Class Notes

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For Kelsie McCabe, Lakeland College’s first animal assisted wellness graduate, finishing the program is just the beginning of her journey to understanding the human-animal bond. A life-long animal lover, McCabe was interested in exploring more about the ways animals can contribute to wellness after she graduated from Lakeland’s child and youth care program in 2012. When Lakeland announced an animal assisted wellness certificate program in collaboration with the Dreamcatcher Animal Assisted Wellness Academy in 2018, she was quick to enrol. Read McCabe’s feature story:

lakelandcollege.ca/feature-stories

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Cayley Peltzer is putting her passion and education to use. The double graduate wrapped up her four-year Lakeland experience with an agribusiness diploma (2017) and animal health technology diploma (2020). Now, she’s excelling as a full-time registered veterinary technologist at Bow Valley Veterinary Group. “I’m caring for a variety of large and small animals like beef and dairy cattle, and cats and dogs. I'm putting my education to use,” Peltzer shared.

Kenneth Stoop, Class of 2009 dairy production, and his wife Kaitlyn are celebrating their new arrival – their fourth child. Baby Ethan was born on Feb. 28, 2021. He joins proud siblings Fletcher (5), Nicole (3) and Jackson (1). The Stoop family operate a 175 cow-calf operation and farm 1,600 acres south of Virden, Man.

The unique blend of heavy oil and power engineering and a diverse and immersive learning environment are what attracted David Milroy, Class of 2020, to Lakeland’s heavy oil power engineering program. Now a turbine plant operator at Heartland Generation, Milroy’s transition from Lakeland to full-time employment was seamless. Read more at

lakelandcollege.ca/feature-stories

Long story short, when a seed is planted, it grows into a plant. For Ryan James, earning his two environmental sciences diplomas from Lakeland – first majoring in conservation and restoration ecology (CARE) and his second in environmental conservation and reclamation (2014) – was the kernel that he cultivated into a bachelor of science in environmental and conservation sciences degree from the University of Alberta in 2019. Today, James works for the Government of Canada at Natural Resources Canada as a silviculture afforestation program technologist. He researches the use of willow and poplar as short rotation woody crops for biomass and bioenergy, and for phytoremediation of sewage, wastewater and soil.

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Bree Harris (left), Class of 2017 heavy oil power engineering, shares a connection to Lakeland with her family, including mother Linda (centre), who graduated from Lakeland’s academic upgrading program and then office administration in 2004, and sister Louisa Peechow (right), Class of 2018 child and youth care. To honour their connection, they’ve received generation alumni pins.

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Joshua Langill, Class of 2020, came to Lakeland hoping to find opportunities to excel in a dynamic industry: real estate appraisal and assessment (REAA). Before Langill even graduated from the business administration diploma program’s REAA major, he secured a position as administrator for the town of Maidstone, Sask.

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Amanda (née Kushner) Kelly, Class of 2001 herd health and 2002 animal health technology, and husband Brad Kelly celebrated the arrival of their son Carson Kelly in December 2019. Already sporting Lakeland gear, Carson is bound for Lakeland in the future. Biglieni, Class of 2005 livestock production and Class of 2006 agribusiness, are now a family of four. Together with big sister Collins Anna, they welcomed Gavin Robert to the world on Jan. 22, 2021. While currently on maternity leave, SarahJayne is an administrative assistant with the Faculty of Arts Student Services Office at the University of Regina. Anthony is the general manager for Region 1 with Pattison Agriculture.

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Ben Hebert, Class of 2005, and John Morris, Class of 2006, played in the final of the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier on March 14 in Calgary. They were members of Team Wild Card #2 which was skipped by Kevin Koe. Pictured are BJ Neufeld (third), Hebert (lead) and Morris (second). The team lost 4-2 to Brendan Bottcher and his Alberta rink. Hebert and Morris completed the firefighting training program at the Emergency Training Centre. Photo courtesy of Curling Canada/Michael Burns

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Corey Bloder and Maxi Biederstadt not only credit Lakeland as the place where their romance blossomed, but also the place of incredible learning and networking. The Class of 2014 alumni were featured in Canadian Cattlemen in February.