IT’S YOU WHO INSPIRES US.
College of the Rockies serves the communities of the East Kootenays. All of the College’s campuses are located in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa people which is also home to the Kinbasket people. Five First Nations bands are located in the regional boundary of the College, four of which are Ktunaxa and one is Shuswap. Additionally, the College partners with the Métis Nation through its Kootenay Regional Office. We are thankful for all our Indigenous partners and are constantly seeking new ways to support the development of our community. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First a huge THANK YOU!
On behalf of our students and College of the Rockies, we both want to express our sincerest thanks to our donors for the incredible and inspiring support of our students this past 2023/2024 fiscal year.
Your gift has undoubtedly changed the direction of many lives in our communities, providing opportunity where it may not have existed for some.
In 23/24, our donors supported 330 scholarships, awards, and bursaries and $232,633.79 was disbursed to students who were beginning their education journey, who were in the midst of their education or were heading out to further their education or embark on new careers.
To show how your gift makes a difference and can change the lives for our students, here are a couple of comments from personal thank-you cards to our donors from student recipients at this Spring’s 2024 award ceremony:
“Your involvement in my education is much appreciated and I will forever remember your impact on my life.”
“With your financial support, this journey became a little easier as I can worry less about my school costs and direct my focus to my studies.”
“Thank you for believing in me enough to support my future. I will do whatever it takes to prove to you that I was worth it, and I will never forget your generosity.”
As this is our first annual donor recognition report, we hope you will enjoy the Giving stories that showcase some of the gifts from this past year as well as a list of all businesses, corporations, families, and community clubs who have graciously provided funds in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and awards.
Within our communities, College of the Rockies serves people from all walks of life through a diverse range of programming, including skilled trades, applied degrees, university transfer and workforce development. Your gift has made a profound difference and helped those students focus on their future and help them on their educational journey which in turn helps the prosperity of both our region and our province.
Thank you again and all the best,
Paul Vogt President and CEO College of the Rockies
GIVING STORIES
FINNING CANADA GIVING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
Finning Canada’s Cranbrook branch employs several College of the Rockies alumni from the Heavy Duty Mechanic program so they are invested in seeing the program, and students, continue to thrive. That is why, when they found they had a couple of used Caterpillar engines they no longer needed, they chose to donate them to the College’s program.
“Students will be able use them to develop their disassemble, reassemble, and rebuilding skills,” said Kevin Barg, Customer Service Manager at Finning Canada’s Cranbrook Branch. “They will also gain knowledge on engines, fuel systems, emissions systems, and diagnostic skills.”
With the changes in technology, these engines will be of great benefit to College of the Rockies’ Heavy Duty Mechanics program.
BRANDON ALPINE AWARD KEEPING HIS LEGACY ALIVE
“The engines from Finning will be used for Heavy Duty Mechanic 2nd year apprenticeship training,” said Heavy Duty Mechanic instructor Kevin McCreel. “They will allow us to phase out some of our older, more tired engines and bring in more modern ones using some of the latest technology.”
The Brandon Alpine Memorial Bursary, sponsored by Aecon, Janice Alpine and CMAW Local 2300.
Though it remains painful, when Janice Alpine thinks of her son Brandon, she tries to focus on remembering the good times. Brandon, a 4th year apprentice carpenter, passed away unexpectedly in February 2023 leaving a hole not only in Janice’s heart but in the hearts of all those who knew him.
“My son was a proud Ktunaxa man and loved his family dearly,” Janice said. “He was a hardworking, fun-loving father and friend and was in his element when working with his hands.
He left home at 18 to work on the oil rigs in Alberta and would call home inviting his cousins to join him there. He really wanted the best for his cousins and his people. When he came back from the oil rigs, he joined the Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers Canada (CMAW) Local 2300 in hopes it would help his career, which it did. He worked on so many projects all over BC and was meticulous and proud of his work. The Brandon Alpine Memorial Bursary helps to keep my son’s legacy alive.”
Brandon was proud to be part of the Aecon Industrial West team and CMAW Local 2300, and most recently had been working for the North American construction company, Aecon, on the Kicking Horse Canyon project.
“We are pleased to contribute $15,000 toward this bursary in his memory in honour of our late colleague and to help Indigenous students enter into trades training seemed like the best way to honour him,” said Joe Gheran, Aecon’s Labour Relation Manager.
Brandon’s union, CMAW Local 2300 is also providing a $5,000 financial donation. Combined with Aecon’s donation and the initial $5,000 contributed by Janice Alpine, the Brandon Alpine Memorial Bursary has now been established with $25,000 available for Indigenous students as they pursue their studies in the construction trades.
