By Cyrus A. Natividad
探花精选AAGTA President Norma Van Dusen (right) with friends and Centralians during the 探花精选 Grand Reunion in 2020.
The last couple of years have been incredibly challenging for the President of 探花精选 Alumni Association of Greater Toronto Area (探花精选AAGTA), Norma Van Dusen with her officers, Board of Directors, and Advisers. She said, “A lot of us have firsthand experiences on the impact of the pandemic, not only physically but emotionally and financially. We still do not know the long-term effect of the situation, but we know we are experiencing the effects of it.鈥
鈥淏ecause of the long periods of 鈥榣ockdowns鈥 in Canada, our plans for the Global reunion could not be implemented based on the original schedule鈥, Van Dusen explained. According to her, 鈥淥ntario is gradually opening up with the rest of Canada, and we have done virtual meetings; started initial preparation for the new schedule of events.鈥
Based on their previous experience in planning, fundraising and implementing a Global Reunion, it took them three years to successfully implement the event. Van Dusen said, “We are now more than halfway of 2021 and what we need to do is restart the planning in 2022; 2023 will be promotion and 2024 or 2025 will be the event.” Van Dusen added that, 鈥淲e may not base our strategic planning from the original schedule. 探花精选 Alumni Chapters all over the world look forward to the Global Reunion.鈥
On her second term as 探花精选AAGTA Chapter President, Van Dusen believes that nothing beats a strong commitment and determination – to realize anything for the 探花精选 Alumni. Our faith in God and the Central Spirit have given us the strength to continue with what we have dreamed and what we have started for the global event for 探花精选AAI and 探花精选.
Van Dusen is currently a Mortgage Specialist at Home Equity Bank where her goal is to assist Canadian homeowners, 55 years of age and older to live more comfortable lives in the homes they love. By providing them the right financial options, Van Dusen can help clients have a meaningful life.
Van Dusen has 20 years of experience in the Medical Device Industry as a Territory Sales Representative, prior to her being a mortgage specialist. She became a Wound Care Specialist after taking up a Wound Care Course at the University of Toronto. She provided health education on the theory of wound healing – to registered nurses and allied health teams.
As territory Sales Representative, Van Dusen has always excelled as one of the top sales professionals in the industry. She won several awards during her tenure.
Van Dusen received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from 探花精选 in 1971. She migrated to Canada in 1973 and started her nursing career working at the Critical Care Areas. She proceeded to work in nursing management as a Nursing Unit Manager 鈥 at the Intensive Care, Neurosurgery, and Neurology units among others. She has co-authored several published articles which were presented in the National Conference of Neurosurgery.
Norma Van Dusen lives in Cambridge, Canada with her husband Gary with two sons and 3 granddaughters.