Photo courtesy EverythingGP Staff

By Tanner Smith

President Installation

Dr. Vanessa Sheane officially welcomed as 11th President of NWP

Jan 30, 2024 | 1:05 PM

Dr. Vanessa Sheane officially moved from Northwestern Polytechnic’s interim president to NWP’s 11th president on Monday, January 29.

The Presidential Installation ceremony was attended by over 300 people, including multiple local dignitaries, elders, staff, students and community members.

Photo courtesy EverythingGP

During the ceremony, the Minister of Education, the Honourable Rajan Sawhney congratulated Dr. Sheane.

“Dr. Sheane’s commitment to the polytechnic mandate, coupled with her deep roots in Fairview and impressive track record as an alumna, positions her as an exceptional leader for NWP.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Born and raised in Fairview, graduating from GPRC and a Wolves basketball Alumni, NWP’s Governors Chairperson, Shawna Miller said these things on top of her experience, make Dr. Sheane the perfect fit for the role.

“She understands the unique intricacies of our region, she understands this institution from all different sides because she’s walked the hallways as a student, she’s been an instructor, and she’s been in a high-level leadership role. So that combined with her understanding of the region, and kind of where we’re going and where we’ve been, and what is needed to propel us forward, make her the perfect candidate.”

Photo courtesy NWP

Miller added that Dr. Sheane’s journey embodies NWP’s vision of retaining a homegrown industry-relevant workforce; “(At) Northwestern Polytechnic one of our main goals is to stay connected to the industries that we serve, so to engage with our industries in the communities around us, to find out exactly what’s needed to help take the institution forward to make sure that we’re providing the exact education experience we need for our students to help them be the most successful that they can be when they hit the workforce.”

With Dr. Sheane on the staff, NWP has made multiple advancements, opening a new education wing in the GPRH, celebrating the school’s first convocation, offering a Women of Steel trades course, hosting a business week and adding seats in numerous programs, including power engineering, thanks to an $11.3 million investment from the province.

With all these advancements, Miller says she is excited for the future of the region, and the opportunities and choices that will now be here for the youth.

“Well, I think they’re going to see enormous opportunities and choice that they can have in their educational experience. I think that they’re also going to see that they can get their entire education in the region, which will allow them to stay connected to where they know, where they grew up, where they have roots and that they’ll be able to stay and support the region that they’ve come to love.”

Photo courtesy EverythingGP