keyano college foundation – 30 years of raising friends and funds

REMEMBERING THE PAST CELEBRATING THE PRESENT PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

K E Y A N O C O L L E G E F O U N D A T I O N

Thanks to you, we’re all smarter.Congratulations Keyano College Foundation. For 30 years, you have had an immeasurable impact on the growth and continued success of our students, industry and community as a whole. We at Syncrude are proud to volunteer our time and resources to support the many projects—from learning, to sports, to the arts—that make our region so vibrant.

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KEYANO COLLEGE FOUNDATION’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION

FALL

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CONTENTS

9 MESSAGES Welcome and thank you from Keyano College Foundation Chair Dale Unruh and Keyano College President Dr. Kevin Nagel

10 THE EARLY YEARS Travel back 30 years ago, to when the Keyano College Foundation started supporting education in the Wood Buffalo Region By Lisa Ricciotti

REMEMBERING THE PAST

12 TIMELINE A look at the Foundation’s highlights from its 30-year history

CELEBRATING THE PRESENT

18 A LASTING IMPACT The Keyano College Foundation’s multifaceted support includes academic, athletic, theatre and trades programs at the College By Alex Boston, Wendy Chan, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth and Caitlin Crawshaw

27 OUTSTANDING EVENTS Annual events hosted by the Foundation raise funds and bring the College’s supporters together By Michelle Lindstrom

36 STUDENT SUPPORT Financial awards help to boost students’ confi dence and fi nancial situations, while also strengthening their ties to the Wood Buffalo Region By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

40 WHY WE DONATE Generous donations allow the Keyano College Foundation to support the community in many ways By Alex Boston

46 STUDENT SUPPORT DRIVES THE FOUNDATION See the many ways funds are raised by the Foundation and learn who they ultimately benefi t

49 FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS Meet six people whose lives have been touched by Keyano. They now give back to the Foundation and College that helped them get their start By Penny Frazier

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE58 EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES What’s next for the Keyano College Foundation? By Caitlin Crawshaw

62 YOURS, MINE AND OURS A new campus, trades preparation program and travelling greenhouse help Keyano connect with the community By Caitlin Crawshaw

66 LOOKING AHEAD Two members of the Board of Directors refl ect on the Foundation’s past, present and future

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4960

www.keyano.ca 30 Years of Raising Funds and Friends KEYANO COLLEGE FOUNDATION 5

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KEYANO COLLEGE CONTRIBUTORS

CINDY AMERONGEN Vice President, External Relations

ANGELE DOBIEFund Development Manager

MELANE LEBLANCAnnual Giving Manager

KIRAN MALIK-KHAN Communications Specialist, Marketing & Communications

RUSSELL THOMASDirector, Marketing & Communications

WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS

PHIL ENARSONEvent Management & Marketing

VENTURE PUBLISHING INC.

RUTH KELLYPublisher

JOYCE BYRNEAssociate Publisher

CAILYNN KLINGBEILManaging Editor

CHARLES BURKEArt Director

ANDREA DEBOERAssociate Art Director

COLIN SPENCEAssistant Art Director

VANLEE ROBBLEEProduction Manager

BETTY-LOU SMITHProduction Coordinator

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Alex Boston, Wendy Chan, Caitlin Crawshaw, Penny Frazier,

Michelle Lindstrom, Lisa Ricciotti

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Glen Durrell, Greg Halinda, Sean McLennan

Keyano College Foundation Commemorative Publication is published for the Keyano College Foundation through a

collaboration between Venture Publishing and Westbrier Communications.

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CLIENT: CAPP TRIM: 8.25" x 10.75" PUBLICATION: OSCB 2011 Program

JOB #: CA-1039-Key LIVE:

DESC.: BLEED: +0.25" INSERTION DATE: Fall, 2011

1910 Yonge St., Toronto, ON T: 416 484-1959

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oilsandstoday.caA message from Canada’s Oil Sands Producers.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents member companies that produce over 90 per cent of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil, including Canada’s Oil Sands Producers.

Diane PhillipsSyncrude Canada Ltd.

Innovation makes a measurable difference. New equipment we

have been installing at our Mildred Lake facility will help reduce

total emissions of sulphur compounds by over 50%. And we’re

always looking for new ways to improve air quality.

Congratulations to the Keyano College Foundation on 30 years of inspiration, education and perspiration. CAPP looks forward to many more years of working together to foster innovation and success in our community, our people and our industry.

