People are starting to notice a quietly rolled-out name change for a prominent post-secondary educational institution in North Battleford.
North West Regional College had operated in the city since 1975, but in recent weeks the college has dropped the “regional” part of the name and since February goes by “North West College.”
The change comes on the heels of the provincial government’s decision to allow all of Saskatchewan’s regional colleges to drop the word “regional.”
An order in council to change the legal names of five colleges in the province was issued in February.
The move was done “for the purpose of achieving consistency with the legal names of Great Plains College and Northlands College,” according to the Government of Saskatchewan website.
That was one reason for the change, but according to North West College president Tavia Laliberte it was also a way to keep up with the times.
“It just provides a little bit more modernization,” said Laliberte of the change, adding “there’s very few colleges across the country that have the word ‘regional’ or ‘community.’”
The timing of the change from a college standpoint could not have come at a better time, with the change coinciding with their 40th anniversary year. But that wasn’t the reason for the timing of the switch.
Laliberte said it was because another regional college had officially requested the change, and the decision was made for all colleges in Saskatchewan to change their names as well.
Laliberte said adoption of the new name has been a “soft” launch, as they slowly move away from use of the word “regional” in official letterhead, business cards, brochures and other materials. She said there will not be a major expenditure on signs or other items, but over time the word “regional” will be eased out.
The president also pointed out the college’s mandate will not change.
“It doesn’t change the mandate in terms of training and education needs for Northwest Saskatchewan,” said Laliberte.
