Fleming College

Community volunteer Carole Finn will today be presented with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College.

Ms. Finn has been a dedicated volunteer in Haliburton for close to 50 years, contributing as a teacher, an artist, a mentor, and fundraiser. A champion of the arts, her community, and Fleming College, it was her determination and vision that helped shape the development of the Haliburton Highlands as a centre for the arts. Ms. Finn was one of a small group of individuals who were responsible for envisioning and working to create Fleming College’s campus in Haliburton with a focus on the arts. This campus is now known world-wide as the Haliburton School of The Arts (HSTA).

And from the beginning, Ms. Finn played a pivotal role in HSTA – as an organizer, fundraiser, mentor, host to new faculty, and colleague to fellow artists. She has been instrumental in building bridges between HSTA and the community. Ms. Finn has also served on the college’s Board of Governors and as director of the college’s Foundation board. As Chair of the Haliburton Campus Fundraising Committee, she oversaw more than $100,000 raised toward a scholarship fund for students. She was also an integral part of the committee that raised $2.4 million toward the construction of a new campus, which opened in 2004. In 2003 Ms. Finn received the college’s Fellowship in Applied Education in honour of her service.

Beyond the college, Ms. Finn was founder and first curator of Rails End Gallery and she has worked with two committees of the Haliburton County Development Corporation. She now works professionally as a painter and printmaker, having founded The Carole Finn Art Gallery.

Ms. Finn will receive her medal from the college at a special ceremony this afternoon. The medal presentation coincides with the opening of a special exhibit of Ms. Finn’s art in the Great Hall of the campus. The exhibition will run from Feb. 25 to March 22, 2013.

The Diamond Jubilee Medals mark the 60^th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. To celebrate this event, 60,000 outstanding Canadians of all ages from all walks of life are being honoured for their contributions or distinguished service to their fellow citizens, to their community and to their country.

Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Community Development and Health, Continuing Education, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Justice and Business, Skilled Trades and Technology, General Arts and Science, and Visual Arts. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 63,000 alumni. 

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For more information:                 

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca