Conestoga College’s Board of Governors is pleased to announce that we are extending Dr. John Tibbits’ contract as President of the college to August 31, 2025. This extension is a reflection of the Board’s confidence in Dr. Tibbits' ability to advance the college’s vision to be a recognized leader in applied learning and research that enables student success in meeting workforce demands.
Conestoga's Board of Governors has renewed President John Tibbits' term to August 31, 2025.
After nearly 40 years of service to Conestoga College, Dr. Tibbits has the institutional knowledge and experience to guide Conestoga during our next phase of growth. The college is in the midst of a transformative expansion that will solidify its reputation as the premier institution for education and training for industry-relevant careers. We are moving forward with strategic investments in state-of-the-art facilities, including Phase 2 of our Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge, as well as the Milton Education Village, a master-planned community that will incorporate institutional, residential and commercial development in one of the fastest-growing communities in Canada.
Conestoga is also pouring significant resources into student housing and supports. The college acquired eight new student housing properties over the last year, with guaranteed housing available to first-year students in Brantford and Waterloo this fall. Another 2,000+ net new beds are planned for 2026. The college is also directing increased funding towards enhancing student support services and resources. Conestoga now invests $76 million per year in student support -- a number which is set to grow to $90 million in 2025.
With these critical investments underway, the Board of Governors believes that continuity in leadership is key to ensuring their successful implementation, not only for the college, but for our local and provincial economies. We are facing historic labour shortages in key sectors including healthcare and the skilled trades. Under Dr. Tibbits' leadership, Conestoga has made academic programming and in-the-field training more accessible to students, ensuring that we are creating a talent pipeline to fill these crucial gaps in our workforce. As we look to the future, Dr. Tibbits' extended tenure will provide the stability and strategic direction needed to sustain our momentum and further enhance our contributions to economic growth and community development.
The Board of Governors looks forward to continuing our journey with Dr. Tibbits' at the helm and is confident that his leadership will be instrumental in driving student success, advancing Conestoga’s strategic initiatives and preparing the next generation of Ontario’s workforce.