GIVING BACK HOPE: ALUM WORKS TO EXPAND MEN’S SHELTER RECONNECT AT ALUMNI WEEKEND
We were a little shocked to place second. The other teams were really good as well. There were a lot of good ideas out there."
By Melissa Barr
Traci
Edmondson was already a Lakeland College alumna when she decided to return to her alma mater to complement her veterinary technology diploma with some business education. She enrolled in agribusiness and, this fall, proved her business acumen when she and her teammates placed second in a national business case competition.
strangers, however.
When she’d decided to participate in the competition, she convinced her two roommates, Heintz and Hladych, to come along as well. They got to know the fourth member of their team, Parvis, before the competition, spending the month before CAMA practicing for the big event.
The competition was part of the Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance (CAMA) and saw Lakeland’s team, made up of Edmondson, Maddison Heintz, Ahmed Parvis and Isabel Hladych, pitted against teams from six top universities and colleges across western Canada. The teams were given a startup product, 24 hours to develop a marketing plan for that product, and then they pitched their plans to a committee that included the product creator.
“It was a lot of fun,” says Edmondson. “It was a little stressful to be on that time crunch, locked in a room with a few other people trying to figure out the best way to market the product. Everyone has so many different ideas, but you need to just pick one and move ahead.”
Edmondson wasn’t working with
At the competition, the teams developed a marketing plan for MYCO Pots, a mushroom-based biodegradable planting pot that hasn’t yet hit the market. Calgarybased creator Tatenda Mambo was at the conference.
“We decided that it would be best to sell them to reforestation efforts after forest fires,” Edmondson explains. “The pots are biodegradable, so it would be easy to put them in the ground and it would help the soil. We also went with selling directly to nurseries for regular consumers.”
The team was excited when they found out they placed second.
“We felt like we did pretty well,” Edmondson says. “But you never know what’s going to happen. We were a little shocked to place second.
“I think the whole thing boosted all of our confidence so much.”
Left to right: Maddison Heintz, Isabel Hladych, Traci Edmondson and Ahmed Parvis
ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
President JAMES MCLAUGHLIN
CLASS OF 1967
Secretary/Treasurer
JIM STORCH
CLASS OF 1990
Directors: BERT
JOURNAULT
CLASS OF 1970
ED LEFSRUD
CLASS OF 1965
EGON LARSEN
CLASS OF 1974
JENNY
SONGHURST
CLASS OF 1974
SHERRY
MARTIN
CLASS OF 1989
College Liaison
KAYLEIGH
SCHMID
CLASS OF 2011
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MESSAGE
ver the years as I travel about western Canada, I usually make a point of calling or visiting friends or classmates when I am in their area. This week was no exception, calling classmates in Duncan, B.C. Over the years, they have made an effort to attend their 10- and 50-year reunions.
Through their participation, these people and many others have helped to keep our reunions alive and make them successful. We need more people like this.
Since COVID-19, a lot of organizations have suffered losing their connection and sharing with their members. Our Alumni Association is no exception. We have found other things for our time. We need to once again shift our classmates back on that list and hopefully we can recreate a great experience by attending our Alumni Weekend.
Becoming a Class Champion is one of the ways you can bring back your college experience. You’ll get a list of your classmates so you can call them, relive the good old days, and maybe even talk them into meeting with you at Alumni Weekend. To become a Champion, contact Kayleigh Schmid at kayleigh.schmid@lakelandcollege.ca or 780.872.0245 for more information.
At Alumni Weekend on June 14, we are again planning to host an evening get together Friday, June 13. It’s a great way to start our weekend. We are also trying to group consecutive class years together in the same residences to give old friends a chance to visit far into the night.
This year we are trying something new that we hope will bring more of you to our Alumni Weekend. The executive, in an attempt to add a bit of zing to the program, has got a speaker to come for our Friday evening to Alumni Hall: Beckie Scott, a locally-grown Olympic champion, gold medal winner, Officer of the Order of Canada, and the founder and CEO of Spirit North: Canada's largest sport for social development organization. She will offer interesting presentation with a question-and-answer period after. This will also give her a chance to meet old school friends and the people of Vermilion. Beckie's life journey has taken her from practicing summer ski, hill climbing training a couple of miles from my place, through various gold, silver etc. medals, World Anti-Doping chair, and advocacy in sport to today.
Our Alumni Association executive members want to be more involved with you by having another virtual town hall meeting. We are planning this town hall for April 15 through Microsoft Teams. An email invitation will be sent to all alumni emails the college has on file. If you don’t receive an invitation but would like to, please contact Kayleigh at kayleigh.schmid@ lakelandcollege.ca or 780.872.0245.
It's been great to once again chat with all of you. Hope to see you on April 15 on the virtual town hall and at Alumni Weekend June 14.
