Outgoing Olds College president Tom Thompson defended and praised rural Alberta ñ especially the agriculture industry ñ during an evening in his honour May 18 at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites.
Thompson is retiring in June after 16 years at the helm of Olds College, during which time it saw dramatic changes and milestones, including celebration of its centennial in 2013, construction of the Pomeroy, the Ralph Klein Centre and the rest of the Community Learning Campus, a new student residence, and the wetlands, to name a few.
All those were achieved via partnerships with industry, the town and other entities, drawing interest from communities across the country.
Thompson began his career about 50 years ago, as a teacher and coach in small-town Saskatchewan. He and his second wife, Joyce, came to Olds College in 2001 from a job as president of a college in Grande Prairie.
He told the crowd he was attracted by Olds College's ìcultureî as a place that is willing to embrace change and creativity with open arms.
In his speech, Thompson fiercely defended rural Alberta, colleges and the agriculture industry.
As a metaphor, he used the analogy of teams from small communities beating those from big cities ñ an experience he had seen first-hand as a coach in small-town Saskatchewan.
ìYou recognize that there are places and there are people that will punch above their weight class, and do not have to expect an attitude that has been prevalent in Alberta that has to be eradicated, which is when you choose rural, you choose less.
ìWell there's nothing ñ there is absolutely nothing ñ that fires me up more than for somebody to give me that,î he said, sparking loud applause.
ìYou have to understand that this province was built on them,î Thompson added, referring to farmers and ranchers.
ìAt the heart of everything is agriculture ñ yesterday, today and more than ever ñ tomorrow. It's the most exciting industry that we have. And it is in a growth mode.
ìAnd we've got to understand that when we choose rural you do not choose less. Your children and your grandchildren tie their shoes the same way every morning that some kid in Edmonton or Calgary does.
ìYou've got to fight,î he said, pounding the podium, ìand you do not take second best. And this college has got that in their DNA. And if you ever want to disappoint this guy after I'm gone, you just stop fighting.
ìYou have to continue to fight the good fight, especially when you've got less than one per cent of the total population of post-secondary institution students in the province,î Thompson added.
He said that means taking that fight to whichever party forms government.
ìLadies and gentlemen, organizers, let me say this in closing: that I have, along with Joyce, been honoured ñ absolutely honoured ñ to have served this college and to have served this community and region,î Thompson said.
ìWe hope and pray that we are leaving it in better condition than when we found it as we move on to this next chapter in our lives, and I thank you all for your support along the way,î he said, sparking a standing ovation.
"We've got to understand that when we choose rural you do not choose less. Your children and your grandchildren tie their shoes the same way every morning that some kid in Edmonton or Calgary does."TOM THOMPSON RETIRING OLDS COLLEGE PRESIDENT