CA-1039-Key.indd 1 11-09-01 3:38 PM000Key.CAPP_FP.indd 1 9/8/11 2:12:41 PM2-9_Keyano_FRONT_SECTION.indd 8 9/29/11 2:28:16 PM

WELCOMEJoin us as we celebrate the Keyano College Foundation’s diamond anniversary and recognize

30 years of supporting education in the Wood Buffalo Region

MESSAGE FROM THEFOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR

When we look back over 30 years of securing funds and friends, there is a common thread that weaves its way through our story. It is a shared belief in the po-tential of our region, our resource, and most importantly, our students.

The Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame represents just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the individuals who have benefi ted from the support of our donors, individuals who

in turn have gone on to shape our world, build our industry, strengthen our communities, province and

country. Some have become leaders of industry, others have made life-changing scientifi c discoveries

or have reached the pinnacle of athletic or artis-tic achievement. Many form the foundation

of our region and are poised to lead us through a period of unparalleled growth.

This publication and the Oilsands Banquet pay tribute to the many men and women who have contributed to, and helped grow, the Keyano College Foun-dation. This includes donors, students, volunteers, board members and staff.

Our success is a refl ection of each and ev-ery one of you. We celebrate your commit-

ment, your friendship and the sparkle you have added to our diamond anniversary.Looking out over the next couple of years,

we are eager to continue working with the com-panies who have been such great partners and supporters of post-secondary education. We are also excited to welcome new players to Wood Buffalo, and explore ways that we can collabo-rate, innovate and seize the expanding oppor-tunities of the future, together.

DALE UNRUH

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Keyano College Foundation is a critical en-abler and facilitator of the College’s ability to be respon-sive to community needs and ensure relevance in terms of program visioning, develop-ment and delivery. Due to the resourcefulness of our Foun-dation, the College can be re-sponsive in its efforts to meet community needs. The Foun-dation ensures relevance by providing both up-to-date equipment and facilities for education and training. In short, they are the collaborators that reside at the intersection of community needs and college resources that ensure maximum mutual benefi ts are generated for all participant parties concerned as well as for our community as a whole.

The work of our Foundation over the past three decades has re-sulted in the development of collaborative, innovative and symbi-otic relationships with our community and industry partners. In the short term, we are continuing to engage companies for lease or equipment donations through the Equipped for the Future initiative. In the medium term, we will complete the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab which will increase our capac-ity to educate and train power engineers and process operators to your work sites. In the longer term, we will embrace a leading-edge philosophy that will sustainably position our college, com-munity and region for any challenge that our future may bring.

On behalf of the Keyano College community of staff, students and alumni, we welcome this opportunity to celebrate the work of our Foundation and the many companies and individuals who have contributed to its substantive impact over 30 years. We look back with gratitude and pride with what has been accomplished and look forward with anticipation and optimism at what we can accomplish together in the days ahead.

DR. KEVIN F. NAGEL, PhD


in turn have gone on to shape our world, build our industry, strengthen our communities, province and industry, strengthen our communities, province and

country. Some have become leaders of industry, others have made life-changing scientifi c discoveries

or have reached the pinnacle of athletic or artis-tic achievement. Many form the foundation

of our region and are poised to lead us through a period of unparalleled growth.

Our success is a refl ection of each and ev-ery one of you. We celebrate your commit-

ment, your friendship and the sparkle you have added to our diamond anniversary.Looking out over the next couple of years,

we are eager to continue working with the com-panies who have been such great partners and supporters of post-secondary education. We are supporters of post-secondary education. We are also excited to welcome new players to Wood also excited to welcome new players to Wood also excited to welcome new players to Wood also excited to welcome new players to Wood Buffalo, and explore ways that we can collabo-Buffalo, and explore ways that we can collabo-rate, innovate and seize the expanding oppor-tunities of the future, together.

DALE UNRUH

CLIENT: CAPP TRIM: 8.25" x 10.75" PUBLICATION: OSCB 2011 Program

JOB #: CA-1039-Key LIVE:

DESC.: BLEED: +0.25" INSERTION DATE: Fall, 2011

1910 Yonge St., Toronto, ON T: 416 484-1959

CLEANIS ESSENTIAL.

Loca

tion

56.9

9959

2, -

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oilsandstoday.caA message from Canada’s Oil Sands Producers.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents member companies that produce over 90 per cent of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil, including Canada’s Oil Sands Producers.

