Colin Ewart Named as New President of BC Colleges; Jim Reed to Retire After 13 Years of Strong Leadership

VICTORIA, BC--(Marketwired - September 14, 2015) - Today BC Colleges announced that the consortium's president, Jim Reed, is retiring and Colin Ewart will assume the role of president of BC Colleges.

Reed became president of BC Colleges at its inception in 2002. "During Jim's 13 years as president, the community college sector in BC has undergone dramatic change. Working together as a sector, colleges in BC have responded to the shifting global economy, advances in technology, evolving student needs and expectations, and dramatic changes in labour market demand," says Angus Graeme, Chair of BC Colleges and President of Selkirk College. "Thanks to Jim's excellent leadership our BC college system is well positioned to continue to meet these opportunities and challenges."

Ewart was selected from a shortlist of qualified candidates to serve as the new president. He has twenty-nine years of experience in private and public sector organizations in both Canada and the UK and a lifelong connection to education having trained and worked as an educator. His most recent position was Vice President Strategic Partnerships with the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) where he was responsible for all key government relationships. Since joining RHF in 2006 Ewart has successfully advocated for policies for the disabled and secured over $200M in new funding for the Rick Hansen Institute (RHI), the Foundation and partner programs. Through his work at RHF Ewart has built extensive relationships in both government and industry that will help BC Colleges continue to build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.

"We are excited to welcome Colin to our team at BC Colleges," says Lane Trotter, Vice Chair of BC Colleges and President of Langara College. "With his extensive background advocating on public policy and funding investments we believe Colin has the right experience and relationships within BC and Canada to build on the great work initiated by Jim."

Colleges play a vital role educating British Columbians with the right skills for work in the new economy. In fact, BC's colleges provide programming for 53 of BC's top 70 in demand occupations -- 76 per cent of BC's highest in demand jobs -- creating provincial prosperity through education and training. And of the forecasted 1 million job openings by 2020, approximately 44 per cent will require a college education. Between 2019 and 2022 it is predicted that the demand for college-educated workers in BC will outpace supply.

BC Colleges is a consortium representing BC's public, community colleges serving upwards of 170,000 students annually with campuses in over 60 communities province-wide. BC's colleges offer a comprehensive range of programs from university studies and baccalaureate degrees to career, technical and trades education. All of BC's colleges offer programs that are accessible, affordable and responsive to the evolving needs of local communities, small business, and industry.

To read a biography on Colin Ewart, please click this link here: http://www.bccolleges.ca/outreach/itn/2015/09/8935.