Jason Dewling walked onto the Capilano University campus in early March with two decades of higher education leadership behind him and a clear sense of purpose ahead. The newly appointed president and vice-chancellor officially began his five-year term on March 2, stepping into a role that has been quietly shaped by his own hopes for years.
“People have been giving me a warm welcome and I’m very pleased to be here,” Dewling said shortly after taking office. He succeeds Laureen Styles, who served as interim president and vice-chancellor since April 2024.
Dewling’s arrival marks a homecoming of sorts. He and his family have lived in North Vancouver’s Deep Cove for the past six years, and the university itself has been on his radar longer than most would guess. Three years ago, while cycling with his wife near the North Vancouver campus, Dewling paused and made a quiet declaration: he wanted to lead this institution someday. When the opportunity emerged, he didn’t hesitate.
His professional journey spans more than 25 years in Canadian post-secondary education. Most recently, Dewling served as president of LaSalle College Vancouver and chief learning officer for LCI Education, where he focused on curriculum innovation, technology integration, and building inclusive learning environments. Before that, he held senior roles at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology in Alberta and Lakeland College in Vermilion, where his career in education first took root.
Dewling holds a PhD in education from the University of Alberta. But his path to academic leadership wasn’t mapped out from the start. Growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in a blue-collar household, he didn’t grow up imagining a career in university administration. “We couldn’t dream very big, because our world was quite small,” he explained. He was the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
“The career kind of found me,” Dewling said. “My path wasn’t necessarily a straight path. I was fortunate to have key people in my life along the way that said, ‘You should try this, you should keep going here, we’ll give you a chance here.'”
Those mentors saw potential Dewling hadn’t yet recognized in himself. Their encouragement nudged him forward, from teaching roles to academic leadership positions across Western Canada. His work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In May 2024, he received a King Charles III Coronation Medal through the National Association of Career Colleges, an honor reserved for Canadians who have made meaningful contributions to their communities or the country.
“I was quite grateful and honoured to receive it,” Dewling said. “When I receive an award like that, it’s really an acknowledgement of the teams and people I’ve worked with and the impact that we had together.”
Now settled into his new role, Dewling is spending his early weeks listening. He’s meeting with faculty, staff, and students to understand what makes Capilano University distinct and where its strengths lie. The goal isn’t just to lead, but to ensure his vision aligns with the community he now serves.
Post-secondary institutions across Canada are navigating a challenging period. Enrolment pressures, funding constraints, and shifting government policies are forcing universities to make hard choices about priorities. Dewling acknowledges these realities, but he sees them as clarifying rather than crippling.
“Whenever you’re faced with those kinds of pressures, it really crystallizes what’s really important,” he said. “For me, I want to ensure that all the resources we can go towards both the learning and student experience. In the next few years, we’re going to make sure that is exceptional.”
Capilano University positions itself as a teaching university, an institution where classroom experience takes center stage. Faculty are hired primarily to teach, not to chase research grants or publish extensively. Dewling wants to lean into that identity and amplify it nationally.
“With just a little more effort, I think we can be known for that from coast to coast,” he said. The university already has signature programs in jazz, early childhood education, and film. Dewling believes those strengths can become national benchmarks if supported properly.
His connection to the North Shore runs deeper than professional ambition. Dewling and his family are embedded in the community. They hike local trails, kayak the inlets, and ski at Mount Seymour. They’ve become regulars at the Deep Cove doughnut shop and frequent visitors to the Shipyards during summer months.
“There’s just 100 adventures within 30 minutes,” Dewling said. The region’s natural beauty and recreational access aren’t just lifestyle perks. They’re part of what makes Capilano University an attractive option for students seeking both academic rigor and quality of life.
“If you choose CapU, you generally find your place in this world,” he added. “It really has quite a bit of variety in what it teaches.”
An official installation ceremony is scheduled for May 7 at 11 a.m. at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts on campus. The event will also be livestreamed on Vimeo for those unable to attend in person.
Dewling’s leadership arrives at a pivotal moment for Canadian higher education. Federal immigration policy changes have tightened international student admissions, a shift that will ripple through university budgets and campus demographics. Provincial funding models remain unpredictable, and competition for domestic students is intensifying as demographics shift.
In this context, Capilano University’s teaching-focused mission could prove to be an advantage. Smaller class sizes, accessible faculty, and hands-on learning experiences appeal to students seeking alternatives to large research universities. Dewling’s challenge will be protecting those qualities while managing financial pressures that could force difficult trade-offs.
For now, he’s focused on building relationships and understanding the institution’s culture before making major strategic moves. That approach reflects lessons learned over decades in higher education leadership. Bold visions matter, but so does knowing when to listen before acting.
Dewling’s story is one of incremental opportunity and persistent encouragement. From a family in Newfoundland where university wasn’t a given, to the presidency of a respected teaching university on the west coast, his career arc reflects both personal determination and the mentorship of others who saw his potential.
As he settles into his new role, Dewling carries that legacy forward. His hope is that Capilano University can offer students the same kind of guidance and opportunity that shaped his own path—a place where potential is recognized, nurtured, and given room to grow.
