Lethbridge College has received its largest single private donation in its 52-year history.
Art and Mary Jane Crooks, who opened the first Canadian Tire Store in Lethbridge, made a donation, a portion of which will be matched by Alberta’s Access to the Future Fund.
The donation will be used for the establishment of the Crooks School of Transportation.
With the province’s contribution, the college will receive about $2 million. The college intends to revamp the existing trades building, but would like to build a new trades structure costing $50-$70 million.
“We’re hoping to have a shovel in the ground in the next two to three years,” says president Tracy Edwards.
The main motivation factor to donate is to provide a good trades program locally, so students won’t have to look elsewhere, Art Crooks said at a news conference Monday.
“I think for many years there hasn’t been enough career emphasis put on this career option for many of our young people, ” said Art Crooks referring to the need for more automotive technicians.
Edwards called the donation “the best gift we have ever received at the college.”
The Crooks have had an association with the college for many years. Art said he has hired college grads to work for them and had some of his technicians come to the college to get their service licence.
Art said when he and his wife sold their Canadian Tire outlet, they looked at avenues to donate some money. The college seemed the logical choice.
“We’re running out of trades people, short and sweet,” he said.
“You can’t just listen to an engine with a broom handle anymore. It’s diagnostics, it’s computer skills, it’s a whole range of things,” he added.
Jordan Schnarr, a first year automotive service tech student, feels the new Crooks School of Transportation building should help improve his knowledge about the automotive trade.
“We have to know how the entire car comes apart. We have to try and understand that there are differences and you’ve got to adapt and learn each brand as it comes. Nothing is made the same,” says Schnarr.