Premier Kathleen Wynne tours Sheridan College

STORY BY MELISSA GERVAIS
PHOTOS BY ETHAN BENDER, MIKAELA BAKER, AND MARNIE MCFADDEN

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne observed while students demonstrated their crafts.

Sheridan students and faculty members greeted Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne at Trafalgar Campus on Friday.

The premier made a rare appearance to take a personal tour of the Crafts and Design building located in the A-Wing.

Sheridan received a phone call from the Premier’s office requesting a visit last week, said Sheridan president Jeff Zabudsky. “And of course we were thrilled to hear that.”

And indeed, the premier spoke positively about her experience.

“I’m impressed by the creative energy here. I’ve seen young people with ideas, and there’s so many opportunities here to hone a skill,” Wynne said. “I see young people who have a real idea of where they want to go, and this is a place where they can try things out.”

The premier said that she was especially impressed by Sheridan’s woodworking program, where student projects have an impact on the community.

“I just think that is the best kind of education,” she said. “Building furniture that’s actually going to be in a shelter, it’s going to be in a hospice, I think is a brilliant way to help people understand what it is they’re doing and what it is they’re learning.”

Wynne added that Ontario is currently dealing with serious skill gaps, which is why it’s important to have programs that allow young people to develop the skills that are needed in the world, and to understand what the possibilities are.

“Sheridan’s doing a great job on that front,” she said.

The special tour included viewings of the furniture, glass and ceramic studios, the art gallery and the newly constructed digital fabrication lab.

Zabudsky said that the visit was especially nice because the Premier toured the different Crafts and Design programs, and she was able to talk to students and watch them in action.

“I hope she enjoyed it,” said Rob Raeside, a Crafts and Design – Glass student who demonstrated the making of a glass amphora vase during the tour. “We had a lot of teamwork going on that day. I think it was a good representation of what happens in the shop.”

Faculty members were also given the opportunity to meet with the premier.

“It was great. We had the opportunity not just to tour her, but to sit down in our wonderful gallery and have a private conversation with her, and that’s not easy to do. You don’t often get the opportunity with a person as busy as the premier to sit down and have 20 minutes of their time,” Zabudsky said. “She told me that she’s always wanted to come to Sheridan […] because she’s heard about us through our reputation.”

Zabudsky added that Wynne would take fond memories of Sheridan back with her to Queen’s Park.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, BE SURE TO WATCH THE VIDEO BY GREG LONGLEY.

TO SEE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF THE EVENT, CHECK OUT THE STORIFY PAGE.

TO VIEW THE  TWITTER PAGE FOR THE SHERIDAN SUN, CLICK HERE.