As chair of the Selkirk College board of governors, Nelson’s Bruce Morrison embraced the opportunity to help guide post-secondary education in the West Kootenay-Boundary.
With passion for lifelong learning that meshes perfectly with the Selkirk College vision, the well-respected community leader has now passed the torch after four years in the top post.
In late June, Morrison presided over his last board meeting. Board chair since December 2011, Morrison is moving on as former vice-chair Sharel Wallace takes his place.
“I wanted to learn more about post-secondary education in the West Kootenay/Boundary,” Morrison says of his reason for getting involved in the governance of Selkirk College. “I also wanted to better understand the impact of Selkirk College on our regional economy and local culture.”
Morrison, 61, is a retired financial consultant with extensive work in community organizations on his resume. A founding member of the Osprey Community Foundation where he served seven years as its president, Morrison arrived to the Selkirk College board in January 2009. He replaced Stefan Lehmann as chair.
“Bruce has provided such valuable, effective leadership for Selkirk College as a governor and latterly as board chair,” says Selkirk College president Angus Graeme. “With integrity, respect and a keen sense of our mission, he consistently took a very community-minded and student-focused stance when undertaking the governance of Selkirk College. We will miss his excellent guidance and advice at the board table and wish him well in retirement.”
The board of governors is comprised of external members who reflect the various sectors of the community served by the college and several internal members representing students, faculty, support staff and administrative staff.
The board is responsible for a multitude of areas including the adoption of policy, approval of programs, operating and capital budgets, the monitoring of college performance in key areas, and the appointment of advisory committees.
Over the last five years, Morrison says he has deepened his understanding of the delivery of post-secondary education in our region.
“I learned just how passionate the instructors, staff and administration are,” says Morrison. “Our region is quite fortunate to have Selkirk College. The remarks by students at the annual bursary tea [held in February] over the years really stand out and always made it clear to those in attendance just how significant Selkirk College is to their transformation.”
As he exits a governance role with the college, Morrison says he will continue to advocate for the importance of post-secondary education in our region.
“There are many challenges Selkirk College faces on an ongoing basis, like reductions to government funding and declining numbers of high school students reaching graduation,” says Morrison. “But Selkirk College always manages to overcome these challenges because of the importance of affordable and accessible post-secondary for the residents of the West Kootenay-Boundary. Providing the opportunity for people to enhance or change their skillsets is vital to the future economic strength of our region.”
Wallace says Morrison will be missed.
“The Selkirk College board of governors wishes to thank Bruce for his years of work and dedicated service,” she says. “Bruce’s work ethic and devotion to education and community was evident in the manner he conducted himself as board chair. I’m sure several boards are waiting to recruit him now that his term with the college has expired.”