Diane PhillipsSyncrude Canada Ltd.

Innovation makes a measurable difference. New equipment we

have been installing at our Mildred Lake facility will help reduce

total emissions of sulphur compounds by over 50%. And we’re

always looking for new ways to improve air quality.

Congratulations to the Keyano College Foundation on 30 years of inspiration, education and perspiration. CAPP looks forward to many more years of working together to foster innovation and success in our community, our people and our industry.

CA-1039-Key.indd 1 11-09-01 3:38 PM000Key.CAPP_FP.indd 1 9/8/11 2:12:41 PM 2-9_Keyano_FRONT_SECTION.indd 9 9/30/11 1:53:55 PM

KEYANO COLLEGE FOUNDATION 30 Years of Raising Funds and Friends www.keyano.ca10

10-17_Keyano_PAST_INTRO.indd 10 9/30/11 1:54:37 PM

T

1981• Keyano College Foundation

is founded and hosts its first Gala

1982• The Keyano

College Foundation launches a campaign to raise funds for a new cultural centre

1983 • Keyano College

premiers the first classes of the two-year Registered Nursing (RN) Diploma program

1985• Thirteen Registered

Nursing Diploma students graduate from Keyano College

he Keyano College Foundation was formed in 1981, just three years after the school itself. People involved in the inception of the College had big plans and they realized more support was needed. The

Foundation quickly became a key part of both the College and the community.

The Foundation’s early board, staff and volunteers express a shared pride in having supported the school’s progress, from the glimmer of a good idea set into action 30 years ago to the Foundation’s current fundraising activities.

Over the years, the Foundation has evolved. But many things have remained the same, including the memorable events hosted by the Foundation. Another constant has been the Foundation’s work in forming relationships with local businesses, helping industry to see the important role the College plays in building a skilled workforce.

Many people and companies have supported the Foundation throughout the years, giving both time and money to a cause they believe in. In turn, the Foundation continues to grow with the College and the community and plays a vital role in both.

T



EAlberta Vocational Centre

started out as a very small college designed to meet

the training and human resources needs of the oil sands. As the community

has grown, the needs have grown and changed.

Cindy Amerongen,Vice President, External Relations,

Keyano College

Since its inception, the Foundation has existed as

a separate entity from the College, but with a purpose that is directly tied to the school: raising funds

for Keyano College.

xploring the beginnings of the Keyano College Foundation with some of its early movers and shakers is an interesting, if challenging, trip down memory lane. After all, you’re asking people to dig

deep into their memory banks to recall events that happened close to three decades ago.

Details like dates may be blurry, but memories of how the Foundation grew and what its board, staff and volunteers accomplished are sharp and cherished. There’s a shared pride in having been part of the Foundation’s progress, from the glimmer of a good idea set into action in 1981 to the Foundation’s cur-rent fundraising activities, which annu-ally raise over half a million dollars for Keyano College. The people from the Foundation’s early days freely speak of the challenges, but more than anything they talk about their belief in huge opportunities – and the fun they had along the way.

Keyano College opened as the Alberta Vocational Centre in Fort McMurray in 1965. The centre changed its name to Keyano College in 1975 and went public in 1978, when the province appointed a Board of Governors to serve as the deci-sion-making body for the institution.

Ken Hill was a natural choice for the Board of Governors’ fi rst Vice President. The Hill family ran Hills Drugstore,

Ea little pharmacy that doubled as a local meeting place. Like his father before him, Hill ran the store while also serving as an omnipresent volunteer in the community, including a position on town council, the public school board and other boards.

“We started the College on April 1, but we weren’t fools,” Hill says. “We got busy with a mission statement and plans. By

1981 we were just starting to build a $20-million cam-pus. That’s when we realized the College would

need extra money, and setting up a foundation was how to do it.”

Hill remembers Keyano College activi-ties as a mixture of business and pleasure. “Meetings always took longer than they should have because we always made sure everyone had their say. And spouses were

always encouraged to attend the board’s events. We knew each other socially, not

just professionally. We had a lot of fun togeth-er.” Hill was also one of the fi rst to set up a few

scholarships through the Foundation, which continue to this day.

