A message from Niagara College president Dan Patterson:

Dear Colleagues,

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to attend receptions in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake this week. It capped off months of tributes, well-wishes and support that have been very meaningful to me and to Saundra as we prepare to move on to the next chapter of our lives. As I prepare for that transition, I’d like to take a moment to share some reflections and advice that I have treasured during my time here.

First and foremost, I am reminded of how fortunate I have been to share this journey with all of you. Throughout my 25 years, I have been surrounded by incredible people, and together we have accomplished a remarkable transformation of Niagara College into one of the country’s leading postsecondary institutions.

It would be impossible to adequately express the deep gratitude and admiration I have for all of you, so I will simply say once more: thank you. Thank you to our faculty who are some of the most accomplished and energetic educators I have ever encountered; to the administrative and support staff, who have been key in building the organizational resiliency, that has seen us thrive amid 25 years of upheaval and change; to the Niagara College Student Administrative Council, which has been a strong advocate for student life on campus; And finally, to our Board of Governors, an exceptional group of community leaders who have given much of their own time and effort to guide Niagara College down a path that is strategic and focused.

Together we have built a college that is well positioned for future successes. The postsecondary landscape in Ontario continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, as declining demographics create an increasingly competitive sector. The applied learning experiences gained through a college education will always be an essential asset for tomorrow’s workers.

I also want to reiterate my best wishes to Sean Kennedy as he prepares to lead Niagara College into the next chapter of its remarkable history. I am thrilled to see Sean take over as the sixth president of Niagara College.  I know that you will extend to him the support, collaboration and friendship that has been such a source of strength for me over my time at Niagara College.

I’d like to leave you with a few pieces of advice that I have found helpful throughout my career.

First and foremost, stay grounded in your focus on student success. Our students have been the most powerful motivators for us as a college. That we are able to share in and positively influence their personal journeys, their struggles and successes, is a unique privilege we share as educators, and one for which I will be forever grateful.

Pursue a course of lifelong learning. Learn from each other, and seek out mentors in your personal and professional life who will help broaden your horizons and keep you focused on your goals. Learning is a cycle that never ends, and I have found great fulfillment in its pursuit.

Lastly, I would urge you to remain true to our Niagara College DNA – those traits that define us as a Passionate, Welcoming and Trailblazing College – which has served us so well in the past and can continue to serve  as a formula for future successes.

As my tenure as President of Niagara College concludes, I am excited to pursue new opportunities. I will continue to be a strong advocate for the role that colleges play in economic development and applied research – something I have pursued passionately throughout my career. I have recently been appointed as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Centres of Excellence, a provincial body that supports the innovation and adoption of new technologies to grow small- and medium-sized enterprises by working closely with colleges and universities.

I am also very excited about working to support student success by helping to remove barriers to education by raising funds for needs-based bursaries, merit-based scholarships and Be World Ready travel bursaries through The Dan Patterson Legacy Campaign.  I will be spending some time at the Niagara Corporate Business Centre for the time being to work on this very important initiative. Continuing to support our students through this campaign will be a source of satisfaction for me.

Saundra and I look forward to writing the next chapter of our lives right here in Niagara, and will continue to remain engaged in the life of our community.  Both of us want to say, from the bottom of our hearts, how much these past 25 years have meant to us.

Once again, please accept my heartfelt thanks for making this such an incredible journey, and I wish you all the very best in the months and years to come.