Campus news

LAKELAND’S BISON CLOSER TO CAMPUS

Half of Lakeland’s 200-head bison herd arrived at their temporary home near Lakeland College’s Vermilion campus on Feb. 25. The date was the first anniversary of the announcement that Armin and Rita Mueller, owners of Canadian Rangeland Bison and Elk, were donating money and bison to Lakeland to establish a herd.

Their gift strengthens the animal science technology program and provides more student-managed learning opportunities for students in the livestock major. Thank you Armin and Rita!

Premier Jason Kenney and Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart share a rendering of the renovated WHT Mead Animal Science Centre. They're joined by agricultural sciences students TJ Gonsalves (front row left) and Rianne Harrish (front row right) as well as Lakeland's board chair Scott Webb, Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, and Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education (back row from left).

Government of Alberta INVESTS IN

Agriculture at Lakeland

The Government of Alberta gave Lakeland College $17.3 million in capital maintenance and renewal funds to invest in the WHT Mead Animal Science Centre.

“Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs, now. We are committed to developing world-class post-secondary institutions, and today’s announcement of over $17 million to redevelop the Vermilion campus at Lakeland College, will help us meet students’ evolving needs in the region,” says Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education. The funds allow Lakeland to expand the facility to ensure students continue to have modern spaces for learning and innovation, as well as accommodate new programs and increasing enrolment. “On behalf of Lakeland College, thank you to the Alberta government for investing in our students – our province’s up-andcoming leaders – as well as our campus community. The 100 jobs this project will create is welcome news for our local region. This support opens another chapter of innovation and investment for Lakeland’s award-winning programs,” says Dr. Alice WainwrightStewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College.

Over the last few years, Lakeland has celebrated the expansion of the Vermilion campus farm and the upcoming addition of a bison operation, as well as new Animal Health Clinic and Dairy Learning Centre, plus the modernization of our G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Facility and Academic Link.

“We’re excited to see our growth continue with the government’s investment in this teaching facility. This, combined with future farm upgrades and our new Agriculture Technology Centre, will ensure Lakeland remains a global leader in agricultural education,” says Dr. Wainwright-Stewart. Accessed by 550-plus agricultural sciences students annually, the WHT Mead Animal Science Centre features labs, classrooms and faculty offices. It’s also an academic hub for hundreds of students in our environmental sciences and human services programs. With energy efficiency plans, collaborative student spaces and the addition of new classrooms, the renovated WHT Mead Animal Science Centre will provide a state-of-the-art hub for work-integrated learning.

GPRC, Lakeland College Partner to benefit ag programming

Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) and Lakeland College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pursue collaborative ventures in Alberta’s strong agricultural region. This student-focused partnership will see both colleges working together to create agricultural educational opportunities that are innovative and inclusive for students.

Engaging students, community and industry through agricultural advancements will achieve economic growth, enhance workforce skills and continue commitment to the diversification and innovation of the sector. Working together, GPRC and Lakeland College, will maximize creating educational opportunities in agriculture, collaborative research programs, student-life activities, and the potential for infrastructure and equipment sharing. “Collaboration is a key aspect of what we do at Lakeland College,” says Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, President and CEO of Lakeland College. “It’s essential that we work with our post-secondary partners to ensure that we are giving our students the best opportunities we can while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We are incredibly proud of our agricultural programming and the innovative student-led learning opportunities we provide through our StudentManaged Farm – Powered by New Holland. I’m excited to see how this partnership evolves in the coming years to best serve our regions and students.” The partnership, formalized by the signing of an MOU between the two colleges, takes effect on December 10, 2020 and runs until November 20, 2025.

