Despite many questions and a bumpy transition, the future looks secure for a post-secondary school in a northwestern Alberta town.

More than 100 people attended a community meeting Monday night to discuss the Northwestern Polytechnic campus located in Fairview, Alta., a community of about 3,000 people located 550 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Campus operations were slated to cease this summer, prior to last week’s intervention by the Alberta government, which named Northern Lakes College (NLC) as the new education provider.

The Fairview Regional College Transition Committee spent months advocating for the continuation of the campus, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The committee’s next priority is forming a non-profit to steward the space.

‘It’s going to look different’

Attendees at the meeting were told that things will change when Northern Lakes College takes over school operations in the fall.

“It’s going to look different, it’s going to feel a bit different,” college president Glenn Mitchell told the crowd. “Let us get moving. We’ll work together, we’ll grow together. And then you can compare us [to other colleges].”

NLC’s main facility is based in Slave Lake, Alta., and the school has been operating for over five decades. It will have 19 campuses across northern Alberta with the inclusion of Fairview.

One major difference while the college gets its footing is the likelihood of fewer in-person course offerings in the fall compared to what was offered by the polytechnic.

Programs and courses are being finalized, but college officials anticipate offering a mix of health care, trades and online offerings in the fall.

Mitchell said Fairview mainstays like agriculture courses and the veterinary technician program won ’t be provided immediately, noting they are not in NLC’s “wheelhouse.” 

Restoring those courses is a priority of both the provincial government and the committee, he said. “I’ve given my word to the committee to … support the community in finding another partner for those programs,” Mitchell added.

He also said he plans to continue the motorcycle mechanics program in Fairview.

The committee said the building conditions on the campus are generally “good,” although some updating may be required.

Northwestern Polytechnic is expected to take some of its equipment when it leaves in the summer, but specific details are being ironed out.

Alberta’s advanced education minister, speaking to attendees over video, said the government will explore options if future program expansions at Fairview warrant replacement or different equipment.

“I urge everybody to not get overly concerned or stressed out about what equipment is moving initially,” Myles McDougall said

Opportunities and potential partnerships

Committee member Tegan Martin-Drysdale looks forward to the work ahead as Fairview community members form a non-profit to help lead the campus.

“That actually allows us to be quite creative and innovative in terms of the different partnerships that we’re looking for,” Martin-Drysdale said.

She told CBC News on Monday that the non-profit will be eyeing possible partnerships with Treaty 8 First Nations, industry groups and potentially other educational institutions. She hopes to see a “destination campus” come together in Fairview.

“There will be many announcements to come as partnerships get solidified and more details can emerge,” she said.

Martin-Drysdale expressed interest in looking at arts programs and workshops ranging from theatre to musical offerings. She said there is a lack of options for youths compared to when she was growing up.

“The Peace Country region is very artistic and very musical. I think that comes from your long cold winter nights and gathering around the neighbour’s kitchen tables and everybody brings  a guitar and entertains each other,” she said.

Mitchell said the college will explore opportunities related to dual credit programs or becoming a collegiate school — two possibilities that would connect secondary school students to the college.

An option for youth in the north

Amber Moskalyk, a cattle and grain farmer in the area, had worked at the Fairview campus for nearly two decades before leaving the job just over a year ago.

She said she is excited about the school’s future. 

“A lot of people thought this was almost an impossible and insurmountable task. And when this community and — I’m talking not just Fairview, but the greater Peace region community — the surrounding area gets together … we can accomplish great things.”

For Martin-Drysdale, the evening signalled a step in the right direction.  She hopes the campus can provide opportunities for her three children if they chose to pursue education in the north.

“When I heard that the campus was under threat of closure, I definitely wanted to get involved right away to preserve those opportunities for my kids and future grandkids.”