Cumberland College president announces resignation
After more than fours years in charge of Cumberland College, President Tom Weegar is moving on.
Originally from Vancouver Island, Weegar was regional director at North Island College before taking the president’s position in Nipawin. He said one of the highlights of his tenure at the Northeast Saskatchewan school was introducing “Indigenization” into the facility. Weegar said the school previously had a “Euro-centric” focus, but that has changed in recent years. He said the evolution process included teaching the ideology to his staff.
“’You hired me because I’m exceptional in my content area, are you now going to start telling me what to teach and how to teach it?’ You have to have those conversations with your faculty as you are going down the Indigenization journey,” Weegar said.
Weegar said staff and students at the school spent more time teaching and learning in groups or teams, and introduced an Elders-in-residence program. Two years ago, he said a valedictory address by a Caucasian student was presented partly in Cree, and drew rousing applause.