Latest news with #Fanshawe
CBC
12-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Fanshawe College cuts 40 administrative positions as staff reductions continue
As Fanshawe works toward reducing its staff by more than a third, the college announced Thursday that 40 jobs have been eliminated through downsizing, early retirements and unfilled vacant positions. "This week, we have taken the next step in this difficult process, and we are saddened to share that a number of our administrative colleagues have exited the organization," president Peter Devlin wrote in an email to staff on Thursday. "These are not just positions; they are valued members of our community, and their departure is deeply felt across the college." The news follows a May 8 town hall meeting in which Devlin informed staff of the college's need to cut its workforce by about 35 per cent — about 400 positions in total — with the college facing a $72-million deficit in the coming two years. The reductions, Devlin said, are necessary as the college struggles through what he called under-funding by the province and a federal cap on entry visa for international students, who pay higher tuition than domestic students. Devlin expressed gratitude Thursday to all the employees who were leaving. "Each individual was met with personally and provided resources to assist them through this transition," he said. Devlin said the next phase of staff downsizing will focus on working with the union to offer voluntary exit packages. "Our intention with this approach is to provide individuals whose roles may be affected by a layoff with the opportunity to make a personal choice, one that would provide them with a financial incentive and could potentially preserve a job for a colleague," he said. He said all employees will be offered career transition support. "We recognize how deeply upsetting and frustrating this is to be losing colleagues, teammates and friends who have shaped Fanshawe in meaningful ways," he said. In April, Fanshawe College said it would be ending 40 programs effective in the fall of 2025, including advanced police studies, applied aerospace manufacturing, construction project management, fine art and retirement residence management.
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Springs' Fanshawe and Mater Academy's Bencomo are Dade Baseball Coaches of the Year
The list is probably a short one. Coaches who have won a state baseball championship as a head coach, assistant coach and a player. It's one that David Fanshawe joined a few weeks ago when he watched his Miami Springs team complete a dream season. The Golden Hawks went 20-3 during the regular season, rolled to six straight regional playoff wins in Class 3A and then upset both Fort Myers Bishop Verot and Santa Rosa Beach South Walton to win not only the program's first state title, but the first state championship for the school in any sport in nearly four decades. For that, Fanshawe is the Miami Herald's Class 4A-1A Dade Baseball Coach of the Year. Fanshawe, who just completed his ninth season at Springs came over from Brito Miami Private in 2016 where he won back-to-back state titles as an assistant under Pedro Guerra in 2014-15. It was also the same place he won it as a player when he was on the mound as the winning pitcher in the 2006 championship game when Brito edged Jacksonville Eagle's View 4-3. 'The sport of baseball has been awfully good to me,' Fanshawe said. 'I've had some great experiences at a couple of great programs. I guess maybe I'm one to add to that list if there is one. The nicest thing about what we just did is that I got to watch those kids get to experience what I experienced as a player in high school.' Speaking of short lists, with Fanshawe's two players, Kevin Roque and Magdiel Estevez nailing down Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, respectively, Springs completed the Herald's triple sweep with him getting Coach of the Year. 'It's an honor to be recognized but obviously if it weren't for these kids and what they accomplished, there would be no coach of the year award for me,' Fanshawe said. 'They played their hearts out for me and the coaching staff and in order to have this success, you need to have great assistants as well which I was lucky to have.' For Humberto Bencomo, Mater Academy's state title in Class 5A was the program's second, but his first, as a head coach, assistant or player. For that accomplishment, Bencomo is the Herald's 7A-5A Coach of the Year. 'I'm truly humbled and honored to be recognized like this,' Bencomo said. 'This recognition is not just about me, it's a testament to the incredible heart and dedication of my players and coaches, the unwavering support from our administrators and the constant encouragement from our parents. Without all of that, none of this happens.' The Lions, who won their first championship in 2014, overcame a 1-5 start to the season, rolled to six straight regional playoff wins and then upended Fort Myers 8-5 in the state semifinal (battling back from an early 5-0 deficit) before defeating Wesley Chapel 6-1 for the title. 'In baseball you have to be willing to do whatever it takes,' Bencomo said. 'Whether it's a clutch hit, a perfect bunt, or a diving catch. That's what makes a championship team and that's exactly what we showed this past season.'
