June 20, 2012 - Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux today announced the appointment of Craig Fowler as the first Associate Vice-President, Administration and External Relations for Laurentian in Barrie.   

Fowler will champion high quality services and supports for students, faculty and staff at Laurentian in Barrie.  He will be responsible for the administrative infrastructure in Barrie, for supporting and developing student recruitment and marketing strategies, and will also have responsibility for community engagement, government relations, alumni relations and development in Barrie.  His appointment takes effect August 7, 2012. He will be joining Dr. Bernadette Schell, Laurentian’s Vice-Provost in Barrie, who oversees academic operations since 2010.  

Fowler was most recently Director of Risk Management at the Pan/Parapan American Games Secretariat, which is responsible for overseeing Ontario’s financial commitments to the Games, and had been working with the organizing committee for the 2015 Games in Toronto.   

Previously, Fowler led the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services for the Ontario Ministry of Finance.  He has also served in a number of senior roles for nine years at the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, including as Director of Scientific and Research Collaborations and Director of the Research Branch. He began his career in economic development with the town of Richmond Hill.  

“Craig’s experience in public administration and in the research community, his undergraduate education in urban planning and graduate education in economic development, and his strong community ties in Barrie make him uniquely suited to oversee Laurentian’s continued growth in Barrie,” said President Giroux.  “We are thrilled to be able to add him to our team as a key player in Laurentian’s Barrie operations.”  

“Laurentian has really impressed me and many others in the community with its vision of a downtown Barrie campus,” said Mr. Fowler.  “Being born and raised here, and having a background in urban planning, economic development and research collaborations, I can’t imagine a more exciting organization and project to be a part of.”   

Laurentian University has offered programs in Barrie through a partnership with Georgian College since 2001, and continues to expand to meet the needs of the community.  There are more than 1,200 students currently enrolled in Laurentian’s programs in Barrie. Programs currently offered include the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, English, History, Law and Justice, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology; the Bachelor of Social Work; the Bachelor of Business Administration; and the Masters in Business Administration. Laurentian University plans to introduce in Barrie new programs in Information Technology Security / Data Centres and Management, among others over the next few years.   Laurentian continues to work with the provincial government to secure $40 million in funding for a downtown Barrie campus, as proposed in June 2010 as part of the University’s 10-year long-term capital plan submitted to the province. Laurentian University pledged $14 million toward the project in June 2011, a commitment that was matched in November 2011 by Barrie City Council.