October Board of Governors Meeting Highlights Campus and Program Expansions, Student Achievement
New Board of Governors Leadership Scholarship recipient, campus projects, provincial funding for new seats, and approval audited financial statements among meeting highlights
Trent University’s Board of Governors held its first regular meeting of the academic year on October 9 at the Symons Campus, featuring achievements of student leadership, development updates on campus projects, and recognition of collaborative University efforts in support of students and campus life.
Board of Governors Chair Mike Lavallée opened the meeting, his first as chair, by congratulating Kendra Sevenko, this year’s recipient of the Board of Governors Leadership Scholarship and a first-year student in Trent’s Bachelor of Social Work program.
“Kendra's story is a powerful reminder of why this scholarship matters,” said Chair Lavallée. “While raising her children, she demonstrated remarkable determination, leadership, and commitment to community service. Her journey reflects the resilience, compassion, and drive that define so many of Trent's exceptional students.
Chair Lavallée encouraged the board’s full participation in supporting this scholarship and outlined his hope to strengthen the endowment during his term.
In her opening remarks, President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Cathy Bruce highlighted a strong start for student engagement at the beginning of this academic year.
“We welcomed 1,800 new students across our Peterborough and Durham campuses, and Orientation Week had over 2,000 student participants with events on both campuses. It has been exciting to see our campuses come alive,” said President Bruce. “I was delighted to welcome approximately 190 students to my office following a welcome email invitation. This did provide a wonderful opportunity to connect personally with students of the incoming class.”
President Bruce also recognized the University’s effective response to the September watermain break in Peterborough, thanking staff, leadership, and community partners for ensuring student wellbeing and a swift return to normal operations.
Campus investments and expansions
The Board received an update about new provincial investments, underscoring the University’s continued momentum in student success, research, and community impact. A $100-million investment through Building Ontario Fund is supporting the development of Gidigaa Migizi College and the new Otonabee College (OC) residence, and Ontario’s Priority Growth Fund is supporting 1,500 new seats across in-demand programs such as nursing, education, and health.
During the lunch hour, governors visited the site to see the status of the Gidigaa Migizi College and new OC residence development and learn more about the University’s evolving spaces for students and the campus community. The Board received a construction update noting that most excavation, rock breaking and large-scale shoring work was complete, and saw the two cranes now on site. Supporting infrastructure work has also advanced, including installation of the power supply conduit.
A growing regional asset and community leader
Trent’s strengths in community and government engagement were also featured during the meeting, including an update on the success of Head of the Trent weekend, which welcomed Brian Saunderson, Ontario’s Minister of Sport, and showcased the University’s role as a regional gathering place and contributor to the local economy. President Bruce also noted national and international profile-building opportunities through Excalibur varsity student-athlete achievements, including two rowers competing as finalists in the RBC Training Ground.
Trent also demonstrated its ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation. President Bruce shared reflections on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events held across the two campuses and the engagement with Indigenous communities to inform development of the University’s 10-Year Strategy on Indigenous Education and Initiatives.
Audited Financial Statements
The Board of Governors reviewed and approved the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2025-26, noting that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the University as of April 30, 2026. The Operating Fund ended the fiscal year with a nominal surplus of $0.2 million before fair value and pension actuarial adjustments.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.