Dr. John M. Boersema Retires After 25 Years of Service
2 min. read
April 16, 2009

Dr. John M. Boersema, founder of the Business Program, retired from full-time teaching in December after 25 years of service to Redeemer. Prior to joining Redeemer, Dr. Boersema taught at the Western (Ivey) School of Business, and held accounting and finance positions at Shell and CIBC. While at Redeemer, he taught part-time in the MBA program at McMaster (DeGroote) School of Business. He has also authored two research studies for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. In 1995, Dr. Boersema was bold enough to suggest Redeemer start a Co-op Program, and he developed a model that would accommodate our cycled course offerings. While carrying a full teaching load, he served as Co-op Director for seven years and secured 62 co-op positions. Since graduation, those students have become public accountants, controllers, managers, bankers, business owners, and in one case, even a university professor. Dr. Boersema taught students to apply Biblical principles such as “love of neighbour,” “justice (righteousness, fairness, and caring for the weak), “counting the cost,” and “personal responsibility for stewardship of resources.” Integrating a Christian perspective was his strength and passion as a professor, but Dr. Boersema was also highly respected by students for his knowledge in a diverse range of areas, including accounting, finance, ethics, and economics. Dr. Boersema had a strong desire to see students develop to their full potential, which was evident in his willingness to review draft reports, his efforts to provide students with thorough academic and career advice, and continual enhancements to the business curriculum. Above all, Dr. Boersema was a man of integrity who modelled his faith both in and outside of the classroom, in his teaching, research, interactions with students, and personal life. An endowed scholarship has been established in gratitude for Dr. Boersema’s contributions to Redeemer as founder of both the Business Program and the Co-op Program.

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