James McLaughlin
Alumni Association President Lakeland College
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Alumni Spotlight
Excel is published by Lakeland College’s Department of
and
Excel is also available on Lakeland College’s website at lakelandcollege.ca/excel
The department distributes mailings, invitations and class lists. Anyone wishing to be excluded from certain mailings should call Kayleigh at 780.871.5526.
Editor: Melissa Barr
Writers: Melissa Barr, Katie Ryan
Creative Design: Chelsey Schlosser
Cover Photo:
Videre Images by Jason Whiting
Contributions:
Special thanks to all alumni who contributed to this edition of Excel. Letters, photographs and news are welcome. If you’re celebrating a personal or professional milestone, or have other news to share, please let us know! We’d be happy to include your news in the Class Notes section. We reserve the right to edit contributions. Submitted photographs must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Please address all correspondence to Kayleigh Schmid at 780.871.5526 or kayleigh.schmid@lakelandcollege.ca
Publications mail agreement No. 40009099
Return undeliverable addresses to: Lakeland College
Donor and Alumni Relations 5707 College Drive Vermilion, Alberta, Canada T9X 1K5 lakelandcollege.ca/alumni-update
STUDENT, ALUMNUS, SUPPORTER:
ROY KUBICA
By Melissa Barr
Roy Kubica has deep roots at Lakeland College. The Class of 1966 alumnus first made on-campus memories as a student, learning about livestock, plant science and economics. He put those lessons to use as an alumnus and an agricultural producer.
He stayed connected to the college through the years, supporting the student awards program and annual giving campaigns since 2013. In 2015, he launched the Roy J. Kubica Agriculture Scholarship. He also contributes to the Roy J. Kubica bursary.
giving away a farm,” he said at the time. And he has done his best to live up to that proclamation.
Since 2019, crop technology students on the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland (SMF) have seeded and harvested crops on the Roy Kubica Quarter, a plot of land six kilometers west of Lakeland’s Vermilion campus.
"Not everyone can give, but some can, and I am happy to do what I can. That assistance is now being used by students to support their future"
Kubica retired from farming near Thorhild in 2017 and since then, his giving legacy at Lakeland has expanded exponentially.
“I have put it in my mind that I am
Since 2022, SMF students have harvested that plot of land (and more of Lakeland’s 3,700+ acres) with a new Demco 1050 grain cart – another of Kubica’s gifts.
It’s equipped with scales to weigh each load of grain, holds about 1,000 bushels and works with the Agrimatics Libra grain cart inventory platform. Weights automatically download into this
program so the combine operator can see how large each load of grain is as it’s unloading.
“This addition to our fleet adds so many new opportunities for hands-on learning and technological training, which is the backbone of Lakeland’s education system – to learn by doing,” said Tyson Krpan, second-year crop technology student and analysis manager on the SMF crop unit in 2021, when Kubica presented the cart. “We will easily and accurately be able to track our yield and grain inventory, increase efficiency in the bin yard, and have much more confidence when making decisions about grain contracts.”
Last fall, SMF students were able to transport their grain with an upgraded 2017 Western Star tri-axel thanks to Kubica's generosity and latest gift to Lakeland. The grain truck holds 850 bushels and is equipped with a sileage end gate which ensures it can be used for multiple jobs on the farm. The old grain truck, “Old Blue,” has been repurposed as a water truck.
As a member of the alumni family, Kubica says he likes to give funds where he can see the impact they have.
“Not everyone can give, but some can, and I am happy to do what I can,” says Kubica. “I never married and have no children, so some of the income I’ve generated over the years, I am using to support Lakeland. That assistance is now being used by students to support their future.”
In recognition of all he has done to support Lakeland, Kubica was named Distinguished Alumni in 2022, an award presented at convocation.
Alumnus Name: Class Year:
Maiden Name:
Address: City/Town:
Province: Postal Code:
Home Phone: Cell Phone:
Email:
Name of Guest(s):
If Guest(s) is Alumnus, Class Year(s):
ACCOMMODATIONS
(Lakeland College Residence or Lakeland College RV Parking)
*After payment your credit card information will be securely destroyed
This form and payment can also be completed online at lakelandcollege.ca/weekend
We look forward to hosting you on campus in June!
MAILING INFORMATION
MAIL REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT TO:
Lakeland College 5707 College Drive
Vermilion, AB T9X 1K5
Attention: Alumni Weekend 2025
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Kayleigh Schmid
Alumni Engagement & Career Services Specialist
Call: 780.871.5526 or 1.800.661.6490 ext: 5526
Email: kayleigh.schmid@lakelandcollege.ca
Lakeland College complies with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of Alberta. Information collected on this form is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Act for administration of the Alumni program. This information is used in the normal course of College operations in accordance with this legislation. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information, please contact the FOIP Coordinator (5707 College Drive, Vermilion AB, 780.853.8524; FOIP@lakelandcollege.ca).
