Anne Gingras - Doctor of Education
(honoris causa) DEd
Ms. Anne Danielle Gingras has been active in the education field for more than 25 years and currently teaches music and religion at École Secondaire Catholique Algonquin in North Bay. She completed her Bachelor in Arts (Honours) with a specialization in Music from the University of Ottawa, and received a Bachelor of Education from Université Laurentienne in 1993. She also holds a specialist qualification in Special Education and numerous supplemental qualifications in the field of autism from various institutions. In 2016, to honour her inner intuitive capacities, she completed a doctoral diploma in Applied Metaphysics and also became a Holding Space practitioner, facilitator and life coach, accompanying many individuals through their more difficult life paths. She is also an active Reiki Master and a small business owner.
Ms. Gingras was instrumental in the development and the implementation of Snoezelen rooms locally. During her career, she taught many subjects such as language arts and also served four years as Autism Consultant at Conseil Scolaire Catholique Franco-Nord. She was also the Autism Resource Teacher and one of the key founders of ‘Carrefour TSA’, the first Francophone resource center within a provincial high school setting geared to accompany students on the autism spectrum on their life journey. She has served on the Board of Directors of Autism Ontario and is the current Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Community Living West Nipissing. An altruist at heart, Anne has composed numerous musical compositions which she has dedicated to important social causes in her community such at the Remember Adam – Stop for the school bus and families afflicted with autism and Huntington disease. Diagnosed herself with autism at the age of 41 years old, she continues to be a model for professional women on the spectrum and regularly speaks to local, provincial and national media, about autism awareness. Although she stresses many elements of importance while discussing matters in education, Anne’s primary focus is, and has always been, that of the needs and capacities of each individual student.
Anne lives in Sturgeon Falls with her husband and is the mother of two incredible young men. Last year, she published her first book entitled ‘The Old Man on the Bench’, and is presently completing several other writing projects. In her spare time, she volunteers with several local organizations, manages several social media sites and blogs about her many interests and travels to Paris.
Evanka Osmak - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Ms. Evanka Osmak anchors the weekday prime time slot of Sportsnet Central – Sportsnet’s nightly sports news program.
Ms. Osmak initially pursued a career in civil engineering after earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Degree from Queens University. While working as a civil engineer, she realized her true passion rested with broadcasting. Returning to school, Evanka attended Seneca College at York University where she earned a Radio and Television Broadcasting diploma and later landed a position with JACK-FM in Orillia, ON as a news announcer. Moving onto KYMA-TV (NBC) in Yuma, Arizona one year later, Evanka worked for two years as a Morning Show host before returning to Ontario in 2007 when she stepped in front of the sports television camera and signed on with Sportsnet.
Evanka’s career highlights with Sportsnet include covering the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and reporting courtside for Rogers Cup in Montreal and Toronto.
When not covering the latest sports stories on-air, Evanka is a proud supporter of Special Olympics Ontario where she sat on the board for eight years, hosting a number of events such as the provincial games and regular fundraisers. Ms. Osmak is an ambassador for Golf Canada’s Golf Fore the Cure in support of Breast Cancer Research and supports the Jays Care Foundation by participating in community events throughout the year. She is a committee member of Sports Media Canada, a teacher at Toronto’s College of Sports Media, and co-hosts a regular parenting podcast, Moms in the Middle.
George Flumerfelt - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Mr. George Flumerfelt graduated in Mining Technology from the Haileybury School of Mines in 1977 and was awarded a B.Sc. Degree from Michigan Technological University in 1979. Following graduation, he began his career working in the gold mines in Timmins, Ontario and went on to hold positions of increasing responsibility for Noranda Mines Ltd. and Freeport Ltd. at mines in Canada, Africa and Indonesia.
In 2003, he joined Redpath Mining Inc. and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2005. Since joining Redpath, the company has grown tremendously and today provides specialty underground mining contracting services to clients all over the world. Redpath maintains its global head office in North Bay, Ontario and currently has ongoing projects in 14 countries.
A licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario, George has been an active promoter of the mining industry. He has served as an Executive committee member of the Ontario Mining Association since 2005 and served as its Chairman from 2008-2010. Mr. Flumerfelt has also served on the Executive of the Northern Gateway Branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining and is a past Chairman.
Locally, George served on the North Bay District Hospital Board and currently sits on the Board of the Invest North Bay Development Corporation.
In September 2018, Mr. Flumerfelt was appointed as the inaugural Executive in Residence within the Nipissing University School of Business. He has served as an important link between the classroom and boardroom by delivering guest lectures, mentoring students, and providing feedback on program development. His wealth of experience leading an international company provides highly valuable context that engages students and supports learning.
George, a committed northerner, lives in North Bay with his wife, Trudy.
Gordon Durnan - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Mr. Gordon H. Durnan grew up in a family with a passion for community service. In 1977, Mr. Durnan began his career in healthcare philanthropy as the first managing Director of the newly formed York Central Hospital Foundation in Richmond Hill, Ontario. He joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and for a few years, he served as the only Canadian director on each organization’s Board. He also became one of the first Canadians to receive the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation from AFP, and the first to receive the Fellow (FAHP) designation from AHP.
After ten years with York Central, Gord and his family relocated to Muskoka, where he began his new position as the Managing Director of the South Muskoka Foundation until his retirement in 2005. In his active retirement, Gord has served on multiple boards, including the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and the Board of Community Foundations of Canada. He served as the Founder and Vice-Chair of the Muskoka Community Foundation, Director of the Cottage Country Family Health Team and most recently, served as the Chair of the Board of Governor’s at Nipissing University from 2017-2018.
Throughout his full and rich professional career, Mr. Durnan has been honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the AHP’s Si Seymour Award. In 1996, he was named Fundraising Executive of the Year by AFP. Gord currently lives in Gravenhurst with his family and when he’s not volunteering, he is enjoying himself on the golf course.
Richard (Dick) Tafel - Doctor of Education
(honoris causa) DEd
Mr. Richard Tafel is a graduate of the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) from The University of Western Ontario. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws through the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. Richard was called to the bar as a barrister and solicitor in Ontario and began his practice of law in North Bay in 1958. Mr. Tafel lives in North Bay with his wife Elsa where they raised four children.
Throughout his years in North Bay, Mr. Tafel has been an advocate for many local organizations and initiatives. He served as president of various organizations, including the North Bay District Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Ontario Ski Racing Association and the North Bay Rotary Club. He has served on two district Public School Boards and as Chair of two local political parties. Mr. Tafel presided over the Nipissing Naturalist Club for several years where he was instrumental in leading the Friends of Laurier Woods towards ownership of its current 250 acre nature preserve.
Richard is the recipient of the Canadian Commemorative Medal in 1992, the Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. In 2008, he authored a book titled, “You can Control Your Governments.” Mr. Tafel is passionate about travel and has visited every continent.