Revitalizing Lakeland College campus
2020-08-05
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Alberta taxpayers are giving $17.27 million to Lakeland College to modernize the Mead Building, creating more student-centred and energy-efficient spaces. The Mead Building is home to the college’s animal science centre. These renovations will help ensure the college’s essential research and learning spaces continue to serve the region for years.

The project will add about 97 new job opportunities for skilled contractors and tradespeople in east-central Alberta. Funding for this project is part of an additional $98-million commitment for capital maintenance and renewal at colleges, universities and polytechnics, on top of the $118.5 million in Budget 2020. Government expects the new funding commitment will create about 533 full-time jobs around the province.

“Alberta’s Recovery Plan is not only creating thousands of jobs by building schools, roads and other core infrastructure. It’s also helping train the skilled professionals and talented innovators our economy needs to grow in the future. Alberta’s government is determined to help people access the education and training they need to reach their full potential and persevere through these challenging times. That’s exactly why Alberta’s Recovery Plan is supporting post-secondary institutions with a historic level of funding for capital maintenance and renewal.”

Jason Kenney, Premier

“Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs, now. We are committed to developing world-class post-secondary institutions, and today’s announcement of over $17 million to redevelop the Vermilion campus at Lakeland College will help us meet students’ evolving needs.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education

“Alberta’s Recovery Plan focuses on infrastructure as a critical component for supporting economic growth and jobs for Albertans. This includes investing in shovel-ready projects to upgrade and maintain public facilities, like this post-secondary institution, that help keep Albertans working and stimulate local economies where it matters most.”

Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure

“Lakeland College is a great asset for Vermilion and the surrounding region. The institution provides students the opportunity to live, learn and work in rural Alberta. Students today, like the ones at Lakeland College, are the workforce of Alberta’s tomorrow. Lakeland College has shown exceptional community leadership and, with the modernizing of the Mead Building, will continue to do so well into the future. I look forward to visiting with students and staff while enjoying the comfortable and productive space this revitalization provides.”

Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright

“On behalf of Lakeland College, thank you to the Alberta government for investing in our students – our province’s up-and-coming leaders – as well as our campus community. The 100 jobs this project will create is welcome news for our local region. This support opens another chapter of innovation and investment for Lakeland’s award-winning programs. Over the last four years, Lakeland has celebrated the expansion of the Vermilion campus farm and the upcoming addition of a bison operation, as well as the official opening of both a new animal health clinic and dairy learning centre, plus the modernization of our G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Facility and Academic Link. We’re excited to see our growth continue with the government’s investment in this teaching facility. This, combined with future farm upgrades and our new Centre for Ag Technology, will ensure Lakeland remains a global leader in agricultural education.”

Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO, Lakeland College

“The Students’ Executive Council of Lakeland College thanks the Government of Alberta for their commitment of $17.3 million to Lakeland College to modernize the Mead Building, creating attractive, student-centred and energy-efficient spaces that will serve the region for many years to come. The Students’ Executive Council of Lakeland College supports this supplemental capital funding and remains committed to working with the government and Alberta Student Executive Council in building a sustainable post-secondary system in Alberta.”

Carrie Boerrichter, general manager, Lakeland College Students’ Association

The Alberta Students' Executive Council thanks the Government of Alberta for their commitment of $98 million from the Capital Maintenance and Renewal Stimulus Fund. This investment comes at an important time for Alberta's institutions and our economy, a fact well recognized by our university, college, and polytechnic student members. ASEC supports this supplemental capital funding, and remains committed to working with the government in building a modern post-secondary system in Alberta.

Emmanauel Barker, director, public relations and advocacy, Alberta Students' Executive Council

In April, the Alberta government announced it was accelerating the capital plan by increasing capital maintenance and renewal spending in 2020-21 to almost $2 billion. Advanced Education worked with post-secondary institutions to identify projects, with a focus on addressing existing maintenance issues, ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations, increasing access to services, and reducing operational costs. The Alberta government also prioritized projects that will help create jobs, and are ready for work to begin.

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs. By building schools, roads and other core infrastructure, we are benefiting our communities. By diversifying our economy and attracting investment with Canada’s most competitive tax environment, we are putting Alberta on a path for a generation of growth. Alberta came together to save lives by flattening the curve and now we must do the same to save livelihoods, grow and thrive.

Key facts

This project is part of the more than $10 billion infrastructure spending announced as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan. This spending includes:

  • $6.9 billion Budget 2020 capital spending
  • $980 million accelerated for Capital Maintenance and Renewal
  • $200 million for Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program and water infrastructure projects
  • $600 million in strategic infrastructure projects
  • $500 million in municipal infrastructure
  • $1.5 billion for Keystone XL

Alberta's Recovery Plan


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