Unveiling Builders Hall

The main hall of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre is an impressive 400 feet long and seven stories high at its peaks. This gorgeous, glass corridor contributes significantly to the bright, open feel of the building, and its towering windows bring the natural light and landscape into all corners of the facility. We’re proud to unveil this space as Builders Hall, a place to recognize individuals who have contributed to building our institution from a small, community college into a regional university.

Fittingly, RDC Builders Hall recognizes members of our community whose contributions to Red Deer College have helped us grow leaders in our region, integrated us into the fabric of central Alberta, and championed our development. RDC is proud to have contributed to the cultural, social, academic and economic development of central Alberta. We’re proud of the impact our learners have on the communities they serve as practicum students and volunteers, as young graduates, and as alumni. We’re honoured to recognize individuals who inspire this pride on seven pillars that line the impressive walls of RDC Builders Hall.

In 2019, we acknowledged the following people and organizations throughout RDC Builders Hall.

Builder: George Harold Dawe, Chair of Red Deer Junior College Board of Governors

Builders: RDC’s 1st Board of Governors, W. J. Bagnall, Doug L. Crowe, Robert M. Jewell, J.D. Ludwig,John Martin, Margaret A. Parsons, Mrs. Ed Sommerville, and John Wilson

2019 Community Partner Award Recipient: Olds College

2019 GH Dawe Award Recipient: Ron MacLean

2019 Honorary Degree Recipient: Lauralyn “Lyn” Radford

2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient: Scott Robinson

Lyn Radford’s commitment to volunteerism and community building in central Alberta has been acknowledged by numerous organizations in our region. She was named Rotary Citizen of the Year in 2009, and has received the Mayor’s Recognition Award for Distinguished Voluntary Service in 2007 and the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. In her time on the RDC Board of Governors, Radford contributed significantly toward the vision we are now realizing as we inhabit the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, transition into Red Deer University, and continue to host regional and national sporting events. In March of this year, Radford was honoured with the Lifetime Sport Achievement Award from the City of Red Deer for her decades of work in our community to promote and support sport at all levels.

Radford has been an essential cog in the wheel of community sports in Red Deer, since she arrived here more than 30 years ago. From her involvement with the Exelta Gymnastics club, ski club, Alberta Summer

Games and the 2019 Canada Winter Games, Radford has long worked to provide opportunities and support for our region’s young athletes. In 1999, she helped to develop Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central, which provides necessary services and supports to emerging elite athletes, allowing them to stay and train in central Alberta. Most recently, she served as board chair for the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society which brought visitors from across the nation to our city, including athletes and their families, coaches and fans. Radford’s extensive support for and participation with this once in a lifetime event stems from her commitment to inspire youth in central Alberta to get involved with sport. For this leadership, commitment and service, we’re proud to recognize Radford with an Honorary Degree in Public Service.

Red Deer College recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of social, cultural or economic development that have had an important impact on Red Deer College and/or the central Alberta region by awarding honorary degrees. The award honours outstanding achievement in diverse fields.

Through his work with the 2019 Canada Winter Games, Scott Robinson (Physical Education Diploma, 1988) has made a lasting impact on our city, our region and our nation. As a member of the Bid Committee, Robinson’s vision and organizational skills played a critical role in developing a bid package that was ultimately successful. As a part of the subsequent Transition Team, Robinson’s leadership as CEO of the 2019 Canada Winter Games was key to executing that plan. The Games resulted in significant social, cultural and infrastructure development that will impact generations of central Albertans.

But this role is only the most recent of a long career in sport promotion and administration. As an Executive Director with the Hockey Alberta Foundation, Robinson’s leadership and vision created new pathways to connect young athletes with supporters. In this role, he worked directly with students RDC’s Donald School of Business to create an economic impact study related to Hockey Alberta’s effect

on the province’s economy, which created valuable learning for both the students and the organization.

As a student at RDC, Robinson overcame some initial challenges to become a successful student, and thrive as a student-manager of Kings Hockey and a member of the Kinesiology and Sports Studies society. Ultimately, Robinson went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Alberta and a Masters in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

RDC is proud to recognize Scott Robinson with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award for his leadership, vision, and his many contributions to our community. His work ethic and perseverance serve as inspiration to our learners and a source of great pride for RDC.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to an alumnus who has distinguished him or herself in one or more of the following areas: personal achievement, academic achievement or public service.

Dawnine Jackson (Bachelor of Arts – Recreation Administration, 1987) established herself as a committed professional, a dedicated leader and an important mentor in her decades-long career in Recreation. She was known as a leader in community programming in central Alberta; the training systems and certification requirements that she originally established as part of the Collicutt Centre Water Park staffing model still stand today as the gold standard for operation. She was respected by her peers, colleagues and staff for her conscientious self-evaluation, her commitment to developing her team members, and her passion for leadership excellence.

