Who we are
Get to know Boréal in all its forms!
Boréal
Enrich communities through the quality of its training and personalized services.
Collège Boréal
Collège Boréal is a public college of applied arts and technology established in Sudbury in 1995.
The Collège has a dual mandate: to be both a post-secondary college institution and a vital community development organization. Boréal operates 34 sites including 8 campuses in 27 Ontario communities. As an innovative educational, cultural and community hub that serves Ontario’s francophone population, Collège Boréal’s goal is to produce a highly skilled bilingual workforce that is engaged in French-speaking communities and contributes to the economic, social and cultural vitality of the province and the country. To this end, it offers more than 70 post-secondary education and apprenticeship programs, including over 30 unique French-language programs in Ontario, as well as a range of other services, including continuing education, corporate training, employment services, academic upgrading, literacy and basic skills training, language training services and settlement services for newcomers.
Boréal in brief
Nurture knowledge and make culture vibrate
Mission
Boréal is a Francophone leader that offers high-quality training and services to a diverse clientele. It catalyzes the sustainable development of communities, from the local to the international.
Vision
Boréal is known for its enduring impact on communities through its educational programs and support services centred on the socioeconomic integration of its clientele.
Values - What drives us every day
1
Collaboration is the foundation of our success. We actively prioritize both internal and external partnerships, acknowledging the key role they play in the success of our projects and activities. We believe that teamwork drives mutual aid and efficiency, making it possible to leverage Boréal’s unique strengths while promoting mutual learning. Our commitment to collaboration drives us to forge close and inclusive ties with a wide range of community partners to create a dynamic network that enriches our ecosystem. By encouraging a fair division of resources and knowledge, we cultivate an environment where each person and their unique perspectives can thrive and contribute fully to our shared mission.
2
Our commitment and our passion drive our collective success. We foster an environment conducive to professional growth, where flexibility and enthusiasm fuel our determination to excel in all of our projects. United by a shared vision, we constantly strive to surpass expectations by putting our best into everything we do and always acting in the best interest of our communities. Our commitment is reflected in a strong attachment to our mission, unwavering loyalty to our values, and active efforts to continuously improve our skills and offerings. This passionate commitment drives us to prioritize our efforts and stay true to our objectives while ensuring that we deliver exceptional outcomes that reflect our dedication to excellence.
3
Our commitment to accountability forms the basis of our operational excellence. Dedicated to continuous improvement, we adopt effective and efficient practices guided by unwavering integrity and the relentless pursuit of quality. We value conscientious and thoughtful decision-making that is evidencebased and transparent. Our culture of accountability is based on mutual trust and honesty. We encourage autonomy and recognize the importance of taking full responsibility for our actions and their impact. We constantly strive to make a positive and measurable impact, and this approach enables us to act in the best interests of our clients, staff and partners.
4
Respect is at the heart of our identity and guides everything we do. We cultivate an environment characterized by humanism, empathy and respect for Indigenous knowledge. Our commitment to mutual respect is reflected in a profound recognition of the rights, traditions and uniqueness of each individual, which creates a space where diversity is celebrated and where a sense of belonging and reconciliation is nurtured.
Our resolutely positive attitude is characterized by attentiveness and a welcoming and caring approach, fostering harmony and equity within our communities while encouraging adaptability and flexibility toward differences. Our dedication to reconciliation and inclusivity strengthens our social fabric and guides our efforts to achieve deep mutual understanding.
By putting people first, we promote behaviours that reflect our deep respect for the communities we serve.
5
Openness shapes the way we learn, interact and innovate and is the basis of our approach. We cultivate an accessible and receptive environment where creativity and imagination are free to thrive. Our commitment to openness is reflected in our constant availability and our attentive listening, both within our institution and with our external partners.
We see change as an opportunity for growth, adopting a courageous and proactive stance to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Our curiosity drives us to explore a variety of innovative solutions, stimulating our adaptability and our institutional vitality. We value interactions that are honest and transparent, creating a space where sharing new ideas is encouraged and celebrated.
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Outstanding results
Ranked first among the 24 colleges in Ontario in several categories, Collège Boréal has distinguished itself for many years in the performance indicators published by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Asserting itself as an institutional model, Boréal is an ambassador for the province of Ontario and a key player on the Franco-Ontarian scene.
Historique Boréal
1993
July
- Announcement of the creation of a French-language college in Northern Ontario.
1993
November
- Appointment of the members of the first Board of Governors of the Collège du Nord.
1994
June
- Official unveiling of the name Collège Boréal and the visual identity elements.
1994
August
- Announcement of the location of the main campus.
- The six locations for the regional campuses are selected.
- Appointment of Jean Watters as the first president of Collège Boréal.
1995
September
- Official opening of Collège Boréal.
- Creation of the first college student cooperative in Ontario.
- Each learner is given a laptop computer.
1997
October
- Inauguration of the main campus.
- First wireless communication network on campus.
