The University College of the North (UCN) has appointed four new members to its governing council, including Flin Flonner Pam Marsden.
Marsden was one of four people announced as new members to the council by the institution Sept. 22, the only of the four from Flin Flon. Marsden joins Swan River’s Glen McKenzie, former The Pas mayor Alan McLauchlan and Thompson UCN campus student April Wastesicoot as new members on the board, while two previous board members - The Pas campus student rep Brea Anderson and Linda Markus, the vice-chair of the council based in The Pas - were reappointed for second terms.
Marsden is the Indigenous liaison officer for Hudbay and has been for the past decade, serving before that as the director of communications and Aboriginal relations for the Mining Association of Manitoba. Originally from New Mexico and a member of the Navajo Nation and Jemez Pueblo, Marsden holds a master’s degree in arts from the Univ. of North Dakota.
The council is tasked with, according to UCN’s website, “determine the mission, vision and values of the university college”, as well as look after UCN’s finances, administration and organization and cover most responsibilities for the school. Governing council members sit for terms of up to three years for regular members - the board can consist of up to 20 members, but not more.
Marsden is one of three members of the governing council from the Flin Flon area - the others are former Northern Manitoba Sector Council Aboriginal liaison coordinator Don Nisbet and board chair Becky Cianflone, who was appointed to the board last spring.
“We welcome valuable new voices to the table as we continue to increase access to education, advance reconciliation and respond to the training and employment needs of the north,” said Cianflone in a UCN-issued statement.
UCN operates several education and training centres throughout northern Manitoba, with two main campuses in The Pas and Thompson. The school operates the Flin Flon Regional Education and Training Centre uptown, as well as other courses through the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy.
The new members of the council join existing members Tracey Como (Cranberry Portage), Alfred McDonald (The Pas) and Bonnie Linklater (Norway House) as members appointed by the lieutenant governor in council.
