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The Okanagan College Foundation is pleased to welcome Tom Dyck, who is joining its Board of Directors for a four-year term. Tom is a retired senior executive who has worked in banking at a national and international level for a large part of his career. 

We asked Tom to share what motivated him to volunteer his time and how education has transformed his own life.

What inspired you to join the Okanagan College Foundation board of directors?

The types of skills people learn at Okanagan College are in such demand and are just not provided by many other institutions. This is a place where people get the vital real world skills our communities need every day – from building their homes to fixing their cars to keeping their teeth healthy — and I, in a small way, want to support them in their journeys.

Looking forward, as technology begins to dig deeper into how we live our lives and do our work, we’ll see greater emphasis on the types of skills that require face-to-face interaction, where technology can’t play a leading role. Like in the skilled trades, tourism, hospitality, and healthcare – the roles in these industries will be in even greater demand and people will need the skills and training to support that. The college is uniquely positioned to teach those skills and respond to the demand.

(Editor's note: Okanagan College is building a new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism, , and has state-of-the-art trades training and health science complexes.

How has education shaped your life?

I come from a long line of mechanics, carpenters, and farmers so hands-on learning was a big part of my childhood. But I was also the first person in my family to get a post-secondary education, which has shaped the way I think about the world around me.

I also don’t believe education ends when you finish a diploma or a degree – we all must continuously be curious and learn or we risk falling behind in a rapidly changing world. That can happen in small ways through reading, learning new hobbies, and looking for new ways to complete old tasks. It can also happen formally. After working for 15 years, I attended Queen’s University for an executive development sabbatical. After my 25th year I travelled to Fontainebleau, France to study Advanced Management. And now I’m “attending” college again!

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

While I’ve sat on many boards over the years, both non and for profit, this is the first time I’ve sat on a foundation board so I know I’ll have a steep learning curve and will need to grow within it.

I hope to bring a unique perspective, having worked in both the U.S. and Canada, and on nonprofit boards in each. Within Canada I’ve developed an extensive network of friends and colleagues which I’m looking forward to introducing to the college.

I’m really excited to get started. Every time I come to Okanagan College I see another aspect of what the college does, and it gets me more excited to be here.

Bonus question: If you could go back to school and take anything you wanted, what program would you take?

I’ve always loved working with wood and building things. I think you’d find me in the carpentry shop.

(Editor's note: ����TV is the second largest trades training institution in B.C.)

The ����TV Foundation is always looking for engaged community leaders to join our Board of Directors. To learn more, visit okanagancollegefoundation.ca or email foundation@okanagan.bc.ca.