Former president Anne Sado receives award recognizing her contributions to education.

Despite leaving the college a year ago, the work she did continues to inspire.

Anne Sado, former president of George Brown College (GBC), has been honored with the Minister’s Lifetime Achievement award. This is given annually to outstanding individuals for their efforts in advancing the college, community, and system in the province.

“I was very happy to be recognized for work that not only I was responsible for, but everyone at the college,” said Sado. “I’m very proud of everything that we’ve done at the waterfront. George Brown College, by opening a campus at the waterfront, really helped bring life to the revitalization that the city had been planning.”

Sado was the first female president of GBC and held the position for 17 years.

The college saw immense growth during her tenure including the rate of student enrolment being doubled, expansion of programs offered, and many initiatives such as planning the first mass timber institutional building in Ontario, Limberlost Place.

Dr. Gervan Fearon, current president of GBC, says that the award highlights Sado’s career in post-secondary education at GBC.

“I think that she very much made a commitment to work integrated learning and the idea of students having hands on experience that got them ready for the workforce. She has initiated a number of items, and we get a chance to finish them,” he said.

Sado says she realized during her time at GBC that a connection with the business community and industry was essential for students’ professional lives.

“We look very strongly at the importance of preparing our students and our graduates to be job ready. One of the best ways of doing that is to make sure that you have work experience as part of your studies.”

She believes that GBC has a spirit of innovation, established along with the Office of Research and Innovation during her time at the college, which must continue.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the culmination of almost two decades of Sado’s career spent at GBC. While she is happy to take the next step in her life, she will miss the opportunities afforded her during her career.

“Letting go of something that you’ve been part of for almost 18 years, as I was at the college for almost 18 years, is always difficult and I must admit that I miss the activity, the range of opportunities, especially the students because you’re starting off your careers, you’re moving forward and just to see that and to feel the energy at the college, I really miss it,” she said.

This is one of many awards and appointments Sado has received over the years. She has also received the CICan Distinguished Service Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Golden Jubilee medals, and was appointed to the Order of Canada.

The award was given out at the Higher Education Summit hosted by Ontario Colleges.