Wider Horizons

College receives $100,000 gift from Headwater EquipmentHeadwater hardhats

A $100,000 gift given by Headwater Equipment to Lethbridge College in October illustrates the ongoing support the college maintains with its industry partners as well as the value placed on trades and on training the workforce of the future.

The gift will support the college’s Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project (TTRIP) and will found the Headwater Equipment Sales Ltd. Heavy Equipment Research Bay within the Crooks School of Transportation.

“The opportunities available to the students in trades are continually evolving and Lethbridge College is growing with each respected industry,” says Headwater Equipment founder Mike Stringer. “Their programs align with the work we do at Headwater Equipment and founding this Research Bay was a great fit for us and for these students who make up a part of our future staff.”

The Oct. 19 announcement is a further extension of the continued goodwill that Headwater has shown Lethbridge College. Not only does Headwater hire and support apprentices from the Heavy Equipment, Welding and Drafting programs, they have also provided the college with donations of equipment that is already being utilized by its instructors in the education of apprentices.

These kinds of relationships allow students at the college to thrive; they also demonstrate what can be accomplished when education and industry work together.

“As a post-secondary institution, working with the leaders in industry, like Headwater Equipment, allows us to turn out highly trained workers,” says Lethbridge College Interim President and CEO Peter Leclaire. “Working together with our partners is building the innovative and skilled workforce that industry is demanding. As a result, the students we have here today will be the leaders within that same industry tomorrow.”

Headwater Equipment first originated in 1997, although its founder Mike Stringer had started his industry journey 45 years prior. A licensed heavy duty mechanic, Stringer ran a successful road building and oilfield construction company prior to opening Headwater Equipment Sales. Now a family-run business with his son Matt and partners Cori Petersen, Steve LaPorte (Agriculture/Heavy Duty Mechanics ‘02) and Mark Tollestrup, Headwater is an independent equipment dealer servicing clients around the world.

The company also maintains a fleet of service trucks that serve the mining and oilfield industry in western Canada and has recently created Headwater Fabrication. The newly formed branch will focus on design and engineering, fabrication and welding, and mechanical applications for oilfield industry.

Chamber names college winner of ‘Spirit of Lethbridge’ award

For its support and promotion of the city it has called home for 55 years, Lethbridge College received the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Lethbridge” award at the 2012 Business of the Year Awards in October.

More than 400 people attended the breakfast ceremony where seven area businesses received recognition for innovation, leadership and customer service, among other attributes. The chamber and Business Development Bank of Canada, which co-sponsor the awards, selected Lethbridge College for its efforts serving and promoting the community through time involvement, energy and volunteer hours spent.

Lethbridge College’s Interim President and CEO Peter Leclaire said the award reflected the efforts of the entire institution. “It really is the 1,000 employees who work at the college who made this award possible,” he said. “We may have taken ‘community’ out of our name, but community is always a part of what we do.”

New Power Line Technician program announced

With a growing demand for skilled tradespeople in Canada, Lethbridge College is pleased to announce a Power Line Technician program that has started this month.

The founding partners of the program are Lethbridge College, the City of Lethbridge, AltaLink and Rokstad Power Corporation. Support has also been provided from MVA Consulting, Compass Rose Power Solutions Ltd., K-Line Group and HD Supply Calgary.

This 15-week intense training program will immerse students in hands-on and theoretical training related to overhead and underground utility distribution installation. Students will learn a wide range of construction techniques with an emphasis on safe work practices. Upon completion of the Power Line Technician program, students will have the skills needed to find an entry-level job in the electric power transmission and distribution industry.

Chefs win gold at World Culinary Olympics

Lethbridge College Chef Doug Overes (TEC Partsmen Technician ‘87) and Apprentice Tyler Ivey, members of Team Alberta, won a regional team gold medal last fall at the World Culinary Olympics in Europe.

