51�Թ�app

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Lindsay as the new Board Chair of 51�Թ�app. I also want to thank Tanya for her passionate leadership and experience as our Board Chair of the last two years,” says Lane Trotter, President of Camosun. “The college remains committed to delivering applied, innovative and relevant education to our learners.”

Kearns was appointed to the Board on July 31, 2021 and was elected Vice-Chair of the Board in fall of 2023. She became Chair of the Board Risk & Audit Committee in the fall of 2023. Kearns joined the Cybersecurity Sub-committee as Chair in 2024. She previously served as Liaison on the PISE Board of Directors. 

Kearns is a Coordinator for the BC Centre for Women in the Trades, a project of the BC Federation of Labour.  Previously she was a Field Service Electrician in the Controls Division for Houle Electric Ltd. Lindsay is a settler who grew up in Toronto and has made her home in unceded lək̓ʷəŋən land in Victoria since 2001. Active in her community, she is a Director at Large on the Executive Board of the BC Trades Equity Society, serves as the recording secretary for the Victoria Unit of IBEW Local 230, and sits on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. She holds her Red Seal Construction Electrician certification from 51�Թ�app, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Indigenous Studies from the University of Victoria.

“Coming to Camosun as a student changed my life in all the best ways, and I’ve been honoured to have had the opportunity to give back by serving on the Board under the leadership of Tanya and Monty— It’s a privilege and joy to now move into the role of Chair myself,” says Kearns. “Our strong community at Camosun is a unique and inspiring tribute to the impact that engaged and committed Board members, administrators, president, staff, and students can have when we collaborate and work together.”

Tanya Clarmont was elected to the role of Chair beginning Aug. 1, 2023. Clarmont is Teme-Augama Anishnabai on her father’s side and her community is Bear Island Reserve on Lake Temagami, Ontario. She is also French Canadian from the Ottawa Valley on her mother’s side. She moved to the traditional territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples in BC to further her education while also continuing her career with the Friendship Centre Movement, which dates back to 2001. She works for the Victoria Native Friendship Centre as the Director of Human Resources and Management Supports. Clarmont graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.A. in Fine Arts focused in Creative Writing and attended the Banff Arts Centre in the Aboriginal Emerging Artists Program. She also holds a double Humanities B.A. in Native Studies and Law & Justice from Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON.

“I was honoured when elected Chair and have experienced nothing but kindness and support from my fellow board members, as well as the senior leadership at Camosun,” says Clarmont.  “I look forward to mentoring the new Chair, who I know will continue to lead our Board with strength and integrity.” 

She was appointed to the Board of Governors on July 31, 2019 and previously served as Chair of the Audit Committee and joined the Board Executive Committee, which she Chairs, in 2021. Tanya joined the Cybersecurity Sub-committee in 2024.  She was the Board liaison to the Camosun Foundation Board of Directors for 2020/21. Under Clarmont’s leadership as Chair, the college saw the approval of the new $154.7M student residence in July 2024. She will stay on the Board for the next year as the immediate past Chair.

51�Թ�app is a public post-secondary institution. The Board of Governors administers the college on behalf of the B.C. Government and the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.