Alumni Spotlight: Norma McComb
Jul 21, 2025 | Vanessa Tignanelli, Storyteller & Content Creator
Norma McComb (55) left Moose Factory at just 14, heading to North Bay to attend high school with a small group of students from her community. In 1989, she enrolled in Canadore College’s Social Service Worker program, becoming the first in her family to pursue post-secondary education. The program offered her more than just an education—it gave her a sense of belonging, a connection to a strong Indigenous peer group, and professors who brought real-world experience into the classroom.
For Norma, the program's integration of Indigenous history and culture filled a significant gap in her learning—something that had been missing from her upbringing. After graduating, she stayed in North Bay, married a fellow student, and went on to earn a BA in Social Welfare from Nipissing University. Norma spent nearly 29 years working with Ontario Works, eventually becoming Director of Social Assistance. Social work, for Norma, was always about more than just the job—it was about making a difference, offering people moments of relief so they could focus on something beyond just survival.
In 2022, Norma transitioned into a new role as Associate Executive Director with Moose Cree First Nation. Now overseeing various departments and programs and working closely with Chief and Council, she brings her human-centred approach to a leadership position that touches everything from water treatment to housing. Today, she credits Canadore with preparing her not only for a career but also for making a meaningful impact in her community, continuing to draw on the lessons she learned there about relationship-building, integrity, and walking with people instead of in front of them.
“It’s not just about helping—it’s about understanding.”
“Being a mother pushed me to work even harder toward my goal.”
“The professors at Canadore are truly invested in what they teach because they're working professionals themselves.”
“The extracurricular activities organized by the FPC made us feel like we belonged and gave us somewhere to go to connect with our own people. It helped with the homesickness and filled a void. It was our place.”
“The program introduced me to Indigenous history and culture—something I didn't have growing up. I didn't even know I was living on a reservation until I left home, and I had no awareness of treaties. It hits you all at once—why did no one ever talk about this?”
Norma McComb
Associate Executive Director, Moose Cree First Nation
Social Service Worker – Indigenous Stream Program (Class of 1992)
#Alumni #Canadore College #First Peoples' Centre #Indigenous