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RDC President Sees a Big, Bright Future for the College

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Red Deer College President and CEO Joel Ward says he sees big changes and a bright future for Red Deer College.

In this column first published in Red Deer Advocate, Ward describes what he sees on the horizon for RDC:

RDC is intrinsically tied to the communities of central Alberta; it’s your College, and as President and CEO, I’m pleased to share some of our important initiatives

First, your College is undergoing significant growth and development. You will have noticed the construction of the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre/Centre des Jeux du Canada Gary W. Harris facing the QEII. This $88 million project celebrating health, wellness and sport will open in the fall of 2018.

The project provides many jobs for contractors, architects and tradespeople from across Central Alberta, with approximately 20 different companies involved. Provincially, to date this project translates into work for 2,000 to 2,500 people.

This iconic teaching and learning facility supporting health, wellness and athletic programming is another example of our continuing commitment to you by expanding program options for students and providing access to a world-class facility for our communities.

Your college is also a significant driver of economic development. RDC employs 1,471 faculty and staff. Our budget is almost $100 million, and we contribute approximately $71 million to the Central Alberta economy through our operations.

Over the last two years, the College has had enrollment growth of 20%. Over 8,000 students learn on our campuses, with almost 13,000 additional learners taking a wide variety of Continuing Education courses and another 25,000 students enrolling in our camps and world renowned Series Summer Arts School programs each year.

I hope each of you has had the opportunity to connect with RDC through the wide variety of activities we offer. Perhaps enjoying the wonderful performances in our Arthur Erickson designed Arts Centre or taking training in our JB Quinn Centre for Corporate Training or at our downtown campus, home of the Donald School of Business, or perhaps it is taking in a basketball, volleyball or soccer game on our main campus. As you can see, we are very proud of our College and because of it, the intellectual, economic, cultural and social development of central Alberta is strengthened and enriched.

But we have much more to do.

Our College needs to be degree-granting. You will have heard the term Polytechnic University many times in our community. Our Board of Governors has made degree-granting through the Polytechnic University model its number one priority. We must succeed because there is too much at risk if we don’t.

Joel Ward RDC President & CEO

(Photo courtesy of RDC)

Lindsay has lived in Red Deer for over 25 years, and admires what the city of Red Deer offers as a community. In relation to journalism, she has previously worked in the business, and enjoys how photojournalism isn't just about a photo, but the story that is adjacent to it.

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Support local healthcare while winning amazing prizes!

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When you purchase tickets for Red Deer Hospital Lottery and Mega Bucks 50, you do more than just play—you become part of something bigger. You help bridge the gap between what government funding provides and what your hospital truly needs to deliver exceptional care.


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SPARC Caring Adult Nominations now open!

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Check out this powerful video, “Be a Mr. Jensen,” shared by Andy Jacks. It highlights the impact of seeing youth as solutions, not problems. Mr. Jensen’s patience and focus on strengths gave this child hope and success.

👉 Be a Mr. Jensen: https://buff.ly/8Z9dOxf

Do you know a Mr. Jensen? Nominate a caring adult in your child’s life who embodies the spirit of Mr. Jensen. Whether it’s a coach, teacher, mentor, or someone special, share how they contribute to youth development. 👉 Nominate Here: https://buff.ly/tJsuJej

Nominate someone who makes a positive impact in the lives of children and youth. Every child has a gift – let’s celebrate the caring adults who help them shine! SPARC Red Deer will recognize the first 50 nominees. 💖🎉 #CaringAdults #BeAMrJensen #SeePotentialNotProblems #SPARCRedDeer

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