Dr. Gary Polonsky, a native of Thunder Bay, served students for 42 years, across five institutions in five provinces, and over half of those years were served as a president.
In 1988, Dr. Polonsky became President of Durham College, a position he held until March 31, 2006. His team's achievements included:
- tripling the enrolment;
- building the Skills Training Centre in Whitby;
- opening campuses in Uxbridge, Pickering, Port Hope, Beaverton and Port Perry;
- adding centres of excellence in Justice Studies, Integrated Manufacturing and Information Technology;
- building a Student Centre;
- building an Arena, Tennis Centre, and new Athletic Complex;
- building Campus Residences (home to 1,400 students).
In addition, and unique in North America, Dr. Polonsky was President of two businesses – Productivity Improvement Centre (PIC), and Business and Industry Development Services (BIDS) - owned by Durham College which together, exceeded 2,500 staff, $80,000,000 of revenue annually and contributed up to $10,000,000 annually to the College's bottom line. The primary product of PIC was Quality Assurance services, which primed his interest in TQM-related matters, resulting in Durham College becoming the first college in Canada to earn an ISO-9000 banner (1995) and in him becoming a Founder of the National Quality Institute in 1993.
In 2001, Dr. Polonsky became Founding President of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Ontario's newest university. He also remained President of Durham College, making him the only Canadian to have been President concurrently of both a college and university. Dr. Polonsky retired June 30, 2006.
UOIT was created to emulate universities such as M.I.T. (U.S.A.), the Technion (Israel), and the India Institute of Technology (India) - broad-based but applied, research-intensive universities. Dr. Polonsky recruited an exemplary team who propelled UOIT to a remarkably fast and strong start, including being the fastest growing university in Canadian history.
Dr. Polonsky is also active in community, provincial and national affairs. In 1994-95, he served as Chair of the Committee of Presidents of Ontario’s Colleges and as a Governor of the Association of the Community Colleges of Canada. His contributions to Ontario’s colleges include:
- founder of OCAS (Ont. College Application Service);
- founder of CON*NECT (College of Ontario Network for Education and Training);
- founder of the Port Hope Accord, a protocol for college and university credit transfer.
Dr. Polonsky’s major volunteer forte, however, has been in his community. In Thunder Bay, he was Chair of the Board and the driving force behind building the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, a 1,500-seat performance hall deemed among the best in North America.
In Durham Region, Dr. Polonsky has served on numerous local charities and civic organizations. Currently, he is:
- Honorary Chair of the M.S. Walk;
- Honorary Chair of the Whitby Hospital Development Team;
- Honorary Patron of the Durham Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Since retiring as President of UOIT and Durham College, Dr. Polonsky has taught in UOIT's Faculty of Education and has created a private consulting company. He also is a Director of the TBAYTEL, Board Chair of the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, and Board Chair of three of Canada's national museums. Previously, he was a Director of Minacs Corporation, a publicly traded company on the TSX.
Dr. Polonsky earned his Doctorate in Education from the University of Toronto, M.A. from Gonzaga University, B.Sc. from Lakehead University, and I.C.D. from the University of Toronto.
Dr. Polonsky and his wife Lois, a native of Thunder Bay and Nipigon, have three children and five grandchildren.
