Brian Tamblyn honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
Nov. 18, 2013
Brian Tamblyn, President Emeritus of Georgian College, accepts a Lifetime Achievement Award from Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Linda Franklin, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario (left) and Rob McIsaac, President of Colleges Ontario’s Board of Governors (right) also congratulate Tamblyn.
Brian Tamblyn, President Emeritus of Georgian College, has been honoured with the Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities’ annual Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the province’s college system. The award was presented in Toronto on Monday, Nov. 18.
Tamblyn oversaw exponential growth at Georgian College during his tenure as president. Enrolment grew by 71 per cent to reach nearly 11,000 full-time students, and the number of academic programs also doubled.
As a result of this growth, the college is a national leader in co-operative education, partnering with more than 7,000 employers a year. Tamblyn was appointed president of Georgian College in 1999 and retired after 30 years of service to the institution, 13 of those as President and CEO.
Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, praised Tamblyn for his contributions not only to Georgian College but to the whole province of Ontario.
“Mr. Tamblyn’s commitment to our province’s postsecondary education system has helped ensure Ontario has the skilled workers it needs to succeed in the 21st century economy. I am honoured to present him with this award for his exceptional vision and leadership,” said Minister Duguid.
About Brian Tamblyn
Brian Tamblyn was appointed president of Georgian College in 1999 and retired after 30 years of service to the institution, 13 of those as President and CEO.
During his tenure as President and CEO, the college’s annual operating budget increased to $170 million from $55 million. The number of academic programs at Georgian College also doubled, with the college now offering more than 120 certificate, diploma, graduate certificate and degree programs. As a result of this growth, the college has become a national leader in co-operative education, partnering with more than 7,000 employers a year.
Tamblyn also oversaw the most ambitious capital expansion in the college’s 47-year history, with new campuses in South Georgian Bay, Midland, Muskoka and Orangeville as well as a partnership in Chandigarh, India.
Through his vision and determination, Tamblyn helped to solidify Georgian’s position as the hub of postsecondary education in central Ontario. And through his efforts to champion the benefits of postsecondary education and training, the college’s Power of Education fundraising campaign raised more than $42 million since its launch in 2006.
Under his leadership, Georgian College was selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers five times and was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers three years in a row.
In 2012, Tamblyn was awarded the Association of Community Colleges’ distinguished service award and was selected national recipient of the Presidents’ Leadership Network “Distinguished Service Award” by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.
Tamblyn earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Toronto in 1990. He also holds a bachelor of administrative studies degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from York University.