News Releases

On Friday, November 9, Providence University College and Theological Seminary held its annual general meeting. Around one hundred board and corporation members and employees gathered for dinner, entertainment, and to conduct the business of the corporation. Corporation members act as the “owners” of the institution. They approved the 2011-12 audited statement and elected five board members. Three of these have been serving on the board and two are new to the board.

This year’s board is made up of the following Governors: Roger Gingerich (chair), Lorn Bergstresser (vice chair), David Johnson (interim president), David Baker, Harold Barg, Richard Bergman, Toni Dueck, Beverly Dyck, Esther Dyck, Ron Friesen, Dennis Giesbrecht, Gordon Giesbrecht, Nicholas Greco (senate representative), Libby Hanna, Howard Jolly, Ron Koslowsky, John Laugesen (staff respresentative), Les Lindquist, Burton Loewen, James Scobbie, Don Streuber, and David Widdicombe. Elected to the Board for the first time are Alix Jean-Paul and Grant Driedger.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Heart’s Refuge Band led by the director of the Buller Centre for Business, Bruce Duggan. The band includes members from Holy Trinity Anglican Church and Bob Watts, who donated a classic drum set to Providence for use in its worship bands.

In addition to written reports, interim president, David Johnson, made an oral report highlighting the 12% growth in enrollment this year and the significant role of international students in the fulfillment of the Providence mission. He also reported on a number of initiatives for the coming year. Plans are in place to improve residence halls and technology infrastructure. Recruitment will begin for a one-year school of discipleship for an initial class in 2014. In January the Buller Centre will conduct a set of seminars called “Nuts and Bolts for Pastors” to teach business principles such as planning, finance, budgeting, and human resource management. The University College will negotiate a partnership with the North American Indigenous Institute for Theological Studies to offer a BA major in community development focussed on aboriginal peoples. The Seminary will develop an online MA program with a major in Christian Studies. In February and March the Providence faculty will offer public lectures at McNally Robinson in Winnipeg and at the Eastman Education Centre in Steinbach.

John Laugesen, Vice President for Finance, reported on institutional finances. He pointed out the extraordinary commitment of the Board of Governors in helping Providence through cash flow difficulties last year. This allowed Providence to maintain its programs and its recruitment and retention efforts, which in turn led to the growth in enrollment in the fall of 2012.

In the closing section of the meeting, Cameron McKenzie, University College Dean, Kara Mandryk, chair of the Biblical and Theological Studies department, and a number of students explained and spoke of the impact of their experience in Bible and theology classes in both the graduate and undergraduate programs.