Just ashamed of the nine-year anniversary of her arrival at Lethbridge College, President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns announced she was leaving to take up the same positions at Langara College in Vancouver.
“The college in the Lethbridge community has grown over the last number of years and it has been a wonderful time here,” Burns said. “I really enjoy it.
“I will show people here.”
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Burns joined the college in February 2013.
Since then, she has overseen the opening of the Crafts, Technology and Innovation Facility in 2017, the largest construction project in the college’s history.
Under her supervision, the school was also named Canada’s third fastest growing research college in 2020.
Burns said one of her biggest highlights is fostering a connection with the indigenous community.
“To have an honor song, to get a Blackfoot name – Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan – for Lethbridge College and then my own personal Blackfoot name, those things stand out as important things for our community,” Burns said.
The school permanently hoisted the Blackfoot Confederate flag in 2018 and last year launched the Niitsitapi: Coming Together in a Holistic Way strategy.
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She was also at the helm during an unprecedented time in school history while Lethbridge College navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and said she was proud of how the school responded to the challenge.
“I think Lethbridge College was prepared in terms of being able to turn quickly to distance education and our leadership team has done a fantastic job of keeping the focus on keeping our community safe,” she said.
Michael Marcotte, chairman of the board of governors, believes Burns is leaving the college well-positioned as it begins the search for the ninth president and CEO in the school’s history.
“An institution that is truly thriving and extremely successful: applied research, EDI, the indigenous strategy, it was just a wonderful opportunity for me to learn,” Marcotte said.
Burns will remain at the college until the end of May to help with the transition.
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