Conestoga President Resigns After Union Pressure, Mass Layoffs

KITCHENER, ON – January 14, 2026 – Conestoga College President John Tibbits announced his immediate resignation today, ending a nearly four-decade tenure amid a severe institutional crisis marked by mass layoffs, program cuts, and a sustained pressure campaign from employee unions. The departure signals a major victory for faculty and support staff who had called for his removal, citing concerns over his leadership, executive compensation, and a perceived lack of transparency.

The college's Board of Governors has appointed Norma McDonald Ewing, formerly the Vice President of Institutional Strategy & Engagement, as Interim President. The move comes as the college grapples with the fallout from a federal cap on international students, which has drastically impacted its revenues and led to some of the deepest job losses in Ontario's post-secondary sector.

A Union Victory Decades in the Making

Union leaders at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) are hailing the resignation as the direct result of their campaign for accountable leadership. “This win belongs to every worker, student, and neighbour that has been devastated by John Tibbits’ destructive tenure,” said Leopold Koff, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 237, representing faculty. “Now the adults can sit down and talk.”

The union's campaign intensified in late 2025, particularly after the college announced nearly 400 full-time layoffs just before the holidays. OPSEU had framed Tibbits' leadership as the root of the institution's problems, pointing to what they termed his “legacy of ruin.”

“The international disaster created by John Tibbits is the natural consequence of what happens when our community colleges stop being accountable to communities and taxpayers,” stated JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President. The union is now positioning itself as a key partner in the college's path forward, inviting the new interim leadership to engage in immediate and open dialogue.

Vikki Poirier, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 238 for support staff, echoed the call for collaboration. “To undo Tibbits’ legacy of ruin, we need to be directly involved in reform and the search for new leadership,” she said. The union has made it clear it expects a seat at the table to review recent decisions and chart a new course for the college.

A College Grappling with Crisis

The leadership change occurs at a tumultuous time for Conestoga. In December 2025, the college issued layoff notices to 181 full-time faculty and 197 support staff members. Alongside these cuts, the union reports that 80 programs are slated for closure by the fall of 2026, raising questions about the viability of remaining courses and the quality of student education.

The college administration has attributed these “difficult but necessary decisions” to severe financial pressures. A federally imposed cap on international student permits led to a nearly 80 percent drop in Conestoga's international enrollment in 2025 compared to 2023. This resulted in a significant revenue shortfall, with international tuition income falling from approximately $682 million in 2024 to $563 million in 2025. Despite reporting a $121 million surplus for the fiscal year ending in March 2025, the college projects a deficit for the current 2025-26 fiscal year.

In response to the December layoffs, OPSEU faculty union Local 237 filed 124 grievances, while the support staff Local 238 was preparing another 20 to 30, alleging issues such as contracting out work. The cuts have also sparked concern among regional industry leaders. “We’re hearing industry leaders in the region are concerned that these lay-offs will bring a massive labour shortage to their sector, including the construction trades,” Hornick warned.

Controversy Over Pay and Transparency

Fueling the union's campaign was the stark contrast between the deep cuts and President Tibbits' own compensation. According to the Ontario Public Sector Salary Disclosure, Tibbits’ salary rose by 29 percent in 2024 to $636,102, making him the highest-paid public sector employee in the Waterloo Region and one of the highest-paid college presidents in the province. This was significantly more than presidents at other major Ontario colleges, such as Humber ($497,880) and Seneca ($459,778), whose institutions also faced financial headwinds.

“We hope this change in order will rectify Tibbits’ outlandish salary,” Koff stated, adding a pointed question about the terms of his departure. “The public ought to know what his resignation will cost us, too – another million dollar pay-out to get him through the door?”

Transparency in governance has also been a central point of contention. OPSEU has criticized the Conestoga Board of Governors for ranking lowest among colleges in transparency, citing unpublished operating bylaws and policies, and meeting schedules and minutes that are difficult for the public to access. The union argues that full financial disclosure and a more open approach to governance are essential to rebuilding faith in the college's leadership.

The Road to Rebuilding Trust

In an email to staff and students, Tibbits, who had served as president since 1987, cited personal reasons for his retirement, including his age and a desire to spend more time with family. Martha George, Chair of the Board of Governors, thanked Tibbits for his long service and commitment, which she said “shaped Conestoga and strengthened its role.”

Now, all eyes are on Interim President Norma McDonald Ewing and the board as they navigate the path forward. The board has engaged the executive search firm Boyden to find a permanent successor, a process the union demands to be a part of. Union leaders are urging the interim leadership to immediately review the recent layoffs and program cuts.

“We’d like to see interim leadership sit down with stakeholders and review some of these decisions,” said Poirier. “There’s room to reverse course and explore alternate solutions.”

The challenge for the new leadership will be to stabilize the institution's finances while rebuilding shattered trust with its employees, students, and the wider community. The union's call to govern the college with an eye towards ensuring “student, worker, industry, and community voices have a seat at the table” sets a high bar for the collaborative reform that many now see as essential for Conestoga's future.