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Vol. 1 Issue 29
*NUTRILITE - Vitamins and Supplements * LEGACY OF CLEAN - Environmentally friendly cleaning products * ARTISTRY - Make-up and skin care ...and much more!!!
Tiffany Krish (403)563-7398 www.amway.ca/tiffkrish
Linda Germo Design Stylist
403.582.1211
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Where Your Friends Are.. New Management Tavern, Liquor Store, Affordable Rates Double Occupancy Clean Rooms Karaoke-Thu, Fri Sat
Nothing spells summer like the opening of Bellevue’s Old Dairy Ice Cream Shoppe. Murielle Carlson (left) handed over the keys - and the ice cream scoop - to new owner Bernita Vander Veen (right) signaling the start of another chapter in the historic building’s legacy. See story on page 7. Photo by J. MacFarlane
Lethbridge College feels the pinch By Joni MacFarlane Editor
2414 213 St, Bellevue, AB 403-564-4676
Free Press
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Crowsnest Pass
Office is open 9:00am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri Deadline for advertising is 5 pm on Fridays Find us at 12707 20 Avenue Blairmore, AB 403-563-4231 Jennifer Pinkerton sales@cnpfreepress.com
Low enrollment is forcing Lethbridge College to review its viability at its Crowsnest Pass location. While emphasizing their desire to remain, representatives from the College made it clear that collaboration with the municipality would have to be explored. On May 13, Stuart Cullum, Vice President Academic & Chief Operating Officer for Lethbridge College, told council they wanted to “explore opportunities for a new model of collaboration”. Cullum said a combination of provincial cutbacks and low enrollments have necessitated the College to look at the realities of funding and other ways of meeting their mandate. He also stressed that Crowsnest Pass was not unique and other rural communities were experiencing similar situations. “We’re very proud of our regional stewardship mandate and very committed to it,” he said. “Our
r e h c n i P Creek
intention is not to leave the community. Our hope is that we can develop a collaboration that creates sustainability in the long term.” Lethbridge College was formerly housed in the old Crowsnest Centre and moved to Bellevue’s M.D. McEachern Centre in 2010. Adult upgrading has been their primary focus, said Karen O’Dwyer, Dean, Centre for Teaching, Learning & Innovation, but changes to government funding have made this program almost non-existent. “One of the challenges we have had as the College providing the stewardship of this campus, is we’re having difficulty finding the right program mix to attract adults in the community,” she said. “In order to have viable programming, we need to have sufficient numbers of students to actually help pay for the instructional costs and operating costs.” O’Dwyer went on to say the College has a very strong partnership with Adult Education but that group is also challenged as Adult Ed depends on the College to meet its operating costs.
In some communities, Lethbridge College has partnered with schools to use their facilities, said O’Dwyer. They have excess space in the MDM and are very interested in working with everyone, including schools and the municipality, to expand their program options, added Cullum. “This isn’t just about looking at a different business relationship. This is a recognition that we need to work together as a community… in order to build sustainability in our program mix,” Cullum said. “Our community and the council values your commitment to our community,” said Mayor Blair Painter. “Further education is very important.” He also mentioned that Teck sends its employees to attend trades courses in B.C and that perhaps opportunities exist to offer these programs in Crowsnest Pass, particularly with new mining developments on the horizon. It was agreed the College and municipality would continue exploring options.
Buy One get One* 50% OFF all pillows *of equal or lesser value. valid at pincher creek location only. see store for details. expires May 31, 2014
david tetachuk Owner
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cheri Bobyk sales associate
Open 7 days a week • 403-627-3717 • Ranchland Mall • yOuR lOcally Owned advantage