Each year Red River College awards a Red River College Honorary Diploma to an individual who demonstrates high standards of excellence in their personal and professional achievements and whose involvement in the community is widely recognized.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Manitoba Hydro, Bob Brennan has a high profile and very public position. Yet he conducts himself in a quiet manner that is respectful of the people with whom he works on various initiatives. Under his leadership, Manitoba Hydro has developed positive working relationships with First Nations communities and supported the revitalization of downtown Winnipeg by building its new head office on Portage Avenue.

Bob has spent his entire professional career with Manitoba Hydro. His prior roles include Senior Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer. A Chartered Accountant, Bob was elected as a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants by The Manitoba Institute of Chartered Accountants.

In addition to his professional achievements, Bob has a distinguished record of community service. He is currently Director of the YMCA/YWCA, CNIB, ICAM’s Discipline Committee, and the Canadian Electricity Association. He is past-Chair, Board of Directors at Riverview Health Centre as well as current Chair of the Riverview Health Centre Foundation.

Bob has a long history of giving back to the community in the form of involvement with such organizations as the Salvation Army, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Humane Society, CNIB, and Hospice and Palliative Care Manitoba.

With Bob at the helm, Manitoba Hydro continues to cultivate a strong relationship with RRC which encompasses the provision of student scholarships and the hiring of graduates and contracting training for Hydro employees.

“Red River College is an integral and essential institute of applied learning in Manitoba and does an amazing job of providing high quality training and education to so many students every year,” says Bob. “Our province is very fortunate to have this college doing such a great job! Graduates get training and experience in very practical career paths and they get good jobs very quickly.”

He notes that he is both pleased and flattered to be receiving an Honorary Diploma from RRC: “I truly appreciate and am humbled by the recognition that I am being given from such an important institution in our community.”