Trent University’s Board of Governors held its first regular meeting of the academic year on October 10 at the Symons Campus, featuring highlights from an active summer and early fall term celebrating groundbreakings, research breakthroughs and achievements by faculty and students. 

In his opening remarks, Board Chair Doug Kirk ’70 extended his congratulations to the 2025 recipient of the Board of Governors Leadership Scholarship, Lily Walker, a first-year student in Peterborough pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology. 

“Recipients of this scholarship are selected based on their outstanding leadership and involvement in the community, as well as high academic achievement,” said Chair Kirk. “The scholarship was established in 1995, and since that time, governors have contributed annually so that we can offer a $7,000 annual scholarship to a deserving student like Lily for up to four years of study.” 

President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Cathy Bruce also recognized in her remarks a series of achievements by members of the Trent community, with particular mention of provincial and national awards and profiles for teaching and research. Canada Research Chair Dr. Bharati Sethi was elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s class of 2025 as a fellow of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists; Dr. Wesley Burr is the 2025 recipient of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award; and Dr. Aaron Shafer was profiled in the New York Times and Globe and Mail for a research discovery with an Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. student at Trent uncovering an extinct species of deer. 

President Bruce also shared updates about events and initiatives that took place at Trent surrounding National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, including the new Indigenous Resources and Initiatives website, the updated Indigenous Protocol Guidebook, and the President’s Task Force on Indigenous Education. 

Presentation of the Colleges at Trent

A cornerstone of the Trent student experience and currently set for expansion with the addition of Gidigaa Migizi College, the Colleges of Trent were featured at the first Board of Governors meeting. Dr. Christine Freeman-Roth, head of Colleges, presented the history, values, and priorities of Trent’s colleges, highlighting the collegiate model’s focus on students’ sense of belonging, academic achievement, and personal growth. Principal Freeman-Roth shared that undergraduate student engagement in college orientation events and early fall programming has increased compared to previous years. The Board also heard about the breadth of support and programming available for graduate students through the Colleges of Trent, including academic advising, academic skills, and extracurricular events. 

Planning for a Sustainable Financial Future

The Board approved the reallocation of centrally appropriated funds to advance several priority institutional projects. Reallocated funding will support the University’s new Student Service Hub, which will introduce a new tiered model of student services, the housing strategy’s equity participation option with Knightstone Capital Management, and establishing a General Capital Fund for future capital projects. The reallocation follows a comprehensive review of prior appropriations to align available resources with key priorities that will enhance student experience, housing, and campus infrastructure. 

Audited Financial Statements

The Board of Governors reviewed and approved the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024/25, noting that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the University as of April 30, 2025. Following strategic appropriations and other contributions, the Operating Fund ended the fiscal year in a balanced position before fair value and pension actuarial adjustments.