Hamilton Spectator
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Convocation central: London's arena district braces for two mega-grads
Hockey jerseys out, grad gowns in. London's downtown arena, home to the national champion London Knights junior hockey team, will become convocation central for not just one, but both of London's post-secondary schools for the first time starting Monday. Thousands of graduates from Western University and Fanshawe College, and their guests, will converge on the downtown this month to receive their degrees and diplomas in ceremonies beginning with Western this week. 'From June 9 to 13, more than 6,700 graduates are expected to cross the stage during nine ceremonies, with more than 33,000 guests anticipated throughout the week,' Western spokesperson Marcia Steyaert wrote in an emailed statement. More than 8,000 graduates will join the school's more than 370,000 alumni, she added. Western has long held its convocation ceremonies at Alumni Hall on its campus, but is 'temporarily' relocating them to Canada Life Place to address 'space and accessibility challenges while maintaining a memorable and inclusive experience,' Steyaert said. Fanshawe College's spring convocation ceremonies are scheduled at the arena the following week, from June 16 to June 19. London-based Fanshawe, with three campuses in London and others in Simcoe, St. Thomas and Woodstock, has held its London convocation ceremonies at Canada Life Place, the former Budweiser Gardens, since 2022. Last spring, an estimated 5,000 graduates in Fanshawe-red gowns took part in the ceremonies over three days. Graduates are seated on the floor of the arena for the ceremonies and their guests in the venue's lower bowl. For an entertainment district accustomed to feeding off fans going to and from hockey games and concerts at the arena, graduations at Canada Life Place are still a relatively new but welcome boost for restaurants and other businesses nearby. 'Anything that they can do utilizing that arena, they should,' said Crystal Kendall, owner of the Early Bird restaurant on Talbot Street near the arena. 'I know a lot of us in the downtown area appreciate the added business, for sure.' Kendall said she's experienced a boost in the number of patrons from Fanshawe's previous convocation ceremonies and welcomes the added traffic. Across the street from Canada Life Place, at Forget Me Not Flowers & More in the Covent Garden Market, floral designer Val Denomme said she expects a busy couple of weeks for the shop and hopes Western's convocation will drive sales as Fanshawe's ceremonies have done. 'If it's as good as Fanshawe, it really makes us busy through the whole week,' Denomme said. 'We're definitely hoping it's going to make a big difference.' At the corner of King and Talbot streets, near the arena and the market, is the Saga board games and coffee cafe. Manager Ector Toledo-Huerta said traffic can be sporadic in his experience working during Fanshawe's convocation ceremonies, but the cafe is adding an extra worker in case it gets busy. 'We just kept an extra pair of hands to do with any possible extra business coming through,' he said. 'Usually, the morning during the weekdays (it's) manageable, but if suddenly there is a spike in business we need more people to work around.' The additional traffic and potential for extra business isn't lost on Western. The university has partnered with the downtown business association and graduates, along with their guests, can be on the lookout for 'signage, promotions and special offers,' Steyaert said. Steyaert said Western has also teamed up with London Transit to offer free rides between campus and Canada Life Place for graduates and guests who show their convocation ticket. bwilliams@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Herald Scotland
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Aberdeen University students in trans row publish open letter
An open letter published several weeks ago details a range of issues; including the posting of 'transphobic hate material' on a break room noticeboard and the vandalism of trans-inclusive and anti-racist posters with 'penis stickers'. Trans righs have come to the fore at many universities. (Image: Unsplashed) The letter also calls for a 'concrete action plan' from university management, asking for 'the implementation of disciplinary processes for people who break school policies on discrimination and harassment', an 'externally-led diversity and inclusion audit', and 'mandatory trans-inclusive EDI training for all staff'. The Herald understands that issues between gender-critical and trans-inclusive academics and students in the department have festered for years, and have intensified over the last eighteen months. A public controversy ensued in February 2024 when SBS management invited prominent gender critical broadcaster Simon Fanshawe to lead a session on diversity training. The event with the academic and writer, who also serves as the Rector of Edinburgh University, was cancelled a week later after backlash by students and staff within the school. Fanshawe, who co-founded Stonewall in 1989, has rubbished the LGBT rights charity in recent years, labelling it as a "propaganda machine" which 'preaches extreme