week, after student elections this fall.

“I am very proud to be able to represent students at North Island College,” said Whitehead, who is studying web and mobile application development at the Comox Valley campus. “I will continue to work with the board to ensure NIC is more than a stepping stone in local students’ education, but a truly beneficial and leading institution which gives students a reason to study at NIC as their destination of choice.”

Mundi knows the pressures of going back to school while raising five children. “It is an honour to represent NIC students at the board table,” said Mundi, in his final year of a Social Service diploma. “NIC’s mission of providing high quality, affordable education and skills training is important to all students – whether they are full time, part time, just graduated from high school, mature or international.”

Together Dickie, Whitehead and Mundi join Board Chair Derek Lamb, Vice Chair Jane Murphy as well as community members Bruce Bell, Greg Phelps, Rob Everson, Roy Grant, Rhonda Johnson and elected faculty and staff Kim Gibson and Cathy Reyno on the board.

NIC’s Board of Governors operates under BC’s College and Institute Act. It is comprised of eight appointed members from across the NIC region, as well as elected faculty, staff and students. NIC’s CEO and President, John Bowman and Chair of NIC’s Education Council, Dennis Lightfoot,
serve as ex officio board members.

Original article from: North Island College

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