MAZ ENTERTAINMENT: In demand and on the road
By Melissa Barr
According to Cody Mazerolle, the key to success is going to class, working hard, networking and, most of all, not being afraid to take a calculated risk. That’s how he turned his side hustle and passion project into a successful, award-winning business.
Mazerolle, born and raised in Lloydminster, is the driving force behind Maz Entertainment - winner of both the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Small Business of the Year and Business of The Year Business Excellence awards.
He’s a member of the Class of 2012 in Lakeland’s university transfer program (UT) and holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. He employs four full-time staff members and another 10 part-time.
And it all started as a series of DJing gigs he did while attending school.
“It was a passion,” Mazerolle says. “I really liked music and would come back every summer. I kept doing it the entire time I was in school. I would come home for the summers and DJ, or do tech work on the weekends, all while working a full-time job during the week and going to school.”
After he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015, Mazerolle kept up with his side gigs while working full-time. In 2017, he decided to take a risk.
“I was working two jobs but it was too much to try to juggle them both,” he says. “So I made a leap of faith and put all my eggs in one basket. It was tough for two or three years, making very little and putting everything I had back into the company, but it worked out.”
Now, Maz Entertainment is a full-scale production company. They do everything from event production, live audio for performing bands, video production, livestreaming, rentals, sales and still employ almost 10 part-time DJs.
“In a smaller place like Lloydminster, it is hard to make it on just one specialty,” he explains. “You have to be diverse.” That diversity is what appeals to him about the business.
“It never gets mundane,” Mazerolle says. “Every single day is different. One day you’re out at a rodeo, the next you’re at a concert, then you’re doing a livestream the next week. Having something new and different every day is exciting for me. We’ve been traveling across Canada and meeting people from all over which is a lot of fun.”
There is a creativity inherent in the business, one he saw especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It started off as just a side hustle. It’s a great lesson. Don’t just stay still, you never know what could turn into something that’ll change your life. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.”
“How do you make it in the entertainment world where you can’t have events? How do you keep going?” he recalls.
“We bought a video wall and started doing outdoor events for local schools and things, like Christmas concerts, drivein movie style. It was so cool to see the unique ways people found to gather.”
Three years ago, Maz Entertainment got involved with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), a job which has taken them across the country and elevated the business to new heights. Locally, Mazerolle’s highlights include doing the production for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s basketball finals, hosted at Lakeland’s Lloydminster campus in 2024, and for Band in the Sand, an annual student-run event on Lakeland’s Vermilion campus since 2016.
In demand and on the road with work meant Mazerolle was unable to collect his awards at the last Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards. In fact, his wife collected his hardware instead.
Mazerolle is both shocked and grateful for the recognition. He credits the amazing team of men and women who make up the Maz Entertainment team for all the success, noting that without them none of it would be possible.
“I never thought 10 years ago when we first started this company that anything like that would be possible. It started off as just a side hustle. It’s a great lesson. Don’t just stay still, you never know what could turn into something that’ll change your life. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.”
PASSION PURPOSE in veterinary oncology
By Melissa Barr
While some might find specializing in the complexities of veterinary oncology to be challenging, Tiffany Possberg sees it differently. To her, it grants her the opportunity to have a profound impact on the lives of her patients and their families.
Possberg graduated from Lakeland College’s animal health technology program in 2002. She worked in general practices as a registered veterinary technologist (RVT) at first before covering a temporary position in the oncology department at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). She discovered a passion for it and worked her way into a permanent position in the department.
“Cancer is quite complex,” Possberg explains. “There are so many different types and ways of treating it. No two days are the same. It’s an area of veterinary medicine where we can really promote the relationships between people and their pets. In oncology, quality of life is everything we do, which means quality of life for the patient and for their families. We try to find something that works for the individual families, whether they have financial or geographical constraints, or if they’re facing a really grave prognosis. Giving the animals extra quality of life when they have a terminal diagnosis is really important for us to focus on during those times where it can be really sad or difficult.”
&While working at WCVM, Possberg had the opportunity to return to Lakeland for a career fair a few years ago. She toured the Animal Health Clinic on the Vermilion campus, which opened in 2018. It replaced the older facility where she studied.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” Possberg says. “When I think back to 2002 and the facility then compared to the one now, it’s a big improvement. Twenty-odd years ago, the facility was really nice too though. Not every educational institution had an on-campus clinic, which was a huge factor that brought me to Lakeland.”
When I think back to 2002 and the facility then compared to the one now, it’s a big improvement. Twenty-odd years ago, the facility was really nice too though. Not every educational institution had an oncampus clinic, which was a huge factor that brought me to Lakeland."