and divisive gender ideology under the guise of 'factual' information'. Academic and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe In an open letter originally published in May 2024, students involved with the 'Decolonising SBS' group wrote: 'We insist you offer an apology to students and staff in SBS for the organisation of the event, as well as an explanation as to why this event was cancelled, and take concrete steps to ensure future decisions on EDI issues are handled appropriately and transparently.' Now, a year later, students say their requests have been ignored. A statement reads: 'As of the 23 of April, 2025, we have yet to receive any response. We believe the continued silence of School management requires us to publish the below letter and invite students and academics who support our demands to add their names in solidarity. 'We hope that doing so will highlight to our department the urgent-course correction needed to rebuild trust and ensure the safety and well-being of the School's transgender students and staff in line with university policy and UK equality law.' The updated letter has been signed by more than 250 students and academics from across the UK. Read more from Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco: My trek up the Royal Mile — what do tourists say about Scotland's capital? Calls to bring back this 'unique' detail in Princes Square shopping centre How much has new trains procurement cost taxpayers? Scot Gov refuses to say Meanwhile, students have spoken out about their experiences on social media. PhD candidate Rowan Kuminski wrote on Bluesky: 'Aberdeen Uni has the nerve to knowingly let its staff bully, harass, and attack trans people and refuses to abide by its own Transgender Equality Policy, then raises a Pride flag as if that erases the trauma and harm they continue to cause.' Fellow student Jack Barber posted to X: 'It's Pride month, meaning my uni has the rainbow merch out in force; unfortunately they care more about looking inclusive than protecting queer staff and students.' Christina Schmid, president of the university's student association, told The Herald: 'The Students' Union stands with students who have raised concerns through this open letter. We recognise the seriousness of the issues highlighted and share their call for a more inclusive and respectful learning environment for all especially for trans and non-binary students. We have been liaising with the University to ensure these concerns are taken seriously and addressed meaningfully. As a signatory to the letter, we fully support the call for action and accountability. We will continue to advocate for transparency, appropriate support, and a culture where all students feel safe and respected.' There have been a range of protests in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision (Image: NQ) Responding to The Herald's request for comment, a University of Aberdeen spokesperson said the institution had commissioned an independent review of the complaints. The spokesperson noted: 'The University takes its strategic commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion extremely seriously, including promoting and championing the rights of trans staff and students as well as respecting the rights of individuals in respect of their protected beliefs. 'This commitment resulted in the commissioning of an independent investigation in relation to issues raised by some staff and students within the School. The results are currently being reviewed to determine the appropriate next steps and members of the management team have engaged with all those involved throughout the process.' The public row comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman in late April. Bosses at Scotland's largest universities are considering the fallout of the decision on their policies on transgender inclusion and single-sex spaces. A spokesperson for Edinburgh University said that their guidelines, which currently permit individuals to use toilets which correspond with their gender identity, would be reviewed with 'compassion' and 'legal rigour'. A Glasgow University spokesperson said the institution was 'actively considering' the ramifications of the ruling.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stonewall's hour of reckoning has finally arrived
For decades, influential charity Stonewall was widely regarded as a champion for equal rights – winning over the most powerful businesses and politicians. Its influence was such that hundreds of Britain's largest organisations battled for top spot on its flagship equality leader board, handing millions of pounds to the charity in the process. But much has changed. The 36-year-old organisation now facing a crisis that has prompted even one of its founders to turn against it. In the wake of Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling that only biological women are women, Simon Fanshawe urged bosses to abandon Stonewall, which has long championed trans rights. 'Employers can now take advice from the highest court in the land rather than from Stonewall and other lobby groups,' says Fanshawe, who was one of six activists to help set up the organisation. 'Previously, in trying to become a Stonewall 'Diversity Champion', businesses have often gone beyond the law. 