LAKELAND NAMED TOP EMPLOYER

Lakeland College is celebrating its fifth consecutive year being honoured as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers. Lakeland’s health benefits plan, family-friendly culture and retirement planning opportunities are listed as a few of the reasons the college was selected as one of Alberta's Top Employers. “I am very proud that Lakeland is being celebrated as an outstanding place to work – something I have known to be true during my 38 years with Lakeland,” says Dr. Alice WainwrightStewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. “Ensuring our teams are supported, connected and informed is essential for everyone’s wellbeing and ability to operate, especially given the challenges we’ve faced with the pandemic to date. I am humbled by everyone’s commitment and teamwork, and how they continue to go above and beyond. This milestone is a testament to Lakeland’s campus community.” Judges that created Alberta’s Top Employer list noted that Lakeland fosters a healthy, ethical and respectable work environment for all with strong senior leadership support and a number of health and safety initiatives. Recent initiatives include Safe Spaces Training in support of the LGBTQ2+ community, Respect in the Workplace Training in support of a positive work environment and Working Minds training in support of the college’s mental health strategy. Lakeland is one of only five postsecondary institutions in Alberta to be recognized as a top employer for 2021.

to Lakeland College to grow agriculture technology programming and applied research

MNP has donated $90,000 to Lakeland College’s Leading. Learning. The Lakeland Campaign. in support of programming and research initiatives focused on agriculture technology. A portion of MNP’s gift will help fund equipment for the Agriculture Technology Centre at the Vermilion campus. This facility will be home to the college’s new bachelor of agriculture technology program that starts this fall. The two-year post-credential program – the first of its kind in Canada – is designed to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and agricultural management and production systems.

“We are excited to help educate students in this program, who will play a critical role in the digital transformation of our Canadian farms,” says Stuart Person, Senior Vice President, Agriculture at MNP. Applied research will also receive a boost from MNP’s generosity. Half of the funding will support We are excited to help research projects that educate students in this will help producers better understand and program, who will play a use new agriculture critical role in the digital technologies. transformation of our “MNP recognizes

Canadian farms. the contributions of Lakeland College to the education of people in the agriculture industry, especially those alumni who are the next generation of producers and advocates, and those that we work with now as they continue to take on bigger roles in their own operations and within the industry. Lakeland has always been acknowledged as a staple across the prairies and given MNP’s history in agriculture and our prairie roots, this is a natural fit,” says Scott Dickson, Director, Livestock Services and VP Hutterite Services at MNP.

“Our thanks to MNP for their investment in these important initiatives at Lakeland. Our Agriculture Technology Centre will be a central hub for collecting and analyzing production and sustainability data generated across our Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. Students, faculty and researchers will use the facility as they work to increase the efficiency and quality of livestock and crops through the development and adoption of new ag technology,” says Dr. Alice WainwrightStewart, Lakeland’s President and CEO. “Together, we’ll continue to advance real-world agricultural productivity and sustainability in commercial agriculture.” The bachelor of agriculture technology program is the culmination of several years of consultation, research, and development. MNP was one of more than 40 agricultural organizations and companies consulted during an independent industry needs assessment that resulted in the degree’s development. MNP is a leading national accounting, tax, and business consulting firm for Canada’s agriculture industry. We have invested more time and resources into understanding agriculture than any other firm. With more than 18,000 agriculture clients and a team of more than 600 agriculture specialists, MNP delivers a diverse suite of services to protect farmers and maximize results.

Leading. Learning. The Lakeland Campaign. is the largest fundraising initiative in Lakeland’s history. Launched in 2016, the $11-million campaign is focused on three priorities: expanding student success, empowering the next leaders in agriculture, and results-oriented research. The campaign concludes June 30. Visit

lakelandcollege.ca/leading-learning

for details.

Practical education. HANDS-ON LEARNING.

Lakeland College was founded on the belief that students learn best through action. Hands-on learning has always been our default. Whether your focus is crops, animal science, animal health or agribusiness, know that we’ll challenge you to go beyond the classroom in everything you do.

lakelandcollege.ca/ag

Apply now to Canada’s only

AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY DEGREE

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• Apprenticeship • Automotive Service Technician • Carpenter • Electrician • Heavy Equipment Technician • Parts Technician • Welder • Pre-employment • Electrician • Welder

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Lakeland College Applied Research 5707 College Drive Vermilion Alberta T9X 1K5

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