George Brown College Chancellor Noella Milne believes her story will resonate with our students. She came to Canada from Mumbai, India alone at the age of 17, dug in her heels and worked hard to put herself through school and earn professional success.
Milne, a prominent Toronto real-estate lawyer and youth advocate, was installed as Chancellor of George Brown College on May 3, 2019 at a ceremony at the Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences at Waterfront Campus.
“My hope is that many of these students will be able to see themselves in my story—a young immigrant who came to Canada with nothing and worked hard to complete a post-secondary education and establish a career,” Milne said. “I’m a strong believer in the power of positive role models, and in the value of mentorship—this is something I’ve advocated in my professional life and will continue to advocate as Chancellor.”
Milne, a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais, is the second person to hold the position. Sally Horsfall Eaton served as the first chancellor of George Brown and an Ontario college from 2012 to 2018.
Milne’s connection to George Brown goes back several years. She sat on the Board of Governors and has made generous donations to the college, including one that funds a scholarship aimed at single mothers that was created to honour her late sister Lorna D’Souza.
George Brown College President Anne Sado said Milne is the ideal ambassador.
“As I’ve seen first-hand over the past 15 years, Noella is incredibly passionate about helping others, and she commits herself 110 per cent to everything she does," Sado said. “She’s truly one of the most genuine and community-minded people I’ve ever known. “
In one of her first acts as George Brown College Chancellor, Milne will officiate convocation ceremonies June 10 –14, 2019.
“Being Chancellor is not about me, it’s about how I can help students find themselves,” Milne said.
“I want them to recognize that they can do anything, be anything, and that they have a community of supporters at George Brown. And mine will be one of the loudest voices cheering them on.”
