NICOLA VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NVIT President Signs 7 Year Renewal

The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology's Board of Governors is pleased to announce President Ken Tourand recently accepted a 7 year contract renewal. This extension will see Tourand continue as President and CEO of NVIT through to October 2024.

"The Board is impressed with NVIT's strategic advancements over the past 5 years and have full confidence that Ken has the key leadership competencies required to not only implement NVIT's new 2018-2023 Strategic Plan but also continue the expansion momentum at the Institute", shared Jamie Sterritt, Chair of NVIT's Board of Governors.

Since being appointed as President in October 2010, Tourand has remained instrumental in NVIT's continual growth pattern. Capital projects include the opening of the NVIT Trades building in Fall of 2015, expansion of mobile trades classrooms and development of key trades programming. Current capital expansion at the Merritt campus includes construction of a $10 million Center of Excellence in Sustainability (COES). This latest project, scheduled for completion late Spring 2018, will provide learning spaces and labs to deliver sustainability curriculum, monitor sustainability efficiencies, space to identify and grow Indigenous plants and also includes a culinary arts teaching kitchen. Further, the COES includes facilities and equipment required to meet existing programs' physical fitness outcomes and Institute-wide healthy campus - holistic lifestyle initiatives.

Fall 2017 saw completion of the first 5 year Strategic Plan constructed and implemented under Tourand's leadership. During 2017 Tourand led the Institute through processes to establish a new Strategic Plan identifying strategic initiatives and priorities through to 2023. Implementation of the new NVIT Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is underway and includes an integrated approach through planning and operations connected to key performance measures and expectations of government, institute, community and most important, learners.

Top priorities for Tourand include continuing to explore opportunities to advance programing within the Technology sector and finding a permanent space for NVIT's satellite campus currently housed at BCIT in Burnaby. Supporting NVIT's unique provincial mandate as BC's Aboriginal public post-secondary Institute will see Tourand continue to build upon strategic connections and relationships across BC and Canada while maintaining strong ties and relevance to the many communities and agencies the Institute serves. Amid provincial mandates and growth, Tourand remains committed to keeping the Institute grounded with the 5 founding First Nation communities of the Nicola Valley.

Tourand shared that during his tenure the most consistent and significant challenge facing BC's smallest public post-secondary institute continues to be balancing requests from communities for service and program delivery expansions while cultivating an environment of innovation and creativity within static budget realities. "It is challenging to continually meet the diverse and ever-changing support needs and program interests of current and prospective learners", cited Tourand. "That said, NVIT remains unwavering in its commitment to offer an accessible, meaningful and relevant learning environment and experience. This flexibility and innovation has proven instrumental to learner success and Tourand has no doubt the Institute's reputation for effective responsiveness supports NVIT's continual growth.

"Sharing in the success of NVIT's students and their communities continually fuels the drive and passion of the NVIT family. With an everybody, everyday approach, I remain fervent about supporting NVIT and its overall mission for the next 7 years," says Tourand. "NVIT's very purpose is to empower learners through accessible and dynamic curriculum and teaching methodologies. The NVIT educational experience is designed to inspire learners to strengthen their communities - I can't imagine a better fit for me. I look forward to collectively advancing the refreshed NVIT mission over the next 7 years."