Fostering family relationships
Now, Possberg is an RVT in the oncology department at Boreal Veterinary Centre, an emergency and specialty care hospital in Edmonton. She is also the team lead for the specialty RVT and animal care attendant team. On a typical day, she meets with new clients, assists veterinarians with appointments, administers chemotherapy, and assists with ultrasounds and biopsies. In 2024, she spoke at the Veterinary Cancer Society’s annual conference, presenting a case study about a unique type of cancer treated at Boreal last year.
Possberg’s experience treating canine cancer became personal when her own dog, Mindy, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2020.
“That opened my eyes to that perspective of cancer treatment as well,” she says. “It was really difficult, but I think everything makes you a better person, and that has made me a better RVT for oncology patients as well. It impacted me personally and professionally for nearly four years and will continue to influence the way I practice veterinary medicine.”
It was medical curiosity that drew Possberg to oncology, but it’s in the bond she forms with her patients and their families that she finds fulfillment.
“There is much more recognition these days about the important roles pets play in our families and we do whatever we can do to foster that relationship,” Possberg says. “Maybe they want to do one last trip to the lake, or one more birthday, or they have something really special coming up and they want their pet to be part of that event. We can help them reach those goals. Everyone seems to think working in oncology is really sad, but I find it incredibly rewarding.”
SHARING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
By Melissa Barr
Kagan Kneen knows the value of a supportive community. He recently returned to the area he grew up in to surround himself with family and friends as he and his husband await the birth of twins this spring.
In his role as the executive director of Lloydminster’s Men’s Shelter, he’s doing his best to ensure that unhoused individuals are surrounded by similar supports.
Kneen was born and raised in Marwayne, Alta., which made attending Lakeland College an easy choice. He completed his business administration diploma before earning his bachelor of commerce through Lakeland’s partnership with Athabasca University, graduating in 2008.
“It was the first year Lakeland offered the ability to complete the degree through Athabasca while staying at Lakeland,” Kneen recalls. “I was excited to be able to do that rather than figure out the living situations somewhere else. It made the most sense.”
At Lakeland, he enjoyed the faculty, the facilities, and the opportunity to study while surrounded by the friends and families he’d grown up with, played sports against, and went to school with. After graduation, Kneen worked in local and regional management positions in telecommunications in Saskatoon and Calgary before he and his husband made the decision to move back to Kneen’s home region.
Raising awareness
Kneen gives back through his role with the men’s shelter. He’s been tasked by the board of directors to find a larger facility so they can offer more housing solutions and emergency shelter to unhoused individuals. He also provides support and direction to the shelter, and works to improve community relations by having more conversations about the challenges unhoused individuals face.
“It’s been good but very challenging,” Kneen says. “It’s a hot button topic, not just in our community, but across Canada. It’s not that there weren’t unhoused individuals when I was growing up or going to Lakeland, but with the cost of living, the economy and the kinds of drugs and alcohol available right now, it’s blown up, especially post-COVID. There has been a surge of unhoused people globally.”
These people are more than just the faces of the unhoused. There’s a story here."
Kneen says he understands that the topic can be controversial and understands when people express their concerns about the shelter, especially as he looks for a larger location.
“Nobody wants to have a shelter close to their businesses or their residences and I completely understand,” he says. “But at some point, we have to be able to take care of the people who need us.”
Staying connected
KTo raise awareness and funds for the shelter, Kneen launched a fundraising initiative that saw him run from the British Columbia/Alberta border to the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border in August. It was a way to start conversations while raising funds, and it gave him the opportunity to visit other shelters and learn from them.
“I ran 40 to 60 km/day for 26 days,” he explains. “It was very physically demanding and mentally exhausting but it was great because it started conversations that weren’t necessarily had before. Visiting the other shelters was eye-opening. Some of them have been around for a long time and some for only a few years. I was able to talk with leadership about what worked well and things they wished they’d done differently.”
Those conversations have helped inform his current decisions when looking for a new facility.
“Being close to a downtown core is essential because our clients need access to services like health care, banks, registration for ID recovery and more.”
There is another side to the conversation that Kneen thinks might get lost in the dialogue, and one he hopes to help share.
“These people are more than just the faces of the unhoused,” he says. “They are individuals who truly want to get back on their feet. But everyone is painted with the same bad brush. We are trying to change that dialogue and give hope back to these individuals who have been struggling, who really want to find employment and permanent housing. Providing shelter is step one.”
The other steps involve providing more extensive services that Kneen hopes they can offer in a larger facility. Now, the shelter has hired a case worker who works with other agencies to find supports like treatment facilities, detox housing and employment opportunities.
neen has stayed connected to Lakeland since he graduated. He donates to a scholarship annually and visited a foundational learning class to share more about the work he does. He’s currently working on convincing various nieces and nephews to follow in his footsteps and apply to Lakeland as they reach the end of their high school journeys.
As for his hopes for the shelter, Kneen is looking to keep the conversations going and invites anyone interested in
learning more about the work the men's shelter does and the clients served to connect with him.
