NEWS RELEASE
GEORGIAN COLLEGE
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Georgian College released its inaugural annual impact report titled Growth Rooted in Community, outlining how the college is making a meaningful and measurable difference in central Ontario and beyond.
The report contains highlights from the previous academic year, is a celebration of all Georgian has achieved, and reiterates the college’s deep commitment to students and its multi-campus communities.
“As Georgian’s president, I’m committed to sharing the contributions we’re making as a college and how we’re addressing the evolving challenges and needs of those we serve,” said Kevin Weaver, president and CEO. “We remain dedicated to doing our part to maximize our collective influence to make positive change, create unrivalled learning experiences, and ensure education remains accessible to all.”
In the report, you can learn what makes Georgian stand out, how the college is fostering a culture of belonging, ways students and employees are tackling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and about dynamic partnerships addressing local labour shortages.
Much of the work highlighted in the report has contributed to Georgian being re-designated an Ashoka U changemaker college. Georgian became the first college to achieve this designation in 2018 and remains Canada’s only changemaker college.
“Together, with our partners, we’re helping students achieve their goals and supporting a generation of game changers — exploring solutions to challenges our world and workplaces face, deeply listening and responding to the needs of employers, and doing our part as stewards of the land to ensure a strong, sustainable future,” added Weaver. “We have a mission to transform lives and are proud to live that every day.”
The report also includes a section on the latest findings from an economic impact study conducted by Lightcast — a labour market analytics firm — and reflecting the 2022-23 fiscal year.
Highlights of the study:
- Georgian’s total economic impact in the region is $1.7 billion; this equates to 5.3 per cent of the total gross regional product or one out of every 15 jobs in the region supported by Georgian’s presence.
- Since Georgian’s last economic impact report in 2021, the impact of the college’s alumni has grown by $30 million to a total of $1.43 billion; that’s the net impact of Georgian alumni currently employed in the regional workforce.
- Student spending added $48 million in income to the Georgian catchment area, with many coming from outside the Georgian catchment area of Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Muskoka and Simcoe regions. These are students who chose to relocate from across Ontario, Canada and the world, and who spend money locally on groceries, mortgage and rent payments, and more at regional businesses.
- For every $1 students invest in their Georgian education, they’ll gain $1.80 in lifetime earnings.
- For every $1 of public money invested in Georgian, taxpayers gain $7.70 in added tax revenue and public-sector savings.
- For every $1 invested in Georgian, Ontarians gain $9.30 in income and social savings.
“Georgian creates value in many ways,” said Weaver. “Our students, employees and alumni are critical to having healthy and prosperous communities — through their contributions to society, spending impact, by fulfilling workforce demands, and through the lifelong returns on investment for every dollar spent on post-secondary education.”
Weaver also noted that the college’s ultimate success is the direct result of the generous support of community, government, industry partners, donors and alumni.
See the full impact report at GeorgianCollege.ca.
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