Camosun College's new president likes sports, loves to cook and wants to bring more music into campus life.

Montreal-born Kathryn Laurin, who replaces Liz Ashton, is a keen choral conductor with music degrees from McGill and Indiana universities. She also attended the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt, Germany, and continued to perform, though rarely, while president and vice-chancellor of Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax.

Her career swung away from music and into administration when she was teaching at the University of Regina, and was asked to chair its music department, then serve as dean of fine arts.

"There is a great deal of similarity between the discipline of conducting and the art of leadership," she said. "In both, you work collaboratively toward a common vision. I'm very excited by the synergies of people working together ... thrilled to join the leadership team of such a highly respected, dynamic, student-focused college."

"I am also profoundly moved by this college's ability to transform lives. That was a powerful draw," said Laurin, 52, who started in September and is still busy meeting the 1,009 staff and faculty. Camosun is double Mount St. Vincent's size, with about 10,000 students and a $100-million budget.

"What was also immediately evident to me is the real sense of pride of place ... It is very striking for an outsider, and very appealing. This is a large college, but intimate."

Laurin, who used to play piano duets with her father and once imagined performing on the Ed Sullivan Show, won the Women of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture in 2001 and was recently named one of Atlantic Business magazine's 2009 top 50 CEOs.

"Kathryn's energy, communication skills, professionalism and sense of humour were obvious from her first meeting with the search committee," said Camosun board chairwoman Lynda Farmer.

"Our national recruitment process was focused on finding a new president who would be able to work with and enhance Camosun College's track record of excellence. At the end of that lengthy process Kathryn was our obvious choice -- she understands the needs of the college and its focus on student-centred learning."

Laurin moved here with husband Read Jorgensen, a school administrator and now vice-principal at McKenzie Elementary.

He is delighted with the move, too.

"He recently ran a large international education project in Abu Dhabi and used to complain bitterly about the winters in Halifax," joked Laurin.

"We both love to golf and apparently we're in the right city for that." They also both adore music.

"If I ever have some free time I would like to pursue more musical interests," she said, adding a high point was teaching a chamber choir at the University of Regina and winning a top competition in Wales.

"We do have a music program at Camosun but because we partner with the conservatory, the performing opportunities are there, not here." She'd like to start a lunch-hour music series.

She sees her role as ensuring an environment where people can be their best.

"My job is to facilitate an innovative, creative, supportive environment. To help people with challenges and barriers, and work toward partnerships and opportunities."

A little sign on her desk reads Carpe Diem, Latin for "seize the day," and she notes those who say it can't be done "need to get out of the way of those who are doing."

Is she concerned about the financial belt-tightening in B.C.?

"Not after three years in Atlantic Canada. In Nova Scotia there are a million people and 11 universities. It puts a whole new spin on the word competition."

She adds that enrolment at Camosun is up 11.8 per cent from last year and the average age of students is 27.

"In an economic downturn people want to retool, upgrade. This is a great place to do that. In the last three years we've had a 95 per cent employment rate, so that speaks to our reputation and high calibre teaching."

glitwin@tc.canwest.com