“I encourage people to come and tour the shelter,” he says. “We had two youths come in with an adult to volunteer and they helped serve meals and sort donations. They kept coming back and saying the guys were so nice and super friendly. That’s what I really want the community to understand. There are individuals who are using our facility and our services who are trying to better themselves. Come see what we can actually do in such a small space.”
By Katie Ryan
Family and farming go hand in hand for Doug Brown. In fact, they are at the heart of everything Brown has accomplished since he graduated from Lakeland College, then known as the Vermilion School of Agriculture, in 1949.
A farm boy from near Westlock, Alta,, Doug farmed well before his teenage years and before he began his postsecondary journey.
When he enrolled at the Vermilion School of Agriculture (VSA) in 1947, there were only two programs available –agriculture and home economics.
Doug enjoyed his time in the agriculture program at VSA and gained many valuable skills.
“Lakeland taught me the importance of looking after your farm equipment and how to weld, to be able to repair the equipment yourself,” says Doug.
FAMILY ROOTS GREEN GOLD
Brown took those industrious lessons back to his family farm –Whistling Knoll Stock Farms – which is now a fifth-generation commercial operation, run by his son Murray, grandson CJ, greatgrandsons Knox and Gunnar Brown, and great-granddaughter Isabelle Vera Brown.
“Knox and Gunnar are farmers-in-training and learning from the best mentor, great-grandpa Brown,”says Nadine (Prefontaine) Farkash, Class of 2004, one of Brown’s many grandchildren to attend Lakeland College. Today Farkash is an instructor in the agribusiness program at the Vermilion campus.
Whistling Knoll Stock Farms is located south of Westlock on a little knoll. Doug and his wife Vera, whom he married in 1955, were dairy farmers until 1984 when they sold their dairy cows and quota. They continued farming though, running a beef and grain operation. They also had chickens and pigs in the earlier years, and Belgium horse teams and quarter horses until 2016.
Together, Doug and Vera raised four children, are mentors to 13 grandchildren and are active great-grandparents to 23 great grandchildren. They instilled a love of agriculture in their children – a legacy that continues today.
“Grandpa and Grandma Brown’s farm has taught many life lessons. As Lakeland College values learner success, integrity, respect, community, excellence and innovation, Whistling Knoll Stock Farms exemplifies such values holding a legacy for five generations,” says Farkash.
COMMUNITY DRIVEN
The Browns’ commitment to the ag industry is also reflected in their dedication to their community, where their volunteerism is both extensive and impressive. For more than 70 years, Doug has been a member of the Westlock Ag Society, while Vera has been a member of the Women’s Institute. Together, they organized many parts of the Westlock Fair. Both have been active 4-H members and leaders and belong to many boards and associations like a director on the Unifarm Board, the Pembina Cattle Breeders, Legal Grain Club, Busby/Pickardville Beef Club, Echo Hill Beef Club, Vimy Dairy Club and Vimy Beef Club, among others.
Doug was also instrumental in growing supports and services for the community. For instance, a Clyde-area resident, Mr. Tom Dempster, advised Doug to be a UFA connection to assist people in the area to place orders through UFA for farm products.
Doug recalls when they were first married, Vera stated, “It sure would be nice to have natural gas.” After connecting with a gentleman who helped bring natural gas to the Lacombe area, Doug invited him to share its benefits with residents in the Busby and Legal region. The effort was a success, making Doug and Vera the pioneers in bringing natural gas to their area.
LAKELAND LEGACY
The Browns' Lakeland connection continues to grow. Several of their grandchildren are graduates of Lakeland: Adele Walsh, Class of 2002 agribusiness; Nadine Farkash, Class of 2004 accounting financial planning and current instructor; Mandy Kreiser, Class of 2005 early childhood development certificate; CJ Brown, Class of 2006, environmental conservation and reclamation diploma; Jordan Prefontaine, Class of 2010 electrical; and son-in-law Bernie Prefontaine, Class 1 drivers. Currently, a great grandson, Tye Walsh, is enrolled in Lakeland’s crop technology program. After this two-year program, he plans to continue his studies
at Lakeland in the bachelor of agriculture technology degree program.
Doug remains tied to his alma mater since graduating 76 years ago. Up until recently, as a lifetime member of Lakeland College’s Alumni Association, Doug attended every Alumni Weekend event. He continues to give back to future generations of ag professionals by supporting Lakeland’s Legacy Tile project.
“I truly believe that the college was so beneficial to my farming career and wanted to share with the young farmers to continue on their education in agriculture,” he says. “I am honored to be on the Legacy Wall.”
LAKELAND ENERGIZES ALUM’S JOB SEARCH
By Melissa Barr
Talwinder Singh’s goal seemed simple enough when he first thought of it. A mechanical engineer in his home country of India, he planned to move to Canada, find work in a similar field, and build a new life. The reality, however, was more complex as bureaucratic red tape, an economic downturn and, most of all, a global pandemic disrupted his plan.
