(June 18, 2010 – Vermilion, Alberta) Lakeland College is on the cusp of making the most significant land purchase in its 97-year history.
Pending an Order in Council from the Government of Alberta, Lakeland College will purchase 100 per cent of the shares of Barrhill Farms Ltd. of Vermilion. The purchase includes 10 quarters of land (1,449 acres) and a yard that borders the west side of the Vermilion campus. Features of the extensive yard include three houses, two shops, grain bins and various other buildings.
Dean Barr of Barrhill Farms Ltd. approached Lakeland College officials in the spring of 2009 to see if the college was interested in purchasing the shares. It was an opportunity the college had to act on, says Glenn Charlesworth, president and chief executive officer of Lakeland College.
“The proximity of this parcel of land is ideal for our college. Much of it is adjacent to our Vermilion campus which ensures we will have the land base to expand the college as needed not only in the near future, but really for the next 100 years,” he says. Initially the land will be used mainly for student labs related to agricultural and environmental sciences programs. The yard will be the site of numerous applied research and renewable energy projects.
The Barr family and Lakeland College have strong ties dating back to 1913 when the college opened as the Vermilion School of Agriculture. William Barr, the grandfather of Barrhill Farms owners Dean and Greg Barr, was a student in the college’s first class. Dean and Greg’s parents Jim and Alice met while attending the college in the early 1950s. Throughout the years the Barrs did custom seeding and silaging for the college, lent equipment as needed and toured hundreds of college students through their dairy barns.
Why sell to Lakeland College? “The college is our neighbour and it seemed like a good fit. Before we approached Lakeland, I talked to Dad and he was very enthusiastic about the idea. He thought it was the right thing to do,” says Dean. Because of Jim’s sudden passing last July, sadly he isn’t here to enjoy the culmination of his family’s life work.
The 900 acres of cultivated land and 500 plus acres of pasture land will be used by many of the college’s 250 agricultural sciences students, says Josie Van Lent, associate dean of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Lakeland previously owned only 400 acres of agricultural land and leased about 650 acres of crop land in the area and also rented pasture in northwestern Saskatchewan.
“This purchase will secure the continuation of our unique Student Managed Farm (SMF) training model,” says Van Lent. The SMF allows students to be actively involved in operating and managing a livestock unit or a crop enterprise.
The oil leases, reclaimed land, native grasslands and 120 acres of wetlands will serve as a lab site for the 220 students in the environmental sciences diploma and applied degree programs, says Mel Mathison, dean of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Students will be able to assess old lease sites, examine the productivity of reclaimed land, evaluate riparian areas, study wetland plants, soil test and much more – all within a 10 minute drive of the Vermilion campus.
In previous years environmental sciences students have visited mainly industry sites and public lands to complete labs. “There was a lot of time and money spent travelling to the sites and we were finding it more difficult to meet company regulatory requirements to go onto oil leases,” says Mathison. “It will be nice to have a place we can go and actively sample without disturbing the land owner or industry representatives. We’ll also be able to do long-term analysis which will be very educational for our students.”
As for applied research projects, Lakeland recently learned that it will receive $2.3 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s College and Community Innovation program. The funding will be used to expand and support applied research and innovation activities related to environmental sciences programs. Lakeland intends to use the yard for many of the research projects, says Mathison, noting that one of the houses and a nearby workshop will become a development and demonstration facility showcasing applied research and training in renewable energy. Wind, solar, geothermal and heat storage systems will be incorporated into the buildings that will house offices and research space.
“The house will become an information centre to showcase renewable energy systems and demonstrate how these systems can work in a typical home,” says Mathison.
Lakeland College will use unrestricted net assets to purchase the land, says Charlesworth. “About six years ago we made a commitment to grow the college’s unrestricted net assets so we could take advantage of unexpected opportunities. This is one such opportunity. I think years from now when we look back at this purchase, we’ll be very happy with our decision,” he says.
Media may contact: Wendy Plandowski, Media spokesperson, Lakeland College, 780 871 5403
Backgrounder
Barrhill Farms Ltd.Barrhill Farms Ltd. is owned by Dean and Rita Barr and Greg and Darlene Barr. The corporation was established by Jim and Alice Barr, alumni of the college. Jim’s grandfather William Barr was a student at the college in 1913-1914.
Lakeland College
Established in 1913 as the Vermilion School of Agriculture, Lakeland College offers more than 60 programs and serves about 3,200 full-time and 4,500 part-time credit students each year. Lakeland College has campuses in Vermilion, Alta. and Lloydminster, Alta./Sask.
- Agricultural sciences programs include agribusiness, animal health technology, animal science technology, crop technology, general agriculture, veterinary medical assistant and western ranch and cow horse.
- Environmental sciences programs include bachelor of applied science: environmental management, adventure tourism and outdoor recreation, environmental sciences (majors in environmental monitoring and protection, environmental conservation and reclamation, wildlife and fisheries conservation, and conservation and restoration ecology) and renewable energy and conservation (online).