June 20, 2018
EDMONTON – NorQuest College is proud to be recognized locally and nationally as an organization that is a leader in diversity and inclusion, leading by example in the post-secondary world. That leadership is about to get stronger thanks to an incredible $1 million donation to the college.
Dr. S. Ann Colbourne, Chair of the NorQuest College Board of Governors, made the generous gift, inspired by NorQuest’s growth and dedication to inclusive and culturally sensitive workplaces. The work of NorQuest’s Centre for Intercultural Education (CIE) – aimed at assisting the workforce with diversity and inclusion training – is of particular interest to Dr. Colbourne.
“I have a deeply-held passion for the agenda of diversity,” says Dr. Colbourne. “As a college, NorQuest really helps shape the mosaic of the communities it serves. It honours and respects where individuals come from, but still creates a cohesive whole. The ability of NorQuest to take what it does every day and channel that into programming that helps people beyond the walls of the college is very powerful and meaningful.”
“This wonderful gift from Dr. Colbourne will certainly have a tremendous impact on the communities we serve,” says NorQuest College President and CEO Dr. Jodi L. Abbott. “Our clear strategic goals include developing programs and services that anticipate and respond to market demand, and we know diversity training plays a key role in today’s economy.”
Due to her leadership and generosity, the CIE will be renamed the Colbourne Institute for Inclusive Leadership in her honour. The Colbourne Institute will carry on the work of the CIE, providing a range of services that encourage and support organizational capacity in developing and sustaining inclusive cultures.
To learn more, visit the Colbourne Institute for Inclusive Leadership.