By Matt Rabey
The Community Builder Award is an annual award given to a member of the Sudbury community that shows excellence in their field. On Feb. 21, Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux was recognized in the category of education.
“I am humbled by this recognition,” said Giroux. “Especially as I follow in the steps of former recipients and dear friends such as Jean Hanson and Gisèle Chrétien.”
Giroux has been a member of Laurentian University since April 2009, making him the youngest university president at age 33.Some of the accomplishments from his first term include: approval for the School of Architecture, the establishment of the Goodman School of Mines and the Centre for Academic Excellence and spearheading $51 million in funds for campus renewal and modernization.
All of these accomplishments have led the Laurentian board of governors to renew his appointment of president until June 30, 2019. This appointment sees Giroux oversee a $132-million budget, almost 10,000 students, 1,000 employees and $25 million in research. A leader is only as good as the people that they are leading according to Giroux, during his acceptance speech, as he paid recognition to everyone who helped him to win the award.
“The fact is that tonight I accept this recognition on behalf of the entire Laurentian University community. They are the true community builders and I am only up here on their behalf.”
Giroux has had a history of leadership and being in the public eye. His first public position being an elected trustee to an Ottawa school board at the age of 19. Since his time in Ottawa he has gone on to be the assistant deputy minister with the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. While at this post he was in charge of 1,200 employees in 10 cities.
Giroux then went on to become one of the four members of the Drummond Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services as well as co-special adviser on the implementation of a Northern Policy Institute.
For all of these accomplishments, Giroux has also received one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Awards in 2011 and a Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Giroux is expecting great things as he leads Laurentian University into the future.
“It is an exciting time to be part of the Laurentian community,” said Giroux. “We have much to be proud of and much coming up.”
lambda@laurentian.ca