When Singh realized that his experience as a mechanical engineer would not transfer to Canada because of certain policies, he took it in stride and looked for a college program he could apply for in Canada that would land him in a similar career. He applied to Lakeland College’s two-year process and power engineering diploma program (then called heavy oil power engineering) and began his studies in 2018.
“I like everything about Canada and learned so many things at Lakeland,” Singh says, adding that his experience as a mechanical engineer definitely helped. “It was a good experience and everybody helped me here.”
Things took a turn though before Singh graduated. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his studies and the required steam time component of his program was delayed. He graduated in 2021 instead of 2020 and the job market was tough.
“Nobody was hiring at the time,” Singh says. He began working at a Shell gas station in 2020 while sending out hundreds of resumés. The years slipped past and he kept applying, concerned that the growing gap in his resumé between his studies and his application might prevent hiring managers from reaching out to him.
“It was my dream to work as a power engineer from the day I came here, and I thought if I just kept working on my resumé and kept applying, someone would finally hire me,” he recalls. “But most companies
want five years’ experience and I had that three-year gap in my resumé. I thought that might be why they wouldn’t hire me.”
It’s how he found himself in 2023, managing a gas station while working a second job at Booster Juice, making smoothies.
And that’s when a chance encounter with Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Lakeland’s president and CEO, changed the trajectory of his career path.
She came in for a smoothie, Singh recalls, and he recognized her.
in the power engineering field, my interview answers needed to reflect that. They told me to share my practicum and lab experience at the college during interviews, which would give me a better chance of being selected.”
"Lakeland
helped me during my studies but they helped me after too. I’m learning new things every day, using my education and what I studied for."
When he mentioned that to her, Wainwright-Stewart asked him where he knew her from.
“I told her I studied at Lakeland,” Singh says, “And she asked me what program. When I told her it was power engineering, she asked why I wasn’t working as a power engineer. When I confessed that I kept applying for jobs but couldn’t seem to find one, she asked if I had approached the college and let them know I was struggling.”
Wainwright-Stewart reached out to Simon Stilgoe, chair of the School of Energy. Stilgoe and Colleen DeKoning, administrative assistant for the School of Energy, worked together to help Singh. They reviewed his resumé and cover letters, and perhaps most impactful of all, conducted a mock interview to help him improve his skills in that area.
“They told me if I wanted to work
Singh took that to heart, using that advice to bolster his interview skills and his confidence.
And the next thing he knew, he’d found a job.
Singh was hired as a shift engineer at Thunder Creek Pork, a processing plant in Moose Jaw, Sask., and given a threemonth probationary period to prove himself. It was a responsibility Singh did not take lightly.
“I gave it my best, 100 per cent,” he explains, excited. “And at the end of my three months, they promoted me to chief engineer at the new plant, North 49 Foods!”
Now that he’s a chief engineer, managing three shift engineers, Singh remains in touch with Lakeland. It’s a steep learning curve and sometimes he reaches out for advice, but he’s also determined to pay it forward.
In October, when his plant was hiring, Singh reached out to Stilgoe to see if there was anyone like him who might be looking for an opportunity to gain some experience and steam time.
“Lakeland helped me during my studies but they helped me after too. I’m learning new things every day, using my education and what I studied for. Simon and Lakeland are always so supportive and help guide me.”
CITY KID FINDS FULFILLMENT IN AGRICULTURE
By Melissa Barr
Lisa Koladich considers herself “one of the token city kids” of the 2014 crop unit on Lakeland College’s Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland (SMF). The crop technology alumna grew up in Sherwood Park, Alta., and was inspired to seek an agricultural career by weekends spent at her grandparents’ farm.
That outsider perspective gave her an edge that she still employs today in her career as a regional account manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions.
“Most of the students came from farming backgrounds,” Koladich says, recalling her role as assistant general manager of her SMF unit. Each year, the second-year crop SMF students are charged with managing the farm with guidance from faculty, making decisions on harvest and field management, marketing and seeding in the spring.
“The students would come to meetings saying things like, ‘my family does things this way,’ or ‘my dad does it that way.’ I would listen and learn. In my job now, I go in just
It’s interesting because not every farm works the same way and you get a feel for how each farm runs."
as open-minded. I really listen to how each producer runs their own business before giving them my opinion. A lot of it is understanding your customer and how they run their own business.”
Lakeland did more for Koladich than help her develop that open-minded philosophy. Her work-integrated learning experience gave her the edge she needed to start her career before she even graduated.
“I was hired to work at Richardson Pioneer in Lamont,” she recalls, adding Lakeland’s 2013 campus career fair was where she met recruiters and handed out her resumé. “I wrote my last exam in April, had the weekend to move out of the dorms, and started my first day of work on the Monday.”
