‘A great economic driver’
Fleming College celebrates 50 years in Peterborough
Jock Fleming was a young boy when the college named after his great, great grandfather opened.
He toured Fleming College with his parents, returning again for the school’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
On Friday, Fleming attended the college’s 50th anniversary, amazing that five decades had gone by.
“I can’t believe it’s been 50 years,” he said, as he stood with his wife Sue in the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre.
Fleming was among a number of special guests to attend the celebrations.
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell was also at the festivities.
She said she wanted to show her support for the institution
“Your impact on surrounding communities is well known and you’re a positive example, I think, for mid-sized post secondary institutions everywhere,” she said.
Dowdeswell also wanted to show her support for the principle of college education.
“The great civic challenge of our time is to build a society that works well for everyone and education, I am convinced, is one of the keys to unlock that challenge,” she said.
Mayor Daryl Bennett also spoke at the event.
He said the college has so much to offer to the students and faculty and the community at large
“It’s a great economic driver for our community, it’s a part of our community that just brings the fabric of it all together
Bennett said he’s always amazing how many people he runs into in other cities who’ve attended Fleming or Trent. Many former students of either post secondary end up back in Peterborough
“They always seem to drift back here with very positive memories,” Bennett said.
Fleming College president Tony Tilly pointed out that all the speakers on the podium Friday shared different viewpoints about what made Fleming great.
“There’s so many dimensions from the impact of students, the impact of grads through to the way in which the college belongs to community,” Tilly said.
The president said if you ask people why they go to college, they’ll likely say for skills.
But Fleming is more than skills, he said.
“The reality is the people who are successful in life have skills but they have motivation, determination, integrity ... what we need to continue doing is teaching skills and teaching also more than skills,” Tilly said.