OLDS — A total of $21.4 million worth of renovation, expansion and maintenance work at Olds College will provide students and staff with state-of-the-art technology and research facilities, according to provincial politicians and college officials.
It’s also expected to create about 120 jobs in the Olds area, although it was unclear what those jobs consist of.
For example, it was unclear, whether those jobs are solely construction jobs, research jobs, or teaching jobs; whether they’re full-time or part time.
Provincial officials promised to provide those details, but as of press time, they were not available.
The money was announced during a ceremony Friday, July 10 at Olds College. About 80 people were on hand for the announcement.
Of that money, $15.16 million will be used to expand the Lachlin McKinnon Building into the new Animal Health Education Centre.
College officials said that will enable it to accommodate future growth and enrolment in animal science programs and provide state-of-the art and specialized facilities for learning.
Another $6.21 million is earmarked to redevelop the James Murray Building into an Ag-Tech Learning Hub that will house the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology.
The crowd was told the money is part of the provincial government’s plan to recover from the thrashing the provincial economy has suffered as a result of low oil prices and the COVID-19 lockdown.
Renovation of both facilities is expected to begin immediately, with the Ag-Tech Learning Hub opening in fall 2022 and the Animal Health Education Centre opening in fall 2023.
However, plans call for the first two ag-tech programs to be launched this fall.
The crowd was told about $5.5 million had been donated toward that project, including money donated by the Olds College Students Association, which had been announced earlier.
In fact, during an interview, Olds College president Stuart Cullum said some preliminary work is already underway.
“We’re really shovel-ready with these projects, so a lot of the work has already been happening in terms of preparing for the construction. But there will be shovels in the ground probably in the next few months,” he said.
The college says the new Animal Health Education Centre will enable it to provide a 67 per cent increase in animal health programming capacity.
As he announced the money, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper described the infusion as “the single largest capital investment in the college in over a generation.”
“Olds College has long been a valuable source of innovation for Alberta’s agriculture sector as well as a driving force for the regional economy in central Alberta.
“This investment will give students and researchers more access to cutting-edge facilities and help solidify the college’s place as a world-leader in its field.”
“Preparing for our students now to become the leaders of tomorrow’s agriculture will set the table, if you will,” he added.
“You might say it will set the farm table, the world’s table – for successful farms to grow and for the agri-food industry to be stronger and our rural communities to be strengthened.”
Cooper noted the project will provide a new home for the Olds College National Meat Training Centre, which, he said, “is the only facility of its kind in North America where students get hands-on education in humane animal slaughter and retail meat cutting while operating the Olds College retail meat store.
“If you don’t buy all of your meat there, I have no idea why you haven’t made the change. It is absolutely an incredible facility here at the college,” he added.
Cullum thanked and praised the province for the money.
“This is incredible news,” he said.
“It is through our partnership with industry and government that Olds College as a unique, sector-focused post-secondary institution can create an environment where our students and staff, life-long learners and partners can work together to explore the challenges facing the agriculture sector and together investigate solutions -- an environment that provides an exceptional learning experience to develop the next generation of innovative leaders will strengthen our economy.”
Cullum thanked officials and residents of Olds and Mountain View County for their support.
He also thanked several officials at Olds College for their assistance in making the project a reality.
Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the project is also part of Alberta 2030, which he called a 10-year vision for the Alberta post-secondary system that will focus on giving our students the skills that they need to be successful in a modern economy.
“Alberta’s recovery plan recognizes that our post-secondary system is essential to building a prosperous Alberta,” he said.
“We will ensure that Albertans have the education, skills and training they need to meet labour market needs.”
Michael Frankiw, president of the Students Association of Olds College, will be taking classes in the Werklund School of Agricuture Technology, double majoring in agricultural production.
He thanked the province and college for embarking on the expansion and maintenance project, describing it as an “investment into the future of agriculture and to our students” that will provide them with “amazing hands-on, high tech learning experience.”