As one of Fort McMurray’s “old-timer” families, Hill realized the importance of including other signifi cant business people on the Foundation’s board. He made sure that such notables as John Lynn, then-president of Syncrude, were invit-ed. “John was the fi rst president of Syncrude to live in town,” Hill says. “We also invited the mayor and Peter Lougheed


THE EARLY YEARSHow the Keyano College Foundation got its start

By Lisa Ricciotti

1986• Keyano College

establishes a learning centre in Fort Chipewyan

1989• The Norm Weiss Arts Centre opens

1990• Another signature

fundraising event, the Golf Classic, is launched

1993• The Bob Lamb Industry

Education Centre is built with support from the Foundation



I could see a need. Keyano College is a living part of the community and a key asset to Fort McMurray. As I saw it grow, I realized the incredible potential of the Foundation.

Pat Lambert, a former Executive Director of the Foundation

as an honorary member.” Lynn became the fi rst Chair of the

Foundation’s Board of Directors and took his role very seriously. “The idea of a foundation for universities and colleges was still new in Alberta at that time,” Lynn explains. “But foundations for uni-versities were very common in the U.S. so we went down to the Florida State University to learn how to do things.”

Since its inception, the Foundation has existed as a separate entity from the College, but with a purpose that is directly tied to the school: raising funds for Keyano College. One signature fundraising event, which the board in-troduced early on in the Foundation’s history, is the annual Gala.

“There were no black tie galas in Mc-Murray, so we knew it would fi ll a social vacuum,” Lynn says. “We were a bit ner-vous about starting it, but it immediately became the social event of the year.” The

Foundation set the bar high right from its fi rst Gala, kicking things off with the Canadian Brass as entertainment at the inaugural November 1981 event. “The performers marched right in playing while a couple-hundred guests in black tie dined on fabulous food prepared by the College’s cooking students,” Lynn says.

That was a hard act to follow, but over the years the Gala has continued to attract other top performers includ-ing Burton Cummings, Ian Tyson, Rich Little and Dionne Warwick. “We never did get Celine Dion, but we brought in the big stars,” says Pat Lambert, who became Executive Director of the Foundation in 1988. “It’s amazing what we did with our volunteer base of 250. The Galas kept growing as we added in things like the silent auctions.”

Lambert remembers other fundrais-ing efforts from the Foundation’s early

days, including furniture auctions, monthly bingos and casinos, held once or twice a year. The Foundation also held raffl es for prizes such as a motor home and the annual Harley Davidson draw. “That was really popular and the local Harley Owners Group (HOG) always helped sell tickets,” Lambert says.

Later, the Foundation added in other special events, notably the annual golf tournament in 1990. “We started off very small at MacDonald Island’s Miskanaw Golf Course and eventually moved to the Fort McMurray Golf Course. It kept expanding,” Lambert says.

Lambert points out that special events are very important because they raise the College’s public profi le, but they also take a lot of time and effort. “They can make money, but it takes time to build them to that point. So we also concen-trated on traditional development activ-ities,” she says. These included an annual “Phone-A-Thon” to past donors, alum-ni, staff, continuing education students and other potential donor prospects, backed by a direct mail campaign. “And of course we also worked on building corporate donations,” she says.

1997• Dr. Peter Brown and Dr. Steve Jones

are the first inductees into the Keyano College Wall of Fame, which recognizes distinguished alumni

1998• Wanda Noren, Bob Heinz,

Kim Ewashko and Karin King are inducted into the Wall of Fame

1999• Doris Plourde, Bonnie Gerow, Cecile

Nanamahoo and Loren Jacula are recognized on the Wall of Fame

2000• Wall of Fame inductee

is Lauran Whalen • Syncrude Technology

Centre fundraising campaign begins

SCHOOL’S IN Alberta Vocational Centre opened in 1965, changing its name to Keyano College ten years later.

VIEW FROM ABOVE The Keyano College campus, as seen from the sky, in the 1980s.



I knew the huge role that Keyano College could play in the future development

of both the community and the oil sands industry.

We knew a skilled work force was critical, but in

order for Keyano to play a formative role, they needed resources – and a founda-

tion could provide those.

Eric Newell, former President of Syncrude and

an early member of the Keyano College Board of Governors


Keyano College and the Foundation keep the community supported.

There’s a strong connection between businesses, industry, community, political leaders – everybody gets

the role of education.

While today the Foundation relies on the generous support of many large companies, generating corporate donations initially proved diffi cult. “There weren’t that many big business-es in town then,” Lambert says. “And many of them had their corporate head-quarters located elsewhere, in Calgary, Edmonton or back east.”

