By Greg Nikkel
A large crowd packed into a double-classroom to listen to a number of dignitaries speak to officially open the Weyburn campus of Southeast College on Thursday, after nearly five years of construction of the new facility at the Weyburn Comprehensive School site on King Street.
“We’ve come a long ways,” said Weyburn-Big Muddy and Energy and Resources Minister Dustin Duncan, who noted he is an alumni of the college.
“I’m proud to say I’m an alumni of Southeast College, as I did my first year of university at the old Souris Valley building,” he said. Duncan came in the stead of Advanced Education Minister Bronwyn , who was unable to make the opening from Saskatoon due to the snowfall.
“This is a project that’s been a long time coming. This is a place where hundreds of students each year get to embark on the education that will lead to their career, and hopefully that career will be right here in Saskatchewan,” said Duncan, noting the province provided $13.5 million towards the new facility.
The new 36,000-square-foot building is home to 11 classrooms, 29 offices, three conference rooms and capacity for approximately 200 students at any given time. The campus includes a new student lounge area, ample parking and industry-leading post-secondary training labs.
Noting the college has been providing education for over 40 years now, Duncan said, “This is truly a monumental day for this organization, opening this great new campus.”
He later cut the ribbon in front of the main doors to the college, as all of the guests, staff and dignitaries filed outside in the lightly-falling snow to watch the ceremony, with Judi Jones, chair of the college’s Board of Governors, and Dion McGrath, president and CEO of the college, assisting.
“It’s been quite a journey. It was five years ago when we moved out of this location,” said Jones, noting they were able to find two locations, one for administration offices and the other for classes in the City Centre Mall, which enabled them to continue providing programming until the new campus was ready to move into.
“Fast forward to today. After watching this facility come to life, I’m so pleased at how it’s come out,” said Jones, adding the college has been present for 40 years providing education, and will continue “to offer adaptable education that will meet the needs of the students.”
McGrath said the new facility is “a significant milestone for the college” in its 41st year of post-secondary education, and noted they would not have been able to provide this service without the support of the government, as well as the support and cooperation of the City of Weyburn. He noted the city’s part as they supported the new Cugnet Centre auditorium which is also a part of the new Comprehensive School complex.
“Partnerships are what make the college what it is, and we can’t do what we do without them, engaging businesses and industry,” added McGrath.
“We are so pleased with the support of the province and the local community in Weyburn the past few years. We couldn’t be happier with how this facility turned out. It truly is a student-centred educational institution that we are proud to call home.”
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The college president added this building is part of the renewal process for the college.
“This is a significant milestone, and will provide a learning environment that’s second-to-none. Our college is extraordinarily fortunate, as over $30 million has come to us between this facility and our facility in Estevan,” said McGrath, noting these new facilities will enable the college to offer more programming, and the opportunity for those who want to stay close to home in their first year of university and save on their costs.
Addressing the many guests and local residents on hand for the opening, McGrath said, “Take time to look around. This is as much your facility for the residents of southeast Saskatchewan as it is ours.”
The opening ceremonies included the presentation of the first-ever TEAM scholarship by Dave Harazny, which is funded by the staff of the college. TEAM is an acronym for “Together Everyone Achieves More”, and was funded by the staff holding fundraisers and making contributions to the scholarship fund, with matching funds from the Ministry of Advanced Education.
The scholarship is offered to a graduate of the adult basic education program who is going on to pursue further education, and must meet certain criteria for financial need.
The scholarship is worth $6,000, and was presented to Tracy Cantin, who is taking the two-year practical nursing program at the Weyburn campus.
In accepting the scholarship, Cantin said, “It’s clear that in this building, the staff understand the importance of higher learning.”
As a nurse, she said, she wants to reach out to those people who thought they were forgotten, and to see peace in the eyes of trauma victims. “I want to be part of healing that body,” she said.
“That’s what it’s all about. At the end of the day, it’s about the students,” said emcee Jeff Richards, noting that last year the college provided about $197,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students.
The opening ceremonies was followed by tours of the new building, and a barbecue lunch, with the proceeds going towards entrance scholarships for students.
