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College thrilled by Crooks’ donation |
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Written by Caroline Zentner LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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Monday, November 16 2009, 9:56 PM |
The college’s plans for revamping its trades wing got a big boost Monday with its largest ever single private donation.
Art and Mary Jane Crooks, who moved to Lethbridge in 1979 to open the city’s first Canadian Tire store, knew from experience the importance of having well-trained graduates who stayed in the community.
The college wouldn’t disclose the full amount of the donation. However, part of it was matched by Alberta’s Access to the Future Fund so $2 million has been put towards naming the Crooks School of Transportation. It will include the agricultural heavy equipment, heavy equipment and automotive service technician programs.
“We have been part of the community here for many years,” Art said following a ceremony at the college Monday morning. “We really appreciated what the college does for the young people in schooling them in the various trades, particularly in our case the automotive trades. When we sold our business we talked to the college and asked them for a wish list. We thought maybe they needed a couple of blackboards or something like that, but it turns out they had grander visions and we’re just delighted to try to help them achieve it. They’ve got a long road ahead of them yet but hopefully this gives them a bit of a start.”
“This is just incredible,” said Lethbridge College president Tracy Edwards. “It’s the kickoff for a campaign to start the planning for a new trades and technologies facility.”
The cost of a new facility, which would include the Crooks School of Transportation, is estimated to be between $50 and $75 million. Fundraising efforts are planned over the next five or so years but Edwards said the college hopes to break ground in two to three years. The existing facility is more than 40 years old and that’s beyond the lifespan of a government facility.
“We have a building that was built for very specific use,” said Suzanne Flannigan, dean of the Centre for Applied Management which oversees the trades. “So we have hoists that are bolted into the ground and some things that are just not movable based on the technology that was used back then to build them. With a new building we would have the flexibility to put equipment into a particular space and then take it out and put in other equipment and be able to move walls.”
Planning is underway and the overall structure is being assessed but Flannigan said it’s too soon to say if an entire new building will be needed as some parts may be preserved.
“The school needs it. It’s going to do great things,” said Dexter Fawcett, a first year student in the automotive service technician program. “We have to share the shop and classrooms at convenience with others.”
Fawcett might even be on campus to see the improvements with his own eyes because he’ll be returning after completing his second year of apprenticeship three years down the road. Nearly three months into his program, he has no doubts about the education he’s received so far.
“I actually love this program. The teachers are excellent and I’m learning a lot.”
The need for skilled tradespeople hasn’t diminished as many tradespeople are now approaching retirement age.
“The trades unfortunately haven’t been given the priority they’ve needed in our academic system over the last couple of generations in my opinion,” Art said. “Many of our tradespeople now are reaching retirement age and we really have to develop new people.”
The Crooks are originally from Ontario where they opened their first Canadian Tire store. Art, who has a master’s degree in business administration, wanted to have his own business.
“He applied for the dealership in 1971,” Mary Jane said. “He always loved the Canadian Tire store — what man doesn’t?”
In the beginning, both she and Art did whatever was necessary, each of them covering three jobs. Mary Jane eventually took on the role of bookkeeper. When they came west they planned to stay for only five years to see how it would go. Now they have no intention of leaving.
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