Enter Eric Newell, with a great idea. Newell was President of Syncrude at the time and a staunch supporter of Keyano College and the Foundation. He recognized that the oil sands was on the verge of becoming a major industry and that Keyano would play a key role in creating the skilled work force it would require. But he also believed many com-panies weren’t aware how important Keyano could be to their future success, so he decided to personally tell them Keyano’s story.

Accompanied by Doug MacRae, Keyano College’s President, Newell set up an ongoing series of meetings with key industry representatives in Calgary and Edmonton during the late 1980s. Once a month, he and MacRae would fl y to Edmonton for breakfast meetings, then fl y to Calgary for similar lunch meetings. “I’d tell the story of why I was such a strong supporter of the College and explain how Keyano could be their most innovative partner in addressing trade issues surrounding the work force for the oil sands,” says Newell. “Then Doug would do his presentation. We never asked for a cheque at the meet-ings. Instead the industry executives left

with a new excitement about the value of Keyano. And when we followed up later, we were very successful.”

Newell and McRae continued their fl ying road show for about fi ve years. “We changed attitudes and built strong support. We showed contractors, engineers, maintenance fi rms and others involved in the oil sands trade that helping Keyano meant helping their own interests.”

For Newell, supporting Keyano College was so linked to the success of Fort McMurray and the oil sands industry that he often can’t remember whether he undertook certain ventures as a Syncrude representative or because of his role on Keyano’s board. But one of his favourite successes was the co-operation that led to the creation of the Bob Lamb Industry Education Centre in 1993.

“Syncrude wanted a place to train its employees and Keyano needed more space for students. So we came up with a very innovative, joint approach; Syncrude would use the building in the day and the College would have it for training in the evenings. We went to the government with the idea and asked for

a low-interest loan, but they wanted to see more partners involved. So we went to Bob Lamb, who ran ABC Cable, and he also threw in his support.”

Newell says the fi nal combination was “magic” and the building was realized. Later on Syncrude and Suncor used sim-ilar partnerships to build other facilities on campus. “We’d work out a deal. It’s how we got things done, even in tough times when government funding wasn’t available.”

Today, the Foundation has six full-time employees who continue the Foundation’s work of raising funds and fi nding friends in support of Keyano College. Cindy Amerongen, Vice Presi-dent, External Relations, oversees the Foundation and says that its role contin-ues to be rooted in the community, just like it was many years ago.

The Foundation relies on volunteers for many of the events it hosts and Am-erongen says community members are always ready to help out. That includes Keyano College staff members, who, she says, have a strong partnership with the Foundation. “We have some enduring volunteers [from the College] who are at all of our events. They not only sup-port the Foundation through employee deductions but they’re also there with their time volunteering,” she says.

The Foundation also continues to be governed by a Board of Directors, composed of various members from the community. The board is responsible for providing support to the College in the form of fundraising, friend raising,

2005• An anonymous donor

establishes an Investment in the Future Endowment and matches every dollar donated, to a maximum of $250,000

• Wall of Fame inductee is Shawn Chaulk

2001• The Family Housing Complex is completed• Margaret Whiteknife is inducted into the

Wall of Fame• The Penhornwood Student and Staff

Housing Complex is completed

2002• Dr. Keith Yap

joins the Wall of Fame

2003• The Syncrude Technol-

ogy Centre opens• Phil Cleghorn joins the

Wall of Fame

2004• Rick Mayuk joins

the Wall of Fame• Sport and Wellness

Centre campaign launched



2006• Construction of the

Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre begins

• The Foundation’s 25th anniversary Gala raises $150,000

• Dale Unruh is honoured on the Wall of Fame

2007• The Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre

opens. The Foundation’s campaign raises $4.1 million for the new centre.

• The Huskies add basketball to their athletics team line-up

• Mike Deranger is inducted into the Wall of Fame

2008• The first annual Keyano Theatre

Fundraiser raises $10,000• A unique partnership with Total

E&P Canada brings a mobile greenhouse to Keyano and out into the community

• Doug Golosky joins the Wall of Fame

EARLY LEARNERS Office Administration program students in the 1970s

Fort McMurray is a unique community with signifi cant opportunities and challenges ahead. Over the next few years, the Foundation can help the maturing of the community, especially in the often-ignored area of cultural enrichments. These programs will need the strong support of individuals and corporations as well as governments. We have a golden opportunity now to make this happen.

