North West College has announced the appointment of three new members to the North West College board of governors by the Government of Saskatchewan.
The North West College Board of Governors is the governing body of the College. Composed of six members and a chair, the board oversees the president and ensures the college adheres to its mandate while continuing to implement best practices in governance. These board members are drawn from the college region and reflect the breadth and depth of talent that can be cultivated in Saskatchewan’s Northwest, according to a NWC press release.
NWC now has a full complement of members. Under the Regional Colleges Act, board of governor members can serve two terms of three years with potential extensions in extenuating circumstances.
The new board members are Audrey Jones, George Prudat and Bill Volk.
Audrey Jones is an educator with nearly 30 years of service to Medstead Central School. Jones is also a small business owner and farmer with her husband, Randy. She possesses a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education with a focus on lifelong learning/adult education. Through her graduate work studying lifelong from an indigenous perspective as well as treaty catalyst training, Jones has experience with the embedding of indigenous worldview into educational curriculum and outcomes.
According to NWC, she brings to the board her extensive education, teaching experience, and a voice for the importance of rural services.
Born and raised on a farm near Meadow Lake, George Prudat moved to St. Walburg with his wife, Joan, to enjoy their retirement. A graduate of the Canadian Forces Command & Staff College in Toronto, and Memorial University in Newfoundland, Prudat served 37 years with the Royal Canadian Navy, finishing his military career as the captain of a destroyer with a crew of 300 sailors. George then transitioned to the federal public service as a senior employee working at the Centre for Operational Research and Analysis in Ottawa for an additional eight years.
Prudat was elected mayor of St. Walburg in 2017. He brings to the board his extensive experience as a public servant, senior manager and municipal leader, according to NWC.
Bill Volk is an active member of the Battlefords business community. Originally from Denzil, Volk possesses both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. The owner and operator of Norsask Farm Equipment for more than 20 years, Volk is currently a consultant with the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association. He has sat as a director for Innovation Credit Union and Battlefords Tourism. Volk also has experience as the chair of the Immigration Support Committee and Aboriginal Workforce Committee for the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce and continues his work with the chamber as a current director.
According to NWC, Volk brings to the board highly developed financial literacy, business acumen and community engagement.
With these new appointments, Ken Hodgson will step down as chair after his extended term of service.
“Ken has served the board of governors and North West College with distinction over the past nine years. I would like to thank him for his service and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” said Melanie Roberts, interim president and CEO of North West College.
With Hodgson’s departure, Byron Merkosky, former vice-chair will serve as chair starting March 15. Merkosky comes from Edam. He is a University of Saskatchewan graduate, trained educator and a public servant. Merkosky served as mayor of Edam for 13 years and is currently the assistant program manager for the First Nations Student Success Program co-ordinated by the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs and Treaty Six Education Council.
Merkosky joined the board in 2013 and marked the second generation of this family to work with NWC.
Byron brings to the Board his experience as an educator, government leader, and cultural witness of indigenous teachings, according to NWC.
