UOIT honours President Ron Bordessa
Bordessa Hall will forever mark retiring leader's remarkable accomplishments
May 13, 2011
OSHAWA, ON. - Dr. Ronald Bordessa's vision for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and his commitment to excellence and innovation in education are now forever entrenched in the university's history with the naming of Bordessa Hall at 55 Bond Street in Oshawa, Ontario. The dedication was made during an intimate ceremony held at the building on the morning of May 12.
President Bordessa was joined by his wife Dr. Mari Peepre, members of UOIT's leadership team and the Board of Governors, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Regional Municipality of Durham, Roger Anderson and Oshawa Mayor John Henry for the unveiling. To make the occasion even sweeter, Mayor Henry declared May 12 as Dr. Ronald Bordessa Day.
"President Bordessa's achievements are nothing short of remarkable," said UOIT Board Chair Peter Williams. "As a result of the incredible strategic growth at the north campus and his vision and courage to champion UOIT's downtown expansion, sparking the social and economic revitalization of the community while serving as UOIT president and vice-chancellor, Bordessa Hall will proudly bear his name. It will remind future generations of students, faculty, staff and visitors of the significant impact he made while serving the university."
Later in the day guests gathered at the Regent Theatre for an evening of celebration, story-telling, entertainment and good cheer. Amy LaRue, president Student Association and Anthony Boland, past-president, Student Association, kept the audience engaged as the evening's emcees and the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir performed several songs. On hand to offer best wishes and share a few anecdotes were UOIT Board Chair, Peter Williams; Dr. Colin Carrie, MP Oshawa, Wayne Arthurs, MPP Pickering-Scarborough East; Chairman Anderson; Mayor Henry; Sheldon Levy, president and vice-chancellor, Ryerson University and chair of the Council of Ontario Universities; Darrell Sewell, vice-chair Durham College board of directors and vice-president, Human Resources at Lakeridge Health Corporation; Dr. Nawal Ammar, dean, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities; and Tom Austin, past vice-president, UOIT Finance."Challenging the impossible, innovating post-secondary culture, and connecting our campus with the local and global community - Ron's legacy will clearly go down in history," said Boland, a Faculty of Science student, class of 2011. "From saying 'hello' the first time he called me as a prospective student, to now, I am honoured to say 'farewell' and best of luck to a great president who time and again embodied UOIT's motto: by thinking and doing, we shall lead."
Ensuring that UOIT is a catalyst in driving social and economic innovation and prosperity throughout Durham Region and beyond is but one example of Dr. Bordessa's contribution while serving as UOIT president from July 2006 to June 2011. From moving the faculties of Education and Social Science and Humanities to downtown Oshawa to establishing the General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence and the Energy Resource Centre, these are just a few milestones that mark Dr. Bordessa's UOIT legacy. During his time as president he also contributed significantly to building strong relationships with students, staff and faculty to ensure the university's team had a solid structure and support to continue the remarkable growth and ongoing success well into the future.As a tribute to Dr. Bordessa and his commitment to students, a scholarship fund has been created. Chairman Anderson announced at the evening event a generous contribution $109,000 from the proceeds of his 2010 Chairman's Charity Classic annual golf tournament fund to the Dr. Ronald Bordessa Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will be presented annually to a student who achieves a minimum 3.5 GPA in the third or fourth year of their undergraduate program and has demonstrated an exemplary contribution by linking the university to the community through research, innovation or product or process development.
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Media contact:
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
UOIT
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
289.928.0268 (cell)
melissa.levy@ontariotechu.ca
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