John R. Lynn, First Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, excerpted from his speech at the fi rst Foundation Gala.

MAIN ATTRACTION Blue Rodeo played at the Foundation’s 2007 Gala



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The College affected just about everyone in Fort

McMurray. I was involved in so many community

boards and I knew I needed to be part of the College’s

too. I met thousands of people over the years in my drugstore and many

of them had their lives changed at Keyano. My family were Fort

McMurray pioneers and building a better future

for Keyano was all part of building a better city.

Ken Hill,fi rst Vice President of Keyano College’s Board of Governors

providing direction and strategic plan-ning input, overseeing fi scal responsi-bilities and moving the vision of Keyano College’s Board of Governors forward.

For the past 30 years, the Keyano Col-lege Foundation has supported education in the Wood Buffalo Region. It’s a job that has been made possible through the gener-

ous support of many individuals and com-panies that donate both time and money.

“Keyano College and the Foundation keep the community supported, from the health and welfare of people to train-ing staff for retail operations or business management. We’re really deep in the community,” Amerongen says. “There’s

a strong connection between businesses, industry, community, political leaders – everybody gets the role of education. They understand that in order for them to succeed, they have to be sure the College succeeds. It goes the other way too, for us to succeed we have to be in tune with the community.”

2009 • The Foundation launches the Equipped for the

Future program• The first students graduate from the Bachelor of Education

degree, a program with the University of Alberta• Keyano College hosts the Canadian Colleges Athletic

Association (CCAA) Men’s National Volleyball Championship

• Dr. Cora Voyageur joins the Wall of Fame

2010• Melissa Blake is

inducted into the Wall of Fame

2011 • The Keyano College Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary• The Keyano College Foundation launches a new event, a charity

poker tournament• The new Fort Chipewyan Campus opens. The Foundation raises

$1.6 million• The Huskies announce the inclusion of hockey to their athletics

team line-up• Fredrick MacDonald is inducted into the Wall of Fame




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Huskies Athletics is very fortunate to have a strong relationship with our Foundation. It is evident when we meet with our peers across the province and across the country that we have a very special opportunity. Our Foundation has been a leader in helping us get the resources to succeed athletically.

Wade Komel, Director of Sport and Wellness, Keyano College

he role of the Keyano College Foundation is wide-ranging. “The majority of our students witness the role of the Foundation in the form of scholarships and bursaries, but I think if they knew the breadth

of the Keyano College Foundation’s generosity in all of its functions, they would be speechless,” says Jarrod Saunders, President, Student Association of Keyano College.

In addition to student support through fi nancial awards, the Foundation also helps the College’s academics, athletics, theatre and trades programs thrive. Annual events hosted by the Foundation raised over half a million dollars just last year – money that directly benefi ts the College and the community.

The Foundation’s many initiatives are profi led in the fol-lowing pages, as are the individuals and companies who make it all possible. In celebrating the Foundation’s current work, it’s important to recognize the support received from many generous donors – people who truly believe in the cause.

Over the last 30 years, the Foundation has become part of the broader community fabric of the Wood Buffalo Region. It’s a role the Foundation celebrates, and will proudly continue for many years to come.

ATHLETICS SUPPORTBy Wendy ChanIn May 2011, Keyano College announced that a men’s hock-ey team would be added to the Keyano Huskies’ Athletic program. The team will enter its inaugural season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in 2012. It was an exciting announcement for the College and one more athletic milestone that has been made possible with continued support by the Keyano College Foundation.

Mike Connolly, Athletic Services Manager and men’s basketball coach at Keyano College, says that the Foundation has played an integral role in supporting College athletics by fundraising for everything from operational costs to scholar-ships. “They’re a big part of supporting us and allowing us to do what we have to do to take that to a high level and be able to succeed,” Connolly says.

The Foundation’s support of athletics also benefi ts the entire Wood Buffalo Region. Connolly says that many athletes serve as mentors and role models in the greater community by coaching younger athletes and talking to youth about sports,

the importance of active living and the College’s athletic program. “We’re a resource for the commu-nity,” Connolly says.

