I finally had the good fortune to take a guided tour of Red Deer Polytechnic’s Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing – Technology Access Centre. For short it is known as the CIM-TAC. Reminds me of Kentucky Fried Chicken becoming KFC, except I thought the chicken master’s abbreviation when first introduced was to be trendy, but I subsequently heard it was to hide “fried” from your health-conscious mind. CIM-TAC certainly sounds trendy and much less of a mouthful. Take the tour!
Also, I note I had no hesitation in writing “Polytechnic” (RDP) versus “College” (RDC); my brain storage has been permanently overwritten. Similar to having to train it to write 2023 instead of 2022 at the start of the year, that rewrite is long past as we trot through February.
I was worried about the potential brain drain to central Alberta when it was announced that RDC, which was going to be RDU, was instead going to be RDP. Now I am convinced on the advantages beyond any reasonable doubt. As new President Stuart McCullum advocates, this is the Polytechnic all Alberta needs, not only central Alberta. Combine the CIM-TAC and the Centre of Excellence and the great RDP visibility from the highway (with the Gary W Harris Canada Games Centre), and our star is definitely rising in terms of attracting outside attention. It helps to be seen to be heard.
I tell the story of my moving here well after marrying my spouse as I did not understand why he would move for an opportunity in Red Deer (back when we were engaged). I had never really been here (transplanted easterner residing in Calgary, I did not even know the order of the prairie provinces when my mother announced to her five children the move west). When you drove past on the highway, you could only see Gasoline Alley. Hidden gem is what I discovered. That was over a quarter of a century ago. Back in the last millennium, I was pleased as part of the Tourism Red Deer Board to negotiate with the Sports Hall of Fame to enter an arrangement for us to both build premises that had roadside visibility, that was a start.
The CIM-TAC is a key hub of the central Alberta innovation community and is occupied by a number of 3D Printers. 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing. It involves the construction of a three-dimensional object from a digital file. The campus is home to a number of leading edge (i.e. expensive) printers. This technology allows SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and entrepreneurs to develop new products and processes in almost every industry imaginable with incredible support and cost savings all in one.
Got a widget in mind? Now may be the time to realize on your entrepreneurial dreams or upgrade your systems to keep ahead in this digital revolution. Your intellectual property will be protected as well.
In addition to the RDP CIM-TAC, if you attend the inaugural Smart Manufacturing Technology Exposition at the Westerner Park (April 4 and 5, 2023, visit our booth and say hi), you will have another opportunity to see 3D Printing in action. Honestly, my first thought was “Beam me up, Scotty”, and my imagination was totally captured. I haven’t been the only one to think that. We are along way off from that instant holiday in Hawaii. We might get that instant overnight new outfit in your closet sometime sooner (recycling and saving space). The future is now, and glad RDP and central Alberta is on board.
Donna Purcell, K.C., (aka Lady Justice) is a Central Alberta lawyer and Chief Innovation Officer with Donna Purcell QC Law. If you have legal questions, contact dpurcell@dpqclaw.com.