She worked there as the crop input manager for five years before spending three and a half as a territory manager for Farmer’s Business Network. Now, she is a regional account manager at Nutrien, a role she enjoys.
“I’m on the road a lot,” Koladich says. “I have my own list of customers and support them with their crop input needs, like fertilizer, seeds or chemicals. I also help other sales staff too, jumping into the truck with them to go on farm calls.”
She enjoys those aspects of the job, saying, “It’s interesting because not every farm works the same way and you get a feel for how each farm runs. I’m selling the same product year over year, but every day is different because I’m dealing with different people.”
Interacting with people is an essential part of the job, and Koladich says, “College definitely helped me get where I am, but it’s also about my people skills and how I carry myself that helped me get into this role. I can’t believe I’ve already been working for 10 years. It’s been good. I’m happy I chose the industry I’m in and Lakeland definitely set me up for success.”
MODERNIZING BENTLEY
The revitalization and renewal of the Bentley Building on Lakeland’s Vermilion campus is the next big step in the college’s campus revitalization plan. Most of the old building has been demolished, and work is underway to construct the modern and interactive learning environments that are essential for preparing students for the real world.
The rejuvenated Bentley Building will prioritize flexibility, modern learning spaces and a seamless integration with the outdoors. The building is home to Lakeland’s interior design technology and human services programs, and as such, will feature a state-of-the-art design studio, a child development centre with observation labs, and access to an outdoor natural playscape. The new building will also house the Vermilion campus Indigenous student lounge and an Indigenous garden.
The newly reimagined Bentley Building will join other recent improvement projects on the Vermilion campus, including the modernized WHT Mead Building, which opened in 2022 and the Agriculture Technology Centre in 2021. The Animal Health Clinic opened in 2018 and the Dairy Learning Centre in 2017.
CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING ALUMNI
In 2023-24, Lakeland College was proud to induct 81 inspiring graduates to the President’s Circle. These individuals were leaders in and out of the classroom. As young alumni and members of the President’s Circle, they will keep and carry the vibrant Lakeland spirit into the future!
Lakeland LAWYER ALUM JOINS BOARD
Lakeland College welcomed a new member to the Board of Governors, A.J. Mokelky.
He brings a wealth of experience as a lawyer, a graduate of the Lloydminster education system and an alumnus of Lakeland’s university transfer program.
Mokelky grew up in Lloydminster. He attended university transfer at Lakeland in 2010 before graduating from the University of Saskatchewan Edwards School of Business in 2014. He graduated with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2018. During a gap year in his studies, he returned to Lloydminster and worked for the Regional Business Accelerator (now Startup Lloydminster). Currently, Mokelky is a lawyer at Revering Law Office in Lloydminster, focusing on corporate and commercial law, real estate, wills and estates, and civil litigation.
Lloydminster 2024 group photo and Vermilion 2024 group photo on pg. 5.
PLANNING for FUTURE GROWTH for
THE LEGACY WALL
H
elp create more opportunities for Lakeland students by supporting the legacy wall fundraiser.
For a donation of $1,913 (our founding year), you can be part of this innovative project.
YOUR TILE ON THE LEGACY WALL WILL INCLUDE:
your name(s)
your livestock brand, farm logo or a symbolic image
and a short message.
Your gift will help students go beyond the classroom and participate in the one-of-a-kind learning experiences Lakeland is known for.
For more information, contact Penny Manners: call 780.871.5713 or email
penny.manners@lakelandcollege.ca
By infusing our largest learning lab with the latest technology, the SMF replicates a modern and functional commercial ag operation that is aligned with industry best practices. Leave your mark on
At the heart of Lakeland College’s long history of providing hands-on, job-ready learning is the award-winning StudentManaged Farm – Powered by New Holland (SMF). It is the first lab to demonstrate work-integrated learning and is central to Lakeland’s real-world education model.
With 10 essential ag facilities at varying stages of their serviceable lifespan, 3,700+ college-owned acres and approximately 720 mature animals, the SMF lab offers vital programs in crop and animal science technology, veterinary technology and more. In fact, nearly 700 students are enrolled in Lakeland’s nine agricultural sciences programs – up 210 per cent in 15 years.
To remain a competitive leader in immersive learning and rural sustainability, Lakeland must continue to modernize the SMF lab, setting a new benchmark for agricultural education in Alberta.
Lakeland’s Farm Master Plan will be completed in phases, displaying leading technology and practices, fostering job-ready skills, and implementing sustainable systems. To date, work is already underway on the beef yard, modernizing the G.N. Sweet Livestock Research Centre and construction of a wetland and post-harvest facility. Other projects include investing in the Equine Learning Centre, Dairy Learning Centre biodigester, vertical farm lab and more.
