For immediate release – June 19, 2012

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (Canadian Natural) has pledged $500,000 to Lakeland College’s Centennial Campaign, money that will help the college offer more petroleum-related programming to meet the needs of students and industry.

The money will go towards the upgrade and expansion of Lakeland College’s Oil and Gas Technology Centre at the Lloydminster campus. A new boiler will be added to the current power engineering lab this summer so Lakeland can offer third class power engineering training during the 2012-2013 academic year. This fall, the college will break ground on the expansion of the northeast wing of the campus. Features of the new facility include a large lab with three steam boilers and five breakout training spaces, two large lecture theatres, change rooms, and office areas.

Scott Stauth, senior vice president at Canadian Natural, says, “We believe education and training are the building blocks of a strong and thriving community. That’s why we are proud to support the upgrade and expansion of Lakeland College’s Oil and Gas Technology Centre in Lloydminster. We’ve had a long and successful partnership with Lakeland College and we hope our contribution will benefit its students now and for many years to come.”

In recognition of Canadian Natural’s significant contribution, Lakeland will name one of the new lecture theatres in the facility the Canadian Natural Lecture Theatre.

Glenn Charlesworth, president of Lakeland College, says Canadian Natural’s contribution will help Lakeland increase the number of students it can train each year so more people have the skills needed to contribute to the region’s resource sector.

“We appreciate the significant investment Canadian Natural has made in this project. When this expansion is complete, each year we will be able to train more than 150 full-time students in our heavy oil operations technician and heavy oil power engineering programs plus hundreds more through short-term or part-time courses or programs in the Oil and Gas Technology Centre,” says Charlesworth.
Canadian Natural has been a strong supporter of Lakeland College for years. In 2006, the company donated $200,000 towards the development of the Bill Kondro Wing. It also provides practicum placements for students in the heavy oil operations technician program, funds a student scholarship, contributes to the Adopt-An-Athlete program, and supports college happenings such as the Professional Bull Riders event and charity golf tournaments.

Established in 1913, Lakeland College serves about 8,000 students each year. Lakeland offers credit programming in the areas of energy, apprenticeship and pre-employment trades, university transfer, agricultural sciences, business, environmental sciences, fire and emergency services, academic upgrading, health and wellness, human services, and interior design technology.