26
May
2023
|
19:53 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Welcome Back Retirees

Retirees 1

May has been a month of reconnecting at Mohawk College. First, the golden grads, then our retirees. In honour of Nursing Week, 150 Retirees Association Members were on campus to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nursing, Radiological Technology & Medical Laboratory Technology programs at Mohawk College.

Retirees were greeted in the beautiful Joyce Centre Atrium. They enjoyed a luncheon-style sit-down service while being entertained and informed by a stellar lineup of Mohawk College representatives, including one of the pioneers of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences location at McMaster, past President and retiree Keith McIntyre.

“It’s been 50 years, amazing, and I was a part of the early years of health sciences, and it was the time they were bringing nursing programs into the colleges, and Mohawk had one of the best programs in the province. I joined Mohawk around 1979 just as they called for more degree programs in the health science programs, and we started working with McMaster to broaden the program. And as we were connecting with McMaster, we needed a new campus. The government came in and supported a joint campus project between Mohawk College and McMaster University at the McMaster campus. The Institute for Applied Health Sciences continues to grow and expand today.”

President Ron McKerlie welcomed guests and spoke about Mohawk College’s history in health sciences. And retiree and past Chair of Nursing, Chair of Health Sciences and Dean of Health Sciences Rosemary Knechtel was among the guests and speakers.Retirees 3

“It was an exciting time as we worked closely with McMaster, and we had absolute support from the college to get the Institute of Health Sciences up and running. I got my nursing degree, but I always wanted to teach others. So, coming to Mohawk, first as an instructor and eventually as the Dean of Health Sciences, I was part of the development and shaping of the program, and we developed the degree programs with McMaster. It was amazing to be part of the collaboration, research, and development in the health science programs.”

After the luncheon was a bus ride to the IAHS for a tour. Thank you to the Mohawk College events team, employees, and our Retiree Association for a successful day.