Team Alberta was one of just two teams among nearly 50 that received a gold medal. Six other Canadian regional teams won silver medals, according to Overes. Overes sent an emotional email to the college explaining, “we were less than half of one point out of first overall – so second in the world. Not bad! The young members were vibrating. I am so proud of them and their hard work.”

The World Culinary Olympics, the world’s largest professional competition for chefs and pastry chefs, were held for the first time in 1900 and take place every four years. A quick glance at the numbers shows how vast the undertaking is. During the two-week event, the Culinary Olympics used an estimated 9,360 pieces of cutlery, 12,900 napkins, 20,000 eggs, 1,000 kg of meat, 2,500 litres of cream and milk and 100 kg of salt, among other items.

College graduates police recruits for southern Alberta

Ceremonies for the 2012 summer graduation of the Police Recruit Training program took place under sunny August skies in Galt Gardens. This year saw 10 Lethbridge Regional Police Service and 13 Canadian Pacific Police Service recruits graduating.

Graduates had taken courses that met or exceeded provincial standards in the areas of police recruit training and which further enhance the skill set needed to be effective in the policing field.

The Police Recruit Training program was designed in collaboration with the police services of southern Alberta and Lethbridge College. The Centre for Advancement in Community Justice (CACJ) comprises Lethbridge College, Lethbridge Regional Police Service and Taber Police Service.

Rod McLeod, alumnus and college Métis Elder, given Blackfoot name

Lethbridge College alumnus and college Métis Elder Rod McLeod received a special honour at October’s FNMI Awareness Days: a Blackfoot name.

Blackfoot Elders Francis First Charger (Agricultural Technology ‘83) and Bruce Wolf Child gave the Blackfoot name of Iistakata, which means “Dependable One,” to McLeod at the second of the three-day celebration at the college. “Giving a Blackfoot name to someone who is not a Blackfoot person is both an honour and a responsibility,” says Robin Little Bear, manager of FNMI Education Services. “It’s given to someone who has made an important contribution to the community, and to someone who is committed and responsible for carrying that name and continuing to support the community.”

McLeod came to the college at the age of 66 in the Child and Youth Care program. He received his diploma in 2003 and was soon employed by Family Ties Association. He also attended night school at the college and received his diploma in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder in 2006 at the age of 70. He received the college’s Community Leader Award in 2012 in recognition of his success in collaborative projects.

Canadian Blood Services recognizes college with national award

Lethbridge College was recognized at Canadian Blood Services national event in September, Honouring Our Lifeblood, as one of nine partners at the heart of Canada’s blood system.

The Alberta Region of Canadian Blood Services nominated Lethbridge College based on the tremendous support and results in the annual blood drive organized by the college each fall. Through the annual one-month challenge, Lethbridge College has contributed a total of 741 blood donations. This includes donations from 200 first-time blood donors. Each blood donation can save or improve up to three lives.

Honouring Our Lifeblood pays tribute to blood donors, volunteers and community partners from across the country. These individuals and organizations provide a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Canadians who need blood, blood products or stem cells. Without their commitment and support, there simply would be no blood system in Canada.

Showing support for sustainability, college pledges $250,000 to international “green” challenge

In its continued effort towards achieving a “greener” campus, Lethbridge College has pledged $250,000 toward the Billion Dollar Green Challenge (The Challenge). The Challenge encourages post-secondary institutions to join together and invest a combined total of $1 billion dollars in self-managed revolving funds that are dedicated to improving energy efficiency on campus. The college will be a charter member of this global effort in support of sustainability.

“Lethbridge College is the only institute in Alberta to makethis commitment and one of only three in Canada,” says Peter Leclaire, Interim president and CEO of Lethbridge College. “We’re excited to be able to support projects that work towards saving energy, reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy expenses while creating a green revolving fund for future sustainability upgrades along the way.”

The Challenge was launched in October 2011 with 32 Founding Circle institutions, which included Dartmouth, Harvard and Stanford. Lethbridge College will join what has grown to 38 institutions with $83 million overall committed. Other Canadian institutes that have committed are the University of British Columbia and Thompson Rivers University.

