NEWS RELEASE
July 4, 2011

For Immediate Release

North Island College will be suspending service at its Cortes Centre, effective September 1, 2011.

College President Dr. Jan Lindsay explained that two factors contributed to this decision, “Long-time Cortes Centre instructor Mary Gordon will be retiring from the college at the end of August. This combined with the fact that there has been a continual decline in the number of students served at the Cortes Centre over the past number of years made it difficult to continue operating under the current model. We will instead be looking at different ways of serving the residents of Cortes Island through partnership initiatives and delivering programming where and when needed.”

Funds originally slated to support Cortes Centre operations will now be directed towards specific training activity on Cortes Island, in partnership with the Klahoose First Nation and other community organizations. According to Tony Bellavia, NIC’s dean of developmental and access programs, initial meetings with various individuals, community groups and the Klahoose First Nation have been very productive and the college looks forward to further discussions as to how it can best serve the needs of the Cortes community.

The North Island College Board of Governors was advised of this decision at its meeting last week, and President Lindsay has also informed the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Strathcona Regional District’s Director for Cortes Island, Noba Anderson, and the MLA for the North Island, Claire Trevena.

Media contact:

Susan Auchterlonie

Director, College & Community Relations

North Island College

tel 250-334-5271

cel 250-898-4146

susan.auchterlonienic.bc.ca