From the President's Desk: December 12, 2024

Hello everyone, and happy holidays.

As the first semester of the 2024–2025 academic year ends, I would like to share some key highlights from the past year with you.

Lakeland is…

• home to Canada’s first and only Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland.
• the only post-secondary institution in Canada where students manage commercial-sized bison, beef, crop, equine, and dairy enterprises.
• the first post-secondary institution in Canada to offer a degree in agriculture technology.
• the first post-secondary institution in Alberta to complete an environmental farm plan.
• the first post-secondary institution in Alberta to attain Verified Beef Production Plus certification.
• the only post-secondary institution in Western Canada to create an integrated power plant with a once-through steam generator for heavy oil training.
• offering one of North America’s most advanced emergency services training facilities.
• the only school to offer this unique mix of programming: agriculture, environment, trades, fire, health, wellness, power engineering, and more!

Additionally, some newsworthy student events occurred this past year. Health and wellness students hosted the first annual Border Beauty Showcase, a live barbering, hairstyling and esthetician competition. Our human services students hosted the first annual Wellness Symposium, a day of workshops and breakout sessions dedicated to health and wellness. Dr. Jody Carrington provided a keynote speech on caretaker burnout. James Wilson, a heavy equipment technician apprentice, won gold at Skills Canada. A dedicated group of emergency services technology program students were deployed to Jasper to help with the wildfire. Fall term 2024 enrolment was up 12 per cent over 2023.

Infrastructure and campus revitalization

Construction on the Vermilion campus’ Bentley Building is ongoing. Demolition was completed, and the new building is currently under construction. It will house our interior design technology program, the human services programs, the on-campus daycare, and a new Indigenous Student Lounge.

Program updates

New transfer agreements were initiated for Lakeland’s human services graduates (early childhood education and educational assistant) to earn their full bachelor of education degree in elementary teacher education through the University of Regina, and the steamfitter-pipefitter program was relaunched.

Research

Faculty and staff at the Emergency Training Centre are researching ways to decrease the negative environmental impacts of in situ burning. Applied research is launching an accredited course involving intentional grazing for sheep and goats. Students Stephanie Ullrich and Kyleigh Magotiaux won first and second place, respectively, in a poster competition at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon, presenting on different applied research projects they are involved with in their practicums.

Awards and accolades

Our interior design technology program was recognized with Excellence in Education by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), and graduates Meghan King and Mamie Granger placed second and third in the student design competition of the NKBA.

2024 marked the eighth consecutive year Lakeland has been recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 80 employers.

Fundraising and donations

Bill Robinson donated a one-million-dollar gift for the farm and for student financial support. Also, Ken Wasmuth donated $150,000 to modernize the bison handling facilities. A long-time Lakeland supporter, Roy Kubica, donated a grain truck to the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland.

Our sold-out event, Feast on the Farm, sponsored by Cenovus Energy, raised $82,000 for student-led learning initiatives. The golf tournament, sponsored by NextGen Automation, raised $37,000 for student-athletes. Apex Automation donated over $76,000 to upgrade the Energy Centre control room.

Thank you for these incredible donations. Lakeland appreciates every donor who has contributed to the college’s success, helping students to excel.

Lakeland College is connected to industry, with our advisory boards and more, to ensure we deliver programming and cultivate key partnerships, ensuring our students have a solid foundation to thrive. We will continue to offer the most hands-on education in Canada in 2025, preparing students for the future.

Thank you to the Lakeland College community for your support this past year. Wishing you and your family health, happiness, and prosperity in 2025.

Until next time,

Alice