Hundreds of individuals, including the Premier, gathered in Fairview, Alta., as Northern Lakes College (NLC) officially assumed control as the new education provider of a post-secondary institution that was previously facing closure this summer.
Earlier this summer, ownership of the Fairview campus transitioned from the former provider, Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP), to the Alberta government. Located approximately 560 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, the town and campus are now under NLC’s management, with their logo and distinctive blue and green colors replacing the former NWP signage.
At the grand opening, Premier Danielle Smith acknowledged the community’s resilience in refusing to let post-secondary education in Fairview come to an end last fall. The campus, currently marking its 75th anniversary, is preparing to commence classes in September.
NLC has taken on the role of overseeing day-to-day operations at the campus and serving as the interim leaseholder while introducing online courses and select trades programs starting this September. Additionally, plans are in place to introduce healthcare training options by early 2027.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 25, NLC President and CEO Glenn Mitchell expressed a commitment to a long-term presence in Fairview and outlined intentions for program expansion in consultation with the local community and industry stakeholders.
A newly established non-profit group, the Fairview Regional Campus Society (FRCS), aims to assume stewardship responsibilities for the campus by May 2027. Under this arrangement, NLC will continue as the educational provider while the society takes charge of day-to-day operations.
FRCS is eager to establish partnerships with other education providers to shape the future of the Fairview campus in the years ahead. Vice President John Przybylski emphasized that significant organizational groundwork is necessary before officially assuming stewardship.
During the event, Lakeland College expressed interest in partnering to offer their vet technician program at the campus from September 2027 onwards. President and CEO Alice Wainright-Stewart highlighted the program’s specialized requirements and outlined plans for accreditation and regulatory compliance in the upcoming year.
Przybylski, a former student and carpentry instructor at the campus, welcomed the prospect of reintroducing the vet tech program, citing its high demand across the province. He also mentioned potential plans to explore additional agricultural offerings in the future.