Georgian College

I've always been proud to be Georgian's President and CEO and that pride deepened considerably over the past year. Together, we embraced new ways of teaching, learning and working. We overcame obstacles – both individually and collectively – all while continuing to live our mission to inspire innovation, transform lives and connect communities through the power of education. None of us can accurately predict what the coming months will bring, but the team at Georgian is applying our learning and doing everything we can to minimize the disruption to students. And, we continue to innovate. I've been equally impressed by you – our alumni – for demonstrating incredible perseverance and ingenuity. Our graduates will continue to help us through one of the most significant global health and economic challenges in more than a century, with far-reaching implications we have yet to understand. Your struggles, experiences and generous contributions to the Georgian family sparked the theme for this issue: connection and resilience. Inside these pages, you'll meet fellow alumni working on the frontlines of the pandemic. We also share features on some of our other 87,000 grads making their mark as changemakers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Each of these stories offer immense hope and are a reminder of what can be achieved with passion, persistence and a Georgian education! There's no shortage of good news to read about, too. Among a number of new programs in development, we're set to launch our four-year Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BScN) degree in fall 2022. Additionally, Georgian is creating the best student experience by investing in digital innovation, further developing and implementing new methods of academic delivery and leveraging technology to provide exceptional service. I encourage you to stay informed, share your successes, and connect with former classmates throughout the year by visiting GeorgianAlumni.ca. We'd love to hear from you! The word "unprecedented" has been used frequently over this past year, and indeed, 2020 was an unprecedented year. I empathize with our members who have been directly affected by COVID-19. The effects of this global pandemic are far-reaching and have been challenging for many. But this past year also had moments of celebration. More than 5,000 students completed their programs, joining our proud Georgian alumni family. Our graduates supported student learning experiences by providing co-op opportunities, volunteering on program advisory committees and offering mentor support. Over the past year, your association worked hard to advance our strategy around effective and innovative services for our members. Some successes include the introduction of the GeorgianView digital supplement, a virtual alumni speaker series and enhanced services inside the Georgian Alumni Network. As the AAEC wraps up another term, please join me in thanking our team of committed volunteers who, just like you, share a powerful bond with Georgian. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they attended virtual meetings and events throughout the college, and ensured that our alumni community was well represented. Now I challenge you, my fellow alumni, to consider how you might like to get involved; and I encourage you to reach out to our alumni relations team to discuss this further. Volunteering will change your life, and the lives of others. I wish you the very best for the year ahead. Go Grizzlies! PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes President and CEO Arjun Batra Class of 2007 Chair, Alumni Association Executive Council (AAEC) 4 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING

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