NORTHERN LAKES COLLEGE
NLC Celebrates Grand Opening of New High Prairie Campus

L-R: Deputy Mayor James Waikle; MLA Pat Rehn; Chair Barry Sharkawi; President & CEO Glenn Mitchell; Mr. Daniel Vandermeulen; Reeve Robert Nygaard; Ms. Lynette Lambert; Mrs. Yvonne Cunningham.

Northern Lakes College celebrated the grand opening of the new High Prairie Campus with a celebratory ribbon-cutting and campus tours on Tuesday, August 16.

The event opened with special guest remarks provided by Deputy Mayor James Waikle, Town of High Prairie; Reeve Robert Nygaard, Big Lakes County; Ms. Lynette Lambert, Student Member, Northern Lakes College Board of Governors; Mr. Daniel Vandermeulen; Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn, Government of Alberta; Mr. Barry Sharkawi, Chair, Northern Lakes College Board of Governors; and Dr. Glenn Mitchell, President & CEO.

"The High Prairie Campus is a unique building, with many environmentally-sustainable innovations, technologies, and features. This campus is constructed for the specific teaching and learning needs of the College and our students. This facility, in concert with our Supported Distance Learning delivery model, ensures access to both appropriate learning and support spaces for students. Our SDL model allows students from High Prairie and the surrounding area to connect virtually with students across the province and become a learning cohort. This means students can continue to live right here, in their home community, while getting a post-secondary education that will allow them to further their education, improve their employment opportunities, and enhance their quality of life," comments Dr. Glenn Mitchell, President & CEO, Northern Lakes College.

"The High Prairie campus has purpose-built classrooms for e-learning, health, cooking, and trades training. The skills and knowledge that students will gain through programs accessed at the High Prairie Campus will prepare them for future careers and support growth in their communities," comments Mr. Barry Sharkawi, Chair, Northern Lakes College Board of Governors.

Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees were invited to participate in guided campus tours which highlighted the LEED Silver facility's innovative and net-zero features, including the newly-installed photovoltaic solar array.

Northern Lakes College opened the doors of the new campus in the fall of 2021. The grand opening event was postponed to a time when the community could attend.