Fanshawe says farewell

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: JOHN SING
Chloe Rundle came to celebrate her grandfather’s retirement celebration at the London Convention Centre on August 28.

For 41 years, Dr. Howard Rundle has been a constant presence on Fanshawe's campus. College President since 1995, he has seen thousands of students come and go, and has shaped the College's reputation in the community and around the world.

“For 41 years, I looked forward to going to work most every day,” Rundle said in an August 28 retirement celebration. “For the past nearly 18 years, I have considered it an honour and a privilege to have held the position of Fanshawe College.”

He said he can attribute his enjoyment of the position to three things: his hard-working and dedicated colleagues, supportive community members, and the excited and energetic students. “This is an environment that's hard to walk away from.”

The August 28 celebration saw more than 300 attendees, including Fanshawe faculty and alumni, city councilors, Mayor Joe Fontana and presidents of colleges across Ontario. Video messages shown throughout the evening included kind words and shared memories from members of Fanshawe's Board of Governors, Alumni Association, Fanshawe Student Union, family members, old friends and retired colleagues.

This event is where Rundle's big surprise was unveiled. “What do you get the guy who's got everything?” joked Crispin Colvin, chair of the Board of Governors. “The Board has decided to name the downtown Centre for Digital and Performing Arts the Howard W. Rundle Building.”

At the August 29 celebration in the Oasis restaurant on campus, Rundle was presented with another Fanshawe-focused gift: a mosaic of Fanshawe made up of over 500 images of the Fanshawe community.

“What I like about this is that Fanshawe College could have given him a photo of a part of Fanshawe College, but for Howard, we know full well that his time here, and what he'll remember from it, is the community within, and that's what this photo represents,” said Kathy Bouma, learning consultant.

Rundle's term as college president came to an end in late August. Fanshawe's new president, Peter Devlin, took over the position on September 3.