However, she is remembered most for her kind and compassionate mentorship. Her career in recreation began with volunteer work in her teens and she remained passionately committed to this path for her whole life. She coached and mentored countless of our region’s young people as a swim instructor, lifeguard and gymnastics coach. In her career with the City of Red Deer, she impacted the lives of a generation of Red Deer youth through her work in community programming, and she left an indelible mark on the people she worked with daily. She mentored trainers, instructors and lifeguards to become effective leaders, and she inspired the young, enthusiastic lifeguards she worked with at the Collicutt Center to become capable community contributors who are now adults, sharing their skills and abilities in our community. RDC is honoured to recognize the rippling impact that DJ’s kindness, encouragement, expertise and professionalism have had on our region.

In honour of DJ Jackson, the Alumni Association will bestow a $750 award to a deserving student who is making a meaningful contribution of time, effort and leadership that makes our communities special places for our citizens.

First established in 2004, the Alumni Legacy Award is a posthumous award given to recognize an individual alumnus’ contribution to the community. The award honours the spirit and commitment to Red Deer and central Alberta exemplified by the first honouree, Phil Rauch.

To learn more about the contributions of alumni who have been recognized with this award, or how you can nominate a deserving alumnus for one of these awards, please visit rdc.ab.ca/alumniawards

RDC is proud to recognize Olds College with the 2019 Community Partner Award. The relationship between our institutions is centered on a spirit of collaboration, and this year we acknowledge three distinct ways that commitment has been demonstrated.

Our ongoing joint venture, Campus Alberta Central (CAC), creates pathways for rural learners to earn or begin post-secondary credentials without leaving their communities. RDC and Olds College instructors and facilities help to deliver programming on-campus, online and at remote learning sites. Our main satellites in Rocky Mountain House, Stettler, Drumheller and, now, Ponoka, further reduce the burden of travel and relocation, allowing more central Alberta students to achieve success in post-secondary without sacrificing other commitments, or leaving communities they love.

Secondly, our partnership with Olds College during the 2019 Canada Winter Games was vital to the success of the Games, critical to our role in delivering them, and meaningful for our learners who moved to Olds College Campus for those four weeks when RDC became Athletes’ Village. Staff, faculty and students provided an exceptional experience for our learners, which reinforces the collaborative nature of the relationship between our institutions.

A third and meaningful collaboration is our long working relationship to develop and deliver a complementary program mix that maximizes the diversity of our shared programming. This collaborative effort eliminates duplication and allows each institution to develop depth within the academic departments in their portfolio. Rather than split central Alberta into two smaller territories, viewing our program mix through a combined lens has given us the opportunity to provide our region’s learners with diverse learning opportunities, deliver programs in a way that makes efficient use of our resources and create opportunities for learners whose post-secondary choices would otherwise be limited by their inability to relocate.

Red Deer College initiated this award to honour our many and varied partners and to celebrate the spirit of genuine collaboration that benefits the overall community. It is through these partnerships that we are able to provide access to expertise, leadership, innovation and facilities as well as to enhance opportunities for our learners. These meaningful contributions assist in the development of Red Deer and our surrounding communities.

Ron MacLean is a proud Red Deerian, and for his on-going and passionate role as an ambassador for this region, we’re proud to honour him with the 2019 G.H. Dawe Memorial Award. Throughout his decadeslong career as a sportscaster, MacLean has been a vocal supporter of this region, and a proud central Albertan. He has promoted our local athletes and supported the continued success of our athletic programs and teams.

MacLean grew up in Red Deer. He and his wife, Cari, met in high school and have been together since. Cari MacLean completed the Bachelor of Recreation Administration through the RDC – University of Alberta transfer program. When she moved to Edmonton to complete her degree, Ron remained in Red Deer, working his way up at CKRD-FM, CKRD-AM and eventually, CKRD-TV. His hard work and dedication have paid off as he has enjoyed more than 30 years with Hockey Night in Canada. MacLean’s authenticity, commitment and expertise have endeared him to Canadians and hockey fans around the globe.

MacLean’s roots remain in Red Deer. The friendships he made growing up in central Alberta remain important connections for him and his family. He continues to emphasize the level of athletes our region produces and to promote investment in sport and sporting events for central Alberta. As honorary co-chairs of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, the MacLeans returned to Red Deer to support and promote the Games, meet volunteers and visit the venues and community spaces that served the Games, and which Ron helped fundraise for.

It’s clear that no matter where Ron MacLean’s career takes him, he remains a Red Deerian at heart. RDC is proud to honour him for bridging central Alberta to the world through leadership, good citizenship and a commitment to community.

The G.H. Dawe Memorial Award is presented by RDC to a community member who best exemplifies the values of Mr. George Harold Dawe (1910- 1999).

The College community fondly remembers Mr. Dawe for his contributions to this institution and to education in general. Mr. Dawe helped establish Red Deer College in 1963 and held the position of its first administrative officer. His commitment and dedication to education was outstanding and will serve as a model of lifelong learning for decades to come.

Through dedicated service, the recipients of the G.H. Dawe Memorial Award have helped advance the mission of Red Deer College and bridge the College to the central Alberta community.