June 29/00

Lana Robinson,
executive director of
the Capilano College
Foundation (centre), is
seated next to CCAE’s
president, Serge
Brasset (to her left), at
the recent CCAE ;
conference held in
Whistler, B.C. Serge is
president of Cégep

4 Saint-Jean-sur-
Richelieu college in
Quebec. Lana was co-
chair of the conference
and chair of conference
sponsorship.

B.C. colleges shine at
national CCAE conference

number of B.C. colleges played

major roles in the success of the
recent national conference of the
Canadian Council for the Advancement
of Education held at Whistler June 10 -
13. Two of the three conference co-
chairs were from the B.C. college
system: Kathleen Biagioni, executive
director of the University College of the
Cariboo Foundation and Lana
Robinson, executive director of the
Capilano College Foundation. Jacline
Nyman, director of Development and
External Relations, Faculty of
Management, University of Calgary,
was the other co-chair.

Paul McNair of Camosun College
joined Gloria Benazic of the University
of Northern British Columbia as a co-
chair of Special Events. Linda Martin,
vice-president, Educational Support
Services, Vancouver Community
College and Greg Lee, president of
Capilano College, welcomed the

delegates to the opening reception,
hosted by the two colleges.

Capilano College also supplied the
majority of the volunteers for the
conference. They included Connie
Barber, Christine Craft, Joan
Gauthier, Judy Hafey, John Kennah,
Kathryn Taft, Shelley Kean, Barb
Lamont, Susan Mitchell and Katrina
Watts. Faculty member, Gordon Bailey,
also participated in a panel discussion on
faculty and staff-giving programs.

In her capacity as chair of
sponsorship, Lana and her team raised
more funds than any previous conference
committee.

“The colleges have been unhappy
with the lack of inclusion in past
conferences,” says Lana. “But now, with
the tremendous success of this
conference so well-supported by B.C.
colleges, future conference organizers
cannot afford to ignore us. Our needs are
different than universities and since we

have now proven that we are equal
partners in managing our responsibility
as members, our voices should be
stronger.”

A major highlight of the conference
was the closing plenary presented by
Lesra Martin, a key figure in the story
depicted in the film Hurricane, starring
Denzel Washington. Lesra is living in
Kamloops where, until recently, he has
been a crown prosecutor. He is writing a
new book and focusing on literacy
projects. A number of delegates saw the
film on their flights from eastern
Canada.

Membership in CCAE includes the
marketing, communications, public
affairs, fundraising and alumni
functions of colleges and universities in
Canada. Next year’s CCAE conference
will be held in Montreal and will be co-
hosted by Concordia University and the
University of Quebec at Montreal.

Submitted by Lana Robinson

@nformer