Former college president receives public service leadership award

Former Lethbridge College President and CEO Tracy L. Edwards has been named the winner of one of Alberta’s most prestigious honours for public service, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

The award acknowledges the exceptional achievements Edwards made during her seven years as president and commends her for demonstrating distinctive leadership in the area of public administration. Edwards was also praised for her vision, leadership and tireless efforts in forging strong partnerships.

“I am both honoured and humbled by this recognition,” said Edwards, who served as President and CEO of Lethbridge College from 2005 to 2012. “But the award recognizes more than one person. It reflects the excellent work of the students, staff and supporters of Lethbridge College.”

The Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, presented Edwards with the award at a ceremony at Lethbridge College on Dec. 6. The award is jointly sponsored by the Calgary and Edmonton regional groups of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC).

The Lethbridge College Board of Governors nominated Edwards for the award. An additional 16 people wrote letters in support of her nomination. These letters, which came from community members, elected officials and provincial representatives, described her as a natural leader whose innovation, dedication and creativity launched Lethbridge College onto the national stage; they also explained how Edwards led the college and its people on a transformational journey which helped position the southern Albertan post-secondary institute as a college of distinction and an employer of choice.

New rural campus opens in Vulcan County

Lethbridge College’s Vulcan County Campus became an official part of the college community last summer through an agreement between the college, the Vulcan Business Development Society and the Vulcan County Adult Learning Council.

The new campus is unique from the college’s other rural campuses in that it is managed collaboratively by all the partners. The partners work together to determine and deliver relevant Lethbridge College programming directly in the community, using flexible delivery methods.

The community provides various facilities, including video conference suites, classrooms and a dedicated wind turbine electrical lab, while the college is primarily responsible for program delivery and student support. Available programs include Unit Clerk Training, Wind Turbine Technician and Pre-Employment Trades.

Commercial for Lethbridge College Wins International Award

A 30-second commercial promoting Lethbridge College has been awarded a gold medal in an international advertising competition.

The commercial, which shows the hands-on, immersed, flexible education available to Lethbridge College students, aired on television stations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and southeastern British Columbia last January. It was entered in the educational category of the annual Aurora Awards.

Lethbridge College’s Marketing and Communications department and The Commercial Factory of Lethbridge collaborated to create the commercial. For more information about the awards, go to www.auroraawards.com. To see the commercial, go to http://bit.ly/wtyf-award.

Culinary program’s chef finalist for Lethbridge award

The Culinary program’s Chef Charles Parker, who was a finalist for Lethbridge’s 2012 Immigrant Achievement Awards in the category of Arts and Culture last fall, can organize a dinner for Alberta’s premier as easily as he can plan how to feed thousands of volunteers at the Alberta Summer Games.

It’s not like he’s cooking for the Queen of England, after all. He used to, though.

“In 1968, I was apprenticing at Christ College in Cambridge and there was a call to the kitchen in the fall, maybe around October, asking if anyone would like to go to Sandringham Estate for a month,” Parker recalls. “I said I’d go, so I did. And for three or four years after that I would go for a monthto Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham or Buckingham Palace and we’d put on state dinners and special functions.” Parker recalls that the royal family put all of the chefs and staff members at ease.

“They’d ask you how you were enjoying it and make sure you were comfortable,” says Parker. “The Queen would walk her corgis and stop and talk to you. People see all of the pomp and pageantry… but when they are in their own homes, I think the royal family just likes to be relaxed and enjoys talking to people. If you didn’t know the Queen was a queen, you’d think she was just a very lovely aunt.”

And his cooking wasn’t limited to the royal family and guests. “One of my first jobs was to prepare dinner for the corgis,” Parker says. “Fresh rabbit – cooked and diced.”

Congratulations to Parker on being named a finalist for this award – and to all of the guests of the Garden Court, whose meals have been planned and are occasionally prepared by the same man who once cooked for a Queen.