SHARON MOLNAR CHAMPIONING EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY GROWTH
When you have a community member who is a passionate advocate for youth, education, and community vitality, great things can happen. Sharon Molnar is one of those community members. Understanding that education is not merely a personal endeavor but a force for societal progress, she established the Molnar Scholarship, aimed at empowering deserving individuals to unlock their full potential.
Tailored for students enrolled full-time in Engineering or University Sciences programs who exhibit not only financial need but also a commendable work ethic, the Molnar Scholarship supports students continuing their education at the College or continuing on to complete their degree in Engineering or Sciences elsewhere. Preference is given to those facing unique challenges such as single parenthood or
career transitions, highlighting Sharon’s belief in the importance of equitable opportunities.
In Sharon’s eyes, supporting College of the Rockies’ students is not just an act of philanthropy but a strategic investment in the future of the East Kootenay region. It is
I am currently finishing my second year as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a goal of mine to complete while in this program is to make a difference in the community. The bursary is important to me as it will allow me to pay for the tuition and living expenses required in order to make this all possible.
Once I graduate, I anticipate to start a career as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse and continue to impact the lives of vulnerable patients.
Students are practicing listening to the heartbeat of a baby.
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
College of the Rockies wishes to thank all businesses, corporations, families and community clubs who have so graciously provided funds in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and awards.
Their significant contributions provide College of the Rockies students with finances and support to continue their educational endeavours.
• 123Dentist
• Adele Thompson Memorial Bursary
• Advanced Education Council of BC Foundation
• AECON Group Inc.
• Alpine, Janice
• Amalgamated Beverages Ltd. (Coca Cola)
• Aq’am
• Aqueduct Foundation
• BC Hydro
• BDO Canada LLP
• Bjorn, Bob
• Bourns, Mike
• Brandon Salviulo Memorial
• Brian Pagnucco Memorial Scholarship
• Brilliant Expansion Equity Working Group
• Brinkert, Kerry
• Business & Professional Women’s Club Foundation
• Campbell, Jane
• Canadian Federation of University Women
• Canada Helps (Anonymous Donors)
• Canfor Good Things Come from Trees Foundation
• Central Okanagan Bursary
• CICAN ImpAct-Climate Challenge
• Cindy Oliver ABE Bursary
• CITO/ITA Construction Trades
• CMAW Local 2300
• CN Parkin Memorial
• College of the Rockies Career and Job Fair
• College of the Rockies Class Act Students
• College of the Rockies CUPE Local 2773
• College of the Rockies Faculty Association
• College of the Rockies Fernie Campus
• College of the Rockies Golden Student Association
• College of the Rockies Indigenous Department
• College of the Rockies International
• College of the Rockies Student Association
• College of the Rockies Welding Advisory Committee
• Columbia Basin Trust
• Columbia Power Corporation
• Columbia Valley Community Foundation
• Credit Union Foundation - Joe Selby Memorial
• Credit Union Foundation - Pioneers Memorial
• Creighton School Division
• Creston Valley Community Foundation
• Creston Valley Gleaners Society
• Creston Valley Hospice Society
• Cummins Western Canada Foundation
• DH Radstaak Scholarship
• Driedger, Annette
• East Kootenay Addiction Services Society
• Echoridge Education Foundation
• Eddy Brown Memorial Foundation
• Elk River Building Society
• Elk Valley Skills Centre Foundation
• Engineers Canada Indigenous Access to Engineering
• Erasing Barriers Fund
• Fay and Rad Hartwell Bursary (Anonymous Donor)
• Fernie Mountain Film Festival
• Fernie Secondary School
• Fiorentino, Mary
• G&M Clark Foundation
• George and Iris Brown Bursary
• Hicks, Dan and Robin
• Howard Award
• Hutchinson, Jim
• Jarvis, Blair
• J. Hugh Campbell Memorial Bursary
• JM Flemming Entrance Bursary (Anonymous Donor)
• John Bracco Memorial Foundation
• John McKay – BC Council of LPN
• Kal Tire Mining Group
• Kimberley Elks
• Kimberley Skills Centre Foundation
• Kin Club of Cranbrook
• Kinghorn, Russ
• Kokanee Ford Automotive
• Kootenay Dental Society
• Kootenay Savings Credit Union
• Labatt / Columbia Breweries Foundation
• Lakes, Joan
• Leask Family
• Lee, Harley
• Loucks, Bradley
• Maddigan, John
• Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
• Maple Leaf Rebekah Lodge
• Meetings That Matter
• Midge Entrance Bursary (Anonymous Donor)
• Miro Micovsky Bursary
• Molnar, Sharon
• Musil, Darcie
• Neve, James
• Next Step Impact
• Nivison, Heather
• Northern Neighbours Foundation
• Nuxalk Acwsalcmalslayc Academy
• Open Shop Construction Industry
• Paper Excellence
• Parkin, Tom
• Pioneer Credit Union Foundation
• Rautenbach, Anna-Marie
• Remo Morandini Memorial
• Richard John Walkley Bursary (Anonymous Donor)
• Rick & Marg Jensen Family Foundation
• Ridge Construction Ltd.
