The Honourable Paul Dinn, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, has announced the appointment of a chairperson for the College of the North Atlantic’s Board of Governors and six additional members.

Glenn Normore is appointed chairperson of the Board of Governors.

Glenn Normore and Donna Rideout will serve as joint representatives, sitting on both Memorial University’s Board of Regents and the College of the North Atlantic’s Board of Governors. These joint roles support enhanced collaboration between the province’s public post-secondary institutions.

Heather Craniford has been appointed as a representative of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

The other general members, appointed for three-year terms, are:

• Patrick Lafreniere
• Christian Hurley
• Renita Dominaux
• Ann Marie Hodder

College of the North Atlantic’s Board of Governors is the corporate body responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of the college. The Board of Governors works closely with College of North Atlantic’s president and chief executive officer, who is responsible for the leadership of staff, faculty, and other stakeholders to deliver post-secondary educational training in Newfoundland and Labrador and internationally.

The Board of Governors is comprised of individuals with a diverse range of knowledge and expertise. Biographical information on the appointees can be found in the backgrounder below.

Quote
“I thank each of these individuals for their willingness to serve on College of the North Atlantic’s Board of Governors. Their knowledge, experience, and commitment will help support strong governance for the college, its students, and communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Paul Dinn
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and Advanced Education and Skills

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BACKGROUNDER

Biographies

Glenn Normore
Glenn Normore holds a Master of Education in Leadership and brings more than three decades of leadership, academic expertise, and educational consulting experience to this role. Over a 31-year career in education, he served as a university instructor, educational consultant, and secondary school educator, with a focus on curriculum development and classroom management. He has championed initiatives in Universal Design for Learning and the strategic integration of AI tools to enhance student engagement. He is a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Mr. Normore also has experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors, having served as the owner of Odyssey Enterprises and as a general manager within the not-for-profit community. Internationally, he represented Canada for 10 years on the Executive Board of FIBA Americas and on the executive of Canada Basketball. He was twice recognized as Executive of the Year by Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.

Donna Rideout
Donna Rideout is a chartered professional accountant and chartered financial planner by training. Ms. Rideout started her career with Walters Hoffe Chartered Accountants, where she became a partner in 1996 and continued with Grant Thornton LLP after a merger in 2014, where she was a principal until her retirement in 2015. Ms. Rideout has served on numerous boards of directors, including NLC, Newfoundland Power, the Heritage Foundation for Terra Nova Park, the Gander International Airport Authority (including a term as chair), the Board of Examiners for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce.

Renita Dominaux
Renita Dominaux is a seasoned executive leader with demonstrated expertise in strategic organizational development, operational excellence, and effective engagement with diverse stakeholders. Ms. Dominaux provides enterprise-wide leadership, guiding the development and execution of strategic priorities while driving continuous improvement to enhance overall organizational performance.

Ann Marie Hodder
Ann Marie Hodder is an experienced professional bringing more than 20 years of experience in business operations across a diverse range of sectors, including retail, family-owned enterprises, residential and commercial construction, heavy civil construction, real estate, and transportation. Ms. Hodder’s breadth of experience reflects a strong and comprehensive understanding of operational leadership and cross-sector business management.

Christian Hurley
Christian Hurley is a highly qualified professional with expertise in policy and planning, governance, education, and law. Mr. Hurley is a lawyer with McInnes Cooper and brings significant experience in both legal practice and academic settings. He has served at Queen’s University as a director, review counsel, and lecturer, contributing to the advancement of governance frameworks and the development of policy and education initiatives.

Patrick Lafreniere
Patrick Lafreniere is a construction management and governance professional with specialized expertise in complex vertical projects and construction dispute consulting across both public and private sectors. Mr. Lafreniere brings strong capabilities in project oversight, risk management, and stakeholder coordination, supporting the effective delivery of large-scale and high-stakes construction initiatives.

Heather Craniford
Heather Craniford joined the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2003 and currently serves as assistant deputy minister of post-secondary education with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Over the course of her career, she has held several senior leadership roles with strong connections to education and the labour market, including as assistant deputy minister of rural economic development, director of the Atlantic Workforce Partnership, and director of employment and training programs. Ms. Craniford holds a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and a Master of Arts from Memorial University.