Georgian College

14 GEORGIANVIEW FALL 2021 DIGITAL EDITION JOHN DI POCE SOUTH GEORGIAN BAy (SGB) CAMPUS riving business in vacation destination A four-season destination, placed on the southern shores of Georgian Bay, and back-dropped by the picturesque ski hills of Blue Mountain Resort. Collingwood, a community with a rich shipping history and the location of Georgian's John Di Poce South Georgian Bay (SGB) campus, has come a long way since it was first incorporated as a town in 1858 – nine years before Canadian confederation. It has positioned itself as a four-season adventure for those seeking a different kind of lifestyle. The community is also home to hundreds of Georgian alumni, who live, work and establish their businesses here. Jo Redman (class of 1999 and 2002) and Anna Watson (class of 1986, 1987 and 2002) are two such graduates. These two proud Georgian alumni and principal partners of the interior and architectural design firm Redman Watson Inc., met on their very first day as students in the Design and Visual Arts program at Georgian and it was fun at first sight. They discovered a shared passion for interior design in the program that prepared them to launch their own business upon graduation. Jo and Anna maintain offices in their home communities of Collingwood and Horseshoe Valley. They started their postsecondary journeys as mature students who both had young children. "This was another reason we bonded," says Jo. "We both liked that Georgian allowed us to stay close to home, look after our family and still go to college." They quickly found their individual niche in the partnership. "We worked well together and we each brought something different to the table," says Anna. "Jo is really great at space planning while I get more into the details like designing millwork."Jo and Anna started the firm when they were in their third year of their program. "We still had young kids and were already planted in our communities," says Jo. "Plus, we knew there was a need for our type of services, especially in Collingwood. We've had a very successful 19 years so far with a full client list." In 2019-20, Georgian alumni employed in the workforce in the Town of The Blue Mountains, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and Clearview Township, had a net impact that amounted to $5.5 million in added income for the local economy, and the South Georgian Bay campus had a total local impact of $8.4 million. | Jo Redman (class of 1999 and 2002) and Anna Watson (class of 1986, 1987 and 2002) are principal partners of Redman Watson, an interior and architectural design firm.

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