In addition to developing ath-letes, the many Huskies sports teams also bring community members together to watch games and cheer for the local team. Paul Taylor, General Manager at Diversifi ed Transportation Ltd., is one of many proud Huskies supporters. “An important part of life at the College is the athletics program,” says Taylor, who is also a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Diversifi ed Transportation decked out a highway motor coach in the Huskies logo and uses the bus to transport athletes to and from sporting events. It’s a symbol of the company’s commitment to safety and its support of athletics at Keyano College, says Taylor.

A new state-of-the-art facility, the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre, is also helping Keyano athletes and community members realize their full potential. Completed in 2007 at a cost of $36 million, the 140,000-square-foot facility boasts two indoor fi elds, a three-court hardwood gym, fi tness centre, dance and aerobic studios, indoor playground and child-minding services. “It provides a great opportunity for fans to come and sit and watch,” Connolly says.

Colin Hartigan has also been a volunteer member of the Keyano College Foundation’s Board of Directors. Hartigan, of Coldwell Banker Fort McMurray, says Keyano’s strong athletic program allows youth to compete in elite sporting events without having to leave home.

“In the past, they would leave the community to try and pursue that elite level sport,” he says. Hartigan cites the 2009 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Men’s National Volleyball Championship, of which Coldwell Banker Fort McMurray was a key sponsor, as an example.

Hartigan says both the Keyano College Foundation and Keyano College are building blocks to ensuring the region’s youth have a strong community and strong future. “The youth that have come out of the program have gone on to even higher-level sport,” he says. “It’s exciting for locals to be able to witness that happen.”

A LASTING IMPACTThe Keyano College Foundation supports a variety of initiatives at Keyano College,

including academic, athletic, theatre and trades programs

T




programs focused on arts and culture, cities like Fort McMurray are transformed from a place where people live, work and earn a pay cheque into a place where people put down roots and raise children and grandchildren.

It’s a sentiment that is echoed by Kara Flynn, Manager, Public Affairs at Syncrude Canada Ltd. Syncrude has a long-term commitment to make annual donations to fund a Keyano College theatre program, called Syncrude Arts Alive. The program is offering theatre-goers a wide range of enter-tainment throughout the year, from country sensation Doc Walker to stand-up comedian Lorne Elliot.

Flynn says supporting the program is part of Syncrude’s broader mandate to be a good corporate citizen and create a community that benefi ts everyone. “It’s important to us that Fort McMurray is a community and that our employees and their families will want to come and live and work and play here,” Flynn says. “Theatre and arts and culture are a vital part of that.”

For Alan Roberts, Director, Keyano’s Theatre and Arts Centre, support from the Foundation is extremely important. “The Foundation provides us with support in many ways,” Rob-erts says. That includes capital support that allows the theatre department to acquire up-to-date equipment and technologies.

“We’re able to stay current for projects that our students work on, and for when we rent the theatre out to community and corporate partners. We have what they need without hav-ing to outsource,” he says. “The Foundation is also instrumental in acquiring sponsorships that help us in our programming.”

Since the theatre opened, we’ve been providing

many different opportuni-ties, from performance

series to being a host facility for local dance

groups for recitals. I like to think of us as being

a large social centre, so that when people come

here to see activities they also end up seeing their

neighbours as well.

Alan Roberts, Director, Keyano Theatre

and Arts Centre

SPORT STARS Keyano’s athletes gather for a banquet. “The Foundation has helped our athletes have a community presence in Fort McMurray as we volunteer at their various events,” says Wade Komel, Director of Sport and Wellness

THEATRE SUPPORTBy Alex BostonThe Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre isn’t just a place citizens go to watch musicians, comedians and visual and performing arts events. The theatre’s state-of-the-art facility is also the cultural hub of the Wood Buffalo Region and a vibrant com-munity fi xture. The main stage theatre seats 594 people and the recital theatre seats 194, creating space to host school, community, corporate and College events.

The Keyano College Foundation supports theatre and arts at the College in various ways, including hosting an annual fund-raising Curtain Raiser and managing various donations from companies and individuals. TELUS is one such company. “One of the philosophies that we have at TELUS is we give where we live,” says Derek Keturakis, General Manager, TELUS, Alberta North.

TELUS’ donation program, which began in mid-June and runs for one year, will strengthen the local arts community. A $100 donation goes to the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre for every new customer in Fort McMurray who signs up for Optik TV or activates a TELUS smart phone. The program, which is capped at $100,000 for Optik TVs and $150,000 for smart phones, will make a big difference at Keyano’s theatre.