Class Notes
1. Caitlyn (Janzen) Mastad, Class of 2015, was the first winner of the Mounted Cattle Dog Championships at Agribition in Regina, Sask. Caitlyn along with her two-year-old dog Sage and 13-year-old gelding Deets, earned the silver buckle in the inaugural mounted competition.
2. Justin Vance, Class of 2021, is proud to represent the citizens of Lloydminster as he was elected into city council in November.
3. Rebecca (Joseph) Green, Class of 2012, animal science technology, and her husband Cody Green welcomed their new addition, Shane Clifford Joseph Green in October.
4. Tricia Polowy, Class of 1998, recently received her 25-year service award at MNP in Lloydminster. Tricia is a senior accounting technician.
Catch up with your fellow Lakeland College alumni! Want to be included in our Class Notes? Submit your memories, celebrations and achievements to Kayleigh at kayleigh.schmid@lakelandcollege.ca
5. Leroy Fontaine, Class of 2013, proudly published a children's book. “Sekweha the Superkid: And his Cultural Cape” is an inspiring story about an Indigenous boy raised by his grandparents, deeply immersed in his culture within a First Nations community.
6. Lori Haugrud, Class of 1993, animal health technology, celebrated 30 dedicated years as a registered veterinary technology with the Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists.
7. Lindsey (Sorensen) Fenez, Class of 1998, animal health technology, received the 2024 Technologist of the Year Award from the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association.
Learning in action.
“It’s important to get this hands-on experience so we know what to expect when we start working in childcare centres. We’re practicing to become directors.”
KATHRINE LIM early childhood education
College is more than a classroom. This year, our students have been busy putting their learning into action.
1. Animal science technology students in the equine major have been training their horses, preparing them for the spring RoundUp sale.
2. Process and power engineering students have been getting hands-on experience in the Energy Centre.
3. University transfer students who are studying to be teachers put theory into practice teaching physical education to local school children.
4. Animal science technology students in the dairy major celebrated high-quality milk production.
5. Environmental sciences students learned about prescribed fire burns during Field Week.
6. Early childhood education students designed and ran their own play program with local children.
7. Hairstyling students welcomed real clients into the student-led salon.
8. Health care aide students completed work placements in community seniors’ homes.
9. Animal science technology students in the beef major weighed cattle in the lead up to the RoundUp sale.
10. Business students networked with industry leaders at the Lloydminster Chamber Connect.
11. Agricultural sciences students in the crop technologies program completed a successful harvest.
12. Steamfitter-pipefitter students worked on cutting and bending pipes.
“Back on my own farm, I always talk with my dad about decisions he was making on the farm but I didn’t have a say. Here, it's our responsibility.”
RACHEL NELSON
Farm –
“We’re outside all the time - it’s an important aspect of the hands-on experience in field work that will transfer perfectly to a job. We get our work done, no matter what.”
OLIVIA HORDOS-GOYER environmental sciences
Student-Managed
Powered by New Holland crop unit
Remember when…
We opened the brand new, stateof-the-art Energy Centre 10 years ago and brought a burst of light and heat to Lloydminster?
▲
The Energy Centre features the nation’s only once through steam generator and newly upgraded Apex control room.
We cut the ribbon and threw the doors open on Aug. 26, 2015. The Energy Centre boasts a once-through steam generator, four other boiler configurations, a two-storey distillation tower, water treatment equipment, a steam turbine generator – and more! It’s the bestequipped lab in Canadian post-secondary.
At the grand opening, Dr. Alice WainwrightStewart, Lakeland’s president and CEO, said, “From conception to construction and now the official opening, today’s milestone is the culmination of innovation and progress. By working together, we can accomplish much, and we have. The Energy Centre is proof of that. What excites me most now that it’s officially open is the skillset our students will develop in this facility – skills that will enable them to graduate equipped for future success.”
Currently, students in our process and power engineering diploma program, continuing education courses and steam labs earn their steam time in our Energy Centre.
IN MEMORIAM
BURAK, ANNE
Class of 2022, health care aide
ANANA,
DR. RAYMOND
Lakeland College faculty, university transfer
DUTKA, ALEX
Class of 1956, agriculture 2 in 1
FREDLAND, PAUL
Class of 1960, agriculture
NACIUK,
JEAN
Class of 1985, appraisal and assessment
RAJOTTE, RICHARD
Class of 1951, agriculture 2 in 1
SINGH, TARUNDEEP
Class of 2024, general agriculture and student in crop technology diploma
SPEIGHT, KURT
Class of 1988, animal health technology
STOKES, PHILLIP
Class of 1985, appraisal and assessment
TUCK, GERI
Spouse of Wayne Tuck, Class of 1965 , agriculture
Our sincere apologies to John Rennie, Class of 1961, who was mistakenly in the In Memoriam list in the Fall 2024 edition.
