—From the desk of President Maggie Matear

Dear Colleagues,

You may have heard the recent provincial announcement about an independent review of BC’s public post-secondary system. The process is being led by Don Avison, a respected former Deputy Minister and Board Chair in the sector. His recommendations are due to the government in mid-March 2026. The purpose of the review is to establish principles for the long-term sustainability, structure and governance for the entire sector. As you can imagine, this is in response to the unprecedented financial pressures all institutions are facing, including reduced international enrolments, rising costs and a decline in the percentage of operating funding over the past several decades.

Earlier this week, the presidents of BC colleges met as a group with Don for an initial consultation, and we’ll be submitting collective written feedback on items identified in the review's Terms of Reference in the coming weeks. This means that Selkirk College's voice will be heard as part of a coordinated college sector response.

At this stage, the review doesn't change anything we’re currently doing, including the strategic adjustments we’re already working on. As more information emerges about timelines and potential implications for our college, I’ll share it with you.​

In the meantime, please continue to stay informed about what’s going on at our college, and bring any questions to your manager, area leader or union representative. I hope we can all stay focused on supporting our students and each other through this period of uncertainty. And thank you again, everyone, for your continued professionalism, strength and resilience. We are all better together. 

Take good care,

Maggie