1998
- The American Quality and Productivity Center awards Collège Boréal the prize for the most innovative college in North America — a first for a Canadian institution.
1998
December
- Appointment of Gisèle Chrétien as President of Collège Boréal.
2002
September
- Collège Boréal opens its territory to the Southwest Central.
2005
September
- Inauguration of Collège Boréal’s first student residence: the Vale Inco residence.
2006
January
- Appointment of Denis Hubert-Dutrisac as President of Collège Boréal.
2006
September
- Inauguration of the new Institut des métiers et technologies appliquées on the main campus.
- Announcement of the construction of a new campus in Timmins.
2008
May
- Signing of the first memorandum of understanding between Collège Boréal, the six school boards and the two French-language and bilingual universities in Northern Ontario on the province’s aménagement linguistique policy.
2008
June
- First postsecondary institution in Ontario to receive a designation under the French Language Services Act.
2008
November
- Inauguration of “Notre place” at the main campus.
2009
October
- Opening of the new Timmins campus.
2009
December
- Inauguration of the Xstrata Nickel Centre for applied biodiversity research.
2010
April
- Unveiling of Collège Boréal’s coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
2012
September
- Opening of the Performance Hall at the main campus.
- Opening of the Toronto campus located at 1 Yonge Street.
2013
- Appointment of Pierre Riopel as President of Collège Boréal.
2016
- Appointment of Daniel Giroux as President of Collège Boréal.
2017
April
- Collège Boréal is ranked 1st in 4 of the 5 Ontario government performance indicators (student satisfaction, graduate satisfaction, job placement rate, graduation rate)—a first in Ontario.
2017
September
- Closing of the New Liskeard campus.
2018
July
- Windsor campus opens.
2018
September
- Creation of Boréal Online.
2018
October
- Announcement of a permanent campus in Toronto in the historic Distillery District.
2019
September
- Collège Boréal moves to Ottawa, to the Saint Paul University campus.
2020
- Inauguration of Research & Innovation Boréal.
2021
June
- Collège Boréal’s 25th anniversary celebrations include the unveiling of the documentary “Les yeux sur Boréal” and 13 clips on the major impacts of the institution.
2022
- Creation of the new Office of Quality Assurance, Corporate Research and Strategic Planning.
- Beginning of the renovation of the future temporary campus in the historic Distillery district of Toronto.
2022
March
- Michelle Kozlowski and Frédéric Houle win the bronze medal in badminton at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s national tournament.
2022
September
- Launch of the Public Administration program in Ottawa
2022
October
- Joint funding announcement by the Governments of Canada and Ontario to develop bachelor’s degree programs at Collège Boréal.
2022
November
- Gisèle Chrétien receives the “Pilier collégial francophone” award from the Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada.
- First agreement to relocate Collège Boréal’s programs to the École Canadienne de Tunis.
- New Collège Boréal facilities in London.
2023
June
- Government of Ontario announces Collège Boréal’s first independent bachelor’s degree, in Nursing.
- Boréal unveils a new brand identity and website.
2023
October
- Official opening of Collège Boréal’s new campus in Toronto.
- Weston Family Foundation contributes $1 million to Boréal to help address food insecurity in Canada’s remote regions.
- Collège Boréal enhances professional integration for people with disabilities with over $1.5 million in funding.
2024
January
- Boréal supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
2024
February
- Government of Canada invests in renovations at the Nipissing Campus.
2024
April
- Grand opening of Carrefour du Nord-Est in Kapuskasing.
2024
May
- The Quebec-Africa Chamber of Commerce and Boréal join forces to foster entrepreneurial development.
- Professor Marc Hébert wins Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ Award of Excellence (Everyday Hero category).
2024
August
- Unveiling of a new podcast on inclusivity.
2024
October
- Collège Boréal is appointed employment Service System Manager (SSM) for Northeastern Ontario.
2024
November
- Official opening of the Shkode “Heart of Fire” Pavilion, home to Boréal’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Educational Centre.
2025
January
- Collège Mathieu and Collège Boréal increase access to French-language post-secondary education in Saskatchewan.
2025
February
- Kristen Vane wins the bronze medal in badminton at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s provincial tournament.
2025
March
- Unveiling of Boréal’s new five-year strategic plan: “Horizon 2030: Succeeding Together”.
2025
April
- Expansion of the Ottawa campus to broaden the range of French-language post-secondary programs in the nation’s capital.
2025
May
- Pôle entrepreneuriat – HEC Montréal and Collège Boréal launch a new collaboration to support Francophone entrepreneurs.
2025
June
- Collège Boréal renews Daniel Giroux’s mandate as President.
- Olivia Baudet receives Ontario Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Award of Excellence (Rising Star category).
News
Collège Boréal launches its first Business and Francophone Entrepreneurship Week
Sudbury Partnership for Higher Education Recognizes Provincial Investment
Université de Sudbury and Collège Boréal Announce a Partnership to Offer Science Courses for the First Time in 66 Years