Olds College campus buildings will be upgraded with $5.8 million in funding from the provincial and federal governments.
The federal government has put around $2.9 million towards the improvements through its Knowledge Infrastructure Program, which is being matched by the province.
Canadian University College in Lacombe will receive $227,000 from the federal government.
Olds College president Tom Thompson said the funding will touch every corner of Olds College, with it going to deferred maintenance projects that have accumulated for a number of years. The official announcement at Olds College took place on Thursday, but word of the funding was first released on Wednesday.
The money will go towards upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting and electrical systems in Duncan Marshall Place, the Learning Resource Centre, Agricultural Mechanics and Land Science buildings at Olds College.
Thompson said the funding helps the college “balance the new with the old.” He said in the last four to five years, Olds College has aggressively built new facilities, but the new funding means they will be able to refurbish and renew older facilities. The upgrades will start within the next two months and continue over the next year.
“I see also here a commitment to rural Canada and rural Alberta and I really appreciate it,” Thompson said. “I really appreciate the support that says that people who choose to live, work, play and visit in rural Canada or rural Alberta that it’s important and we’re going to make sure there are quality learning and research facilities.”
Canadian University College will match the $227,000 provided by the federal government for its $454,000 project to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning on campus.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com