Lethbridge lost a devoted member of the community just days before Christmas.
Les Talbot, former president of Lethbridge College, died after a battle with cancer on Dec. 21. He was 85.
Talbot was born in Diamond City, AB. He was a Royal Canadian Air Force navigator before getting his education degree at the University of Alberta.
He also worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal before coming back west.
In Winnipeg, he became the principal of the industrial division at Manitoba Institution of Technology, now Red River College. Talbot was later appointed deputy minister of education in Manitoba.
Talbot was selected by the Lethbridge Board of Governors as president of the first community college in Canada. He was president of what was then Lethbridge Community College for a decade.
In that time, he not only built upon the physical foundation of the college, he touched the lives around him. Anne Raslask, LC instructor and publisher of the Endeavour, says that Talbot was much more than a builder of physical aspects of the college.
“Les hired me. He will be remembered for his leadership. Under his leadership, the college centre, the tech wing, and the trades wing and the gym were built. He was a builder of physical facilities with the addition of building relationships.
“He really accepted a relationship with business and communication and support for the college.”
Being touched by Talbot’s style of leadership is what Raslask says she recalls best.
“For me, I remember his ethical standards, he was honest and so committed to the school. He put on the shelf his own personal welfare. He was always about what was best for the school.
“He was just a good, solid human being.”
Talbot portrayed the same devotion to the community itself. He founded the U of A alumni association in Lethbridge as well as the college alumni and hall of fame.
He was also personally active with the Rotary Club downtown, the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the Lethbridge Community Foundation and United Way.
Les Talbot leaves behind his wife, Gert, and three daughters, Deborah, Barbara and Mary.
The service is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 11 am in the McKillop United Church followed by a reception at the D.A. Electric Barn at the college.
Instead of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Lethbridge College Foundation.