College students win provincial awards

Lethbridge College students make their marks in their disciplines and are regularly recognized as being among the top students in the province and country. Recent winners include:

Second-year Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology student Katelyn Hornecker received the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association Student Award at the provincial organization’s annual gathering in October. The ATRA award recognizes students who have demonstrated academic ability, promise of a contribution to the field of recreation therapy, and have worked in the recreation therapy field. Another second-year Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology student, Nicole Vandenbrink, was the successful recipient of the 2012 Calgary Chapter Alberta Gerontology Association Student Scholarship. Nicole received the $1,000 scholarship and individual certificate in Calgary last summer.

Agricultural Technology students Angela Alder of Stettler and Natalie Forest of Coaldale were two of the three winners of the 2012 Canadian Farm Business Management Council awards. The awards are valued at $1,000 each.

Kodiaks men’s golf team wins ACAC gold medal

The Kodiaks men’s golf team won the ACAC Gold Medal last fall, edging out Grant MacEwan University at the Desert Blume Course in Medicine Hat.

The players stayed steady despite facing difficult, windy conditions on the course.

This is the first ACAC gold medal for the men’s team. Congratulations to Mitch Matichuk, Justin Stoski, Taylor Irvin, Taylor Jetten and Luke Meadows-Birch for their excellent play.

Fashion alumna earns rave reviews at Toronto’s Fashion Week

The spring 2013 clothing collection of Lethbridge College alumna Caitlin Power (above left) was the hit of the catwalk at Toronto’s Fashion Week in October, the premier designer fashion industry event in Canada.

In the days leading up to her show, Power was named one of “Three to Watch” in the Globe and Mail and a “Rising Star” in the Toronto Star. Reviews of her designs received high praise, with one fashion critic noting that “the fit of each piece is flawless. The entire collection is very well constructed. This collection continued to have a very strong futuristic vibe and the highlight was definitely the last piece which metallic leathers were used.”

“Tailoring is important within the brand,” Power explains on her website. “I focus on sophisticated, classic silhouettes, but make them youthful with edgy details. I use leather in unexpected places, and focus on the female form, making lines accentuate a woman’s curves. My woman commands attention and dresses sharp to receive it.” Power’s designs can be seen on her website, caitlinpower.com, and in fashion magazines across North America.

Fashion Design student places in national competition

Second-year fashion design student Maryam Nikandam Moghaddam placed in the top ten in a national competition last fall. Her garment was a hand-sewn bodice and skirt. The competition was ‘”Designer Style Challenge,” Canada’s search for outstanding original designs. It was the first ever designer style challenge in Canada, a mixed media challenge with awards of distinction in Toronto.

The challenge was creating an original mixed media work of art, an expression of creativity. Maryam’s design was shown in Toronto at a fashion show and awards ceremony Oct. 12-14.

Designs were judged on inspiration, creativity, craftsmanship, quality, intricacy, complexity of design, innovative use and diversity of materials, and finishing. Entries came from all around Canada, from fashion students, fashion grads, teachers and designers working in industry.

Dress and cape sketches by Fashion Design student impress judges in national competition

Second-year Fashion Design and Marketing student Jena Dee Murray has been named one of 25 finalists in the national Telio Fashion Design competition. Her sketches of a dress and cape stood out among the 140 entries received from students at 23 schools across Canada who entered the “Canada’s Breakthrough Designers 2013” contest.

As a finalist, Murray spent December sewing her creation with fabric supplied by the company; she must submit it in mid-January. In early February, Murray and her instructor, Brenda Low, will travel to Montreal for the competition where her work will be shown as part of Montreal Fashion Week.

“This is the first time that Lethbridge College has had a finalist selected,” says Vicki Hegedus, chair of the School of Media and Design. “There are thousands of dollars of scholarships being offered and lots of professional opportunities for the five winners.”

Wider Horizons
Lethbridge College
Original Publication Date:
Category