Keturakis says that partnering with Keyano to promote local theatre productions just made sense. “It’s the op-portunity to be able to give back and continue support-ing a lot of the great culturally diverse programs we have in Fort McMurray,” Keturakis says. He believes that through

NIGHT OUT The Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre hosts many performances, like the Nutcracker. “We are the cultural hub of the community,” says Alan Roberts


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Night Out The Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre hosts many performances, like the Nutcracker. “We are the cultural hub of the community,” says Alan Roberts

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ACADEMIC PROGRAM SUPPORTBy Caitlin CrawshawKeyano College is about as far from the ivory tower stereotype as a post-secondary institution can get. Since its humble be-ginnings as a small vocational centre in the 1960s, the school has evolved into a multi-campus College offering technical and trades training, continuing education and university courses.

“It’s very diverse,” says Cathy Davis-Herbert, Dean, Life-long Learning Division. In her 20 years at the College, she’s watched the student body at Keyano College swell and the course offerings expand. Last year, the Lifelong Learning Division alone saw 18,000 registrations.

For the long time administrator, it’s a sign that the College –and the Keyano College Foundation that guides its develop-ment – is serving the community. “I think what we do best is help adults make their own choices. We help them embrace their futures,” she says. “We’re also a staging area for people to move ahead in their work lives.”

For years, the College has been a place where local workers can get the accreditation needed to advance in their career fi eld. To that end, many continuing education courses are focused on professional certifi cation, like supply management,

maintenance asset planning and occupational health and safety. “Everything we set up, we try to make sure it has real value,” she says.

One of the most recent additions to the Lifelong Learning Division’s offerings is the Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Prepa-ration Program, which helps First Nations and Métis people in the area to become indentured apprentices at Syncrude. Like many of the College’s programs, it was the product of collabo-ration between the Foundation and industry. “The Foundation enabled us to get the right people at the table and to craft a program that will make a difference,” says Davis-Herbert.

Keyano College’s academic side is just as student-focused. In recent years, the College has emphasized its university studies department, which offers undergraduate courses in everything from the humanities and social sciences to pre-engineering.

Here, students can complete the fi rst year or two of a univer-sity degree, before transferring to a partnering institution, like the universities of Calgary, Alberta or Lethbridge. Students in education, social work or nursing can also complete their entire undergraduate degree at Keyano College. “We pretty much cover the gamut for university programming,” says Louis Dingley, Keyano College’s Chair of University Studies Science

Keyano College’s programming strikes

a balance between technical skill-building and academic explora-tion. The diverse range

of programming offered includes many continuing education courses as well

as the university studies department that offers

undergraduate courses.

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and Environmental Technology. He says that the Foundation is instru-

mental in developing new programs that meet the changing needs of industry. A recent example is the forthcoming Wildlife Management Post-Diploma Certifi cate, which will accept its fi rst students in 2012.

The Keyano College Foundation’s fundraising efforts also enhance pro-gramming in multiple ways. Shell Can-ada and its Athabasca Oil Sands Projects partners Marathon and Chevron, for instance, offer funding to the Environ-mental Technology program. This fund-ing helps send students on fi eld trips to plant sites and facilitates capital purchas-es, like cutting-edge scientifi c equip-ment, which helps prepare students for an industry career. “This is all because of relationships the Foundation has cul-tivated for us,” Dingley says.

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EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE SUPPORTBy Elizabeth Chorney-BoothOne of the more innovative ways that the Keyano College Foundation has reached out to industry in the Fort McMurray area is through an equipment donation program called Equipped for the Future. The initiative, which was launched two years ago, partners donated equipment with training programs offered at the College. The program started with the donation of a loader from Finning Canada in 2009 and now, over $2.4-million worth of training equipment has been made available to Keyano students by 16 companies.

Angele Dobie, Fund Development Manager for Keyano College’s Foundation, helped launch the Equipped for the Future program. She says that the program came out of necessity, as government funding began to slow with the recent economic downturn.

“A lot of the supply companies, in particular, were not as busy as they previously had been,” Dobie says. “In some cases, some of their equipment was sitting idle, parked in their back lots. So we approached a lot of these companies to see if there was an opportunity for Keyano, and particularly

the trades division, to have use of that equipment.”Glenn van’t Wout, Dean of Trades and Heavy Industrial

Division at Keyano College, says the Equipped for the Future program has been extremely important