Wider Horizons
I’d like to start by wishing a happy new year to all of the readers of Wider Horizons. The last year has been a time of change and transition at the college, but we have moved forward without missing a beat thanks to the solid plans and strong leadership we have at so many levels of the institution.

The year ahead is filled with promise – and much of that promise comes from the relationships with our partners. When I look around the campus, I see so many examples of thriving partnerships. You will find this issue of our magazine filled with stories of some of the different people and groups that work together to make the college prosper.

One of the core partnerships we celebrate at Lethbridge College exists between instructors and students. We see this in action in the classroom, in the field (or kitchens, or labs, or shops), in the office, after class or even online where questions can be answered and leaps of understanding are made. It is this alliance that motivates and inspires all other work we do at the college.

Lethbridge College’s learning environment transcends the traditional classroom – making every space a learning and collaboration space. This new reality can be seen in our plans for the Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project. This project is not just another building; it is a learning environment that creates the opportunity for us to nurture collaborative learning between faculty and staff and our students and industry associates. The TTRIP project allows us to engage our business, industry and community partners in research and innovation; this collaboration will assist us in creating not only a vibrant college but also a vibrant community.

So many other partnerships can be seen in action at Lethbridge College. In this issue of Wider Horizons, you can read about the applied research underway with college instructors and students and their industry partners; about the well-established collaboration between the college and community sporting organizations such as the Prairie Baseball Academy and the Lethbridge Hurricanes; about the enduring and expanding relationships between the college and the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; and about the generous donors who support so many essential programs and projects here at Lethbridge College.

And, of course, there is a story about the newest partnership we have established – the one between the college and community and our new President and CEO, Dr. Paula Burns. We all look forward to welcoming her to southern Alberta and our campus on Feb. 4. She brings a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with her, and she joins a dynamic leadership team looking to strategically position the institution for a prosperous future.

We are eager to continue the college’s work enhancing the learning experience, empowering our employees and creating and expanding our partnerships with business, industry and community. We have much planned for the college.

I hope you enjoy reading all of the stories in this issue. We feel fortunate to have so many great stories to tell.
Wider Horizons
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