ACCC President and CEO

James Knight

James Knight has been President and CEO of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) since November 2007. ACCC represents the interests of Canada’s colleges, institutes of technology, university colleges, cégeps and polytechnics.

Mr. Knight holds a B.A. (Hon) in History and Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, an M.A. in Canadian History from the University of Toronto, a Certificate in Management from Queen’s University and a Sommelier Diploma from Algonquin College.

With over 25 years of leadership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), prior experience with the federal government in Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Environment Canada, and as Associate Director of the Heritage Canada Foundation, Mr. Knight brings a depth of national, international and community-oriented expertise to ACCC. During Mr. Knight’s tenure at FCM, many new initiatives were launched including a tripartite program for municipal infrastructure, a program for reimbursement of Goods and Services Tax paid by municipal governments, the transfer of five cents per litre of the federal excise tax on gasoline to municipalities, the creation of the Green Municipal Fund and an award-winning international program.

With ACCC, Jim helped securing a major capital contribution to member institutions from the Government of Canada, matched by provincial/territorial governments. Just under $2 billion in upgrading and expansion projects are now being implemented. He is a proponent of the central contribution of Canada’s colleges to Canada’s economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Mr. Knight is Past Chair of the Canadian Society of Association Executives; past Chair of WaterCan, a Canadian NGO that invests in water and sanitation projects in the Nile basin; and a Member of Sustainable Technology Development Canada, a publicly funded not-for-profit agency that helps bring to market green innovations and products.

Jim can be reached by e-mail or by telephone at 613-746-6492.