Vernon resident takes over leadership of college board

A former Vernon city councillor is the new leader of the Okanagan College board of directors.

Juliette Cunningham, who has served as the board’s vice chair since November 2019, has been elected chair. She succeeds Gloria Morgan whose two-year term has now completed.

“It has been very inspiring working alongside Gloria and I am deeply honoured to be succeeding her in the role,” said Cunningham. “Gloria is an incredible champion for her community and for the college. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished at Okanagan College, and with a new strategic plan to be finalized early next year, there are a lot of exciting opportunities and important work ahead.”

In addition to serving on Vernon council for ten years until 2018, Cunningham was also vice-chair of the Regional District of the North Okanagan and of the Okanagan Basin Water Board. She is a business owner with an extensive history of working with non-profit boards such as the Women’s Centre, Junction Literacy, People Place, Museum and the Early Years Council. Cunningham was also named Vernon’s 2016 Woman of the Year by Vernon Women in Business.

Dale Safinuk has been elected Vice Chair. He is a retired financial services executive with TD Bank and most recently served as district vice president. He previously served on the advisory board for Ch’nook Indigenous Students Education at UBC; as co-chair of TD’s Diversity Leadership Council for Indigenous people; was a member of TD’s National Committee for Indigenous people; and served as board member with TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

“I’m proud to serve the board of governors in this new capacity and to support Juliette in her new role as Chair,” said Safinuk. “In my two-and-a-half years on the board to date, it’s been wonderful to witness the many ways in which OC is tied into the region, in terms of the depth and breadth of relationships with community and industry. I’ve also been impressed by the commitment and hard work invested by so many individuals across the college who strive to make this an ever more welcoming, rewarding and supportive place to learn and work.”