Connie Denesiuk, for many years a Summerland school board trustee, has been chosen to serve as the vice-chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors.
She was named to the position last week, taking over from Tom Styffe, who was named chair of the board.
“It’s interesting to see the great work Okanagan College is doing,” she said.
The board of governors sets the strategic directions for the college.
Denesiuk said this includes working with the changing needs of the communities and students served by the board.
Okanagan College has a presence throughout the Okanagan Valley, including in Summerland.
While a 27-hectare parcel in Summerland was designated for a college campus more than a decade ago, Denesiuk said this property likely will not be developed for this purpose in the near future.
“It’s very expensive to service and build,” she said. “We’re talking about significant dollars that aren’t available. At this point, there is not a viable business case to do something with that land.”
She added that she will work to provide innovative programs and courses for Summerland.
Denesiuk joined the college board in 2012. She had completed a a three-year term as the president of the B.C. School Trustees’ Association.
She also has served as a school trustee for 19 years.
Of those years, nine were served as the chair of the Okanagan Skaha School Board.
She is also a partner in R.Denesiuk Construction, a family business she has run with her husband since 1980.
She said the role of vice-chair is a good fit for her, especially with her long experience at the school board level.
“It’s quite a natural progression,” she said.