'I would say that businesses should now ignore Stonewall, focus on the judgment, and that way be absolutely clear that their policies are in line with the Equality Act. 'Businesses have been thinking they've been doing the right thing, and it transpires they haven't. They should stop listening to lobby groups.' Scrutiny of Stonewall has been building for years, even garnering disapproval from former supporter Sir Stephen Fry, who in December branded its trans activism 'nonsensical' and warned it has 'got stuck in a terrible, terrible quagmire'. In particular, critics have argued that Stonewall was using corporate schemes to stifle free speech. One HR veteran, whose company is not involved with Stonewall, believes too many bosses leant on the charity out of fear of 'holding a different position to other organisations'. 'I'm surprised that any major organisation still has a relationship with them. That's not because they haven't done good things in the past, but they're driving a political agenda with a small P,' they say. 'From a business point of view, people will now be taking stock and saying, 'Hang on a second, the highest court has made a decision [on the legal definition of a woman] and this organisation is disagreeing – do we want to be aligned with an organisation which is taking that stance?'' They added that HR leaders who disagree with the Supreme Court need to ask themselves how they've been running their businesses. 'If you don't believe the law trumps all, then you've essentially been running your business based on an agenda, not on the law,' the HR boss said. UK-based chief executives and HR heads have been seeking discreet advice over groups such as Stonewall for months, concerned they may have been led astray. Fanshawe also argued last year that there had been a shift in attitude, with companies saying to themselves: 'Actually, I'm not convinced that a high-street retailer should take a position on anti-conversion therapy.' However, the HR veteran – who did not want to be named – points out how much Stonewall itself has changed, claiming they were previously 'giving good, strong quality guidance on how you become more inclusive as an employer'. 'What's changed is that they started to say, 'Unless you adopt these positions, you won't progress in our index or rankings.' 'That's legitimate. But it's also legitimate for organisations to say, 'I don't want to do that, so I'm going to step outside of this.'' Concerns over Stonewall in corporate circles have also been growing increasingly prominent in recent year, as some of its most controversial advice came to light. For example, the charity reportedly told employers to use 'parent who has given birth' instead of the word mother, while it also questioned whether private health insurance covered transition-related treatments. The Welsh Government, which appeared high on Stonewall's ranking in 2020, deleted the term 'mother' from its maternity policy in 2019. Stonewall has since watered down its policies, admitting last year that 'mother' is a 'powerful and important word'. However, for many bosses, the damage was already done. Even before the latest Supreme Court ruling, tensions were rising. In 2022, Stonewall was criticised for suggesting that nurseries were not doing enough to help children as young as two 'recognise their trans identity', while last year its support of puberty blockers came under fire following a major review by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass. The review, which warned there was a lack of established medical evidence for the use of puberty blockers for children, triggered a petition calling for Stonewall's former chief, who advised schools to 'shred' a research pack highlighting the dangers of the treatment, to lose her peerage. Yet Stonewall itself acknowledges that change may be on the cards, particularly in light of the latest Supreme Court decision. A spokesman for the charity said that many organisations, including Stonewall, will be reviewing their policies and guidance. 'Stonewall regularly reviews its guidance and works with legal experts to ensure that it reflects the latest legal developments – we will continue to do so,' the spokesman said. As for employers, they will hope that the latest ruling will finally put to bed the issue of Stonewall, and end what some claim has been a 'horrible' debate. 'The decision recognises that women now means biological women. So women are going to be protected in terms of having their spaces,' says Emilie Cole, the founding partner of law firm Cole Khan. 'We're no longer going to have the Pandora's box of endless debate as to what actually legally constitutes a woman. 'Essentially, this has been a really horrible area. It's been so hard fought on both sides of the spectrum, but this judgment is welcomed because this has obviously got real-world consequences for people working in businesses, and clarity in this area is welcomed.' However, others are not as conciliatory. As one barrister puts it: 'Those who follow Stonewall should stop doing so immediately and seek counsel elsewhere. 'You have been led up the garden path and now have a huge task untangling the mess.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
