MacDonald new Gaelic College CEO

By Julie Collins -The Cape Breton Post

ST. ANNS — Former premier Rodney MacDonald is going back to college. MacDonald, who is living in his home community of Mabou, will take on the duties of CEO of the Gaelic College on Sept. 15.

"There were well over 30 candidates for the position including from Scotland," said Gaelic College chair Maureen Carroll. "Rodney was the top choice."

The selection committee took a full month to evaluate the submissions. The committee narrowed the field to seven, interviewed them all and scored and evaluated them

independently.

"As an ex-premier, Rodney has the experience in leadership and we really feel confident. We think we are on the edge of something great," Carroll said. "The mandate of the Gaelic College is education. Rodney's degree is in education and he has also been an instructor at the Gaelic College."

As CEO, MacDonald will be responsible for all operations and departments at the Gaelic College.

Carroll noted that the college has a ways to go and the idea is to operate at its full potential.

"We've has so much transition in the past year, we feel we are now on steady ground and moving forward," Carroll said. "Rodney has a certain aura and a demeanor that really puts people at ease. The staff is just thrilled to death and looking forward to Sept. 15."

MacDonald will be introduced as the new CEO at the second annual event titled "Pane in the Glass" at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design third floor loft Thursday, Sept. 8. The "Pane in the Glass" auction is a part of the annual fundraising activities for the Gaelic College that raise funds for education and programming.

"I'm thrilled to take on this new role," MacDonald said. "I'm very excited at the opportunity to be the CEO of the Gaelic College. To work with the staff and the community at large at growing the college, seeking new opportunities and to see many positive things happening over the next number of years."

MacDonald added that the promotion of the Gaelic culture and language is extremely important and a focal point of the college.

"I think we can grow our numbers at the college and raise our profile and continue to promote the culture of the island," he said. "There is also the promotion of the craft shop and kilt making — there are a lot of great things happening at the Gaelic College and we plan on doing all we can to bring it to the next level."

MacDonald said he was familiar with the Gaelic language growing up in the community of Mabou and did take first year Gaelic at university.

"This is one of the commitments I've made to the board, to take a lot more training in Gaelic," he said. "We have a great board and chair and a new energy at the college. This is very exciting."

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