June 14, 2012

The City of Lloydminster today announced it will partner with Lakeland College and contribute $50,000 towards its centennial celebrations.

“We are pleased to show our support and commemorate Lakeland College’s centennial achievement. Lakeland College is a key resource for our young adults as well as those adapting to new work environments or learning new skill sets,” says Mayor Jeff Mulligan. “As a local post-secondary education option, Lakeland College is vital for the professional development of our residents and the overall economic prosperity of Lloydminster.”

In recognition of its support, the City of Lloydminster has been named a Leadership Sponsor.

“We’re thrilled that the City of Lloydminster is a partner in our centennial celebrations. The City’s contribution will help us create memorable events that will energize the community and bring incredible exposure to Lakeland College and Lloydminster,” says Glenn Charlesworth, president of Lakeland College.

Fourteen signature centennial events will be held, the first being The Great Prairie Steak Cook-off, Rustled together by the City of Lloydminster and Lakeland College Alumni. This event will be held in early November to coincide with the start of the Lakeland College Rustlers basketball and volleyball seasons.

The next event is the Pioneer Celebration on Nov. 17, 2012 – the 99th anniversary of the official opening of the college. Guest speakers, mattress dominoes, homecoming events, women’s volleyball national championships, a President’s Centennial Gala and golf tournaments are among the scheduled activities. Centennial celebrations will conclude in November 2013 with a four-day finale.

Lakeland has provided programming in Lloydminster since the mid-1960s. During the 1965-1966 academic year, the college (then known as the Vermilion Agricultural and Vocational College) offered welding, motor tune-up, and secretarial upgrading courses. A decade later the college was offering programs and courses in a number of leased facilities throughout the city. As the community grew, so too did the demand for programming.

“Fortunately for our college, there were people who wanted to see a campus built in Lloydminster. Because of their efforts and persistence, that’s exactly what happened and the Lloydminster campus opened in 1990,” says Charlesworth, noting that the City of Lloydminster donated 30 of the 65 acres of land the campus is situated on.

The campus has since expanded to include the Vic Juba Community Theatre and the Bill Kondro Wing. The next major expansion at the Lloydminster campus will be a power engineering/oil and gas training facility.

“Lloydminster has enjoyed significant growth and Lakeland has grown right along with us, providing the post-secondary programming, services and facilities that this community needs,” says Mulligan. “Providing the educational foundation for many of the Lloydminster region’s future business and community leaders is a mission critical mandate for Lakeland College.”
For more information on centennial events and the college’s history, visit www.lakelandcollege.ca/centennial