• Rocky Mountain Naturalists
• Rotary Club of Cranbrook
• Rotary Club of Invermere
• Royal Bank of Canada Foundation
• Royal Canadian Legion
• Rubidge, Dr. Nicholas
• Ruth Walker Estate Foundation
• Sand Creek Lions
• Scholarship America
• School District No. 22 (Vernon)
• Seekers Media
• Senior Citizen Association of BC - Cranbrook Branch #11
• Sophia Hedman Trust Foundation
• Steps Forward
• TC Energy
• TCRC GCA City West
• Teamsters Canada Rail Conference
• Teck
• Telling, Gwen
• Tembec Industries/Rotary Club of Cranbrook
• Tiana McLellan Memorial Scholarship Foundation
• Trans Canada Pipeline Foundation
• United Commercial Travellers
• United Way British Columbia
• Universities Canada
• University Women’s Club
• Valerie Hillstrom Bursary for the Arts
• Vancouver Foundation
• Velma McKay Bursary Scholarship
• Vogt, Paul
• Whetham, Gretchen
• Yamagoya Sushi
• Yoki Fine Arts Bursary (Anonymous Donor)
• Air Liquide
• Finning
• Newsome, William
• Whiting, Tracey
AVALANCHE SPONSORS GIFT IN KIND
• Bad Ventures
• Booster Juice
• Cranbrook Kia
• EK Realty
• East Kootenay Volleyball Club
• KD Electric
• Kootenay Life Dental
• Silverado Industries
• St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino
ATHLETICS
• Bellay, Edward
• Cranbrook Toyota
• Denham Ford Cranbrook
• Friesen, James Edna
• Gascon Distribution Ltd.
• Inland Truck and Equipment
• JMA Excavating
• Lightburn Ventures
• Marsden, Brandi
• MK Furnishings
• Schmiess, Trevor Ralph
• Sky Contracting
• Thiessen, Adele
• Thompson, Brianna and Dylan
DONORS FROM FUNDRAISING EVENTS
• Boston Pizza Cranbrook
• Bridge Interiors
• City of Cranbrook
• Cranbrook Golf Club
• Elizabeth Lake Lodge
• Farrero, Charley
• Fitness Inc.
• Grow Chocolate
• High Country Sports
• Kootenay Indoor Golf
• Mister Tire
• Mountain Man Outdoors
• Prestige Cranbrook
• Prevail Empire
• Purcell Golf
• Shadow Mountain Golf Course
• Sprout Market
• St. Mary Angler Fly Shop
• The Colombo Lodge
• The Heidout
• The Studio
• Thrive Visuals
• Trickle Creek Golf Course
• Vincent Photography
• Wildstone Golf Course
WHERE YOUR SUPPORT GOES
STUDENT AWARDS BY CATEGORY
Here’s a snapshot of where donor monies are supporting students for fiscal year, 2023-2024. The percentages vary as some department categories are larger than others, with more opportunities for support and in turn, more students to support.
Spring 2023 Scholarship, Bursary and Award winners, April 13, 2023 at the Cranbrook Campus.
TOURISM, RECREATION, AND HOSPITALITY
TRADES
UNIVERSITY ARTS AND SCIENCE
UPGRADING FOR ACADEMIC AND CAREER ENTRY
$32,863.25
CREATE A LASTING LEGACY EVERY GIFT COUNTS.
By supporting College of the Rockies, you are directly impacting our students. Your generous support is changing the direction of many lives in our community, providing opportunity where it may not have existed for some and helping us grow and provide the infrastructure and training for in-demand jobs in our region.
WAYS TO GIVE
ONE TIME AND MONTHLY GIFTS
You can make a one-time or recurring gift online at cotr.ca/giving or mail a cheque to:
College of the Rockies
Donor and Alumni Engagement Office
2700 College Way
Cranbrook BC, V1C 5L7
Note: Please make cheques payable to College of the Rockies
STOCKS
Email giving@cotr.bc.ca to request a Gift of Shares form to help you navigate this process.
ESTATE PLANNING
There are opportunities to create a legacy at College of the Rockies through your Will. Options include bequests for unrestricted purposes, and donations via RRSPs. Talk to your financial planner or lawyer for more information.
GIFTS IN KIND
A Gift in Kind is a gift of equipment, vehicles, consumables, real estate, which normally requires appraisal for tax receipt purposes. Let us help you determine whether your property is suitable for a donation to College of the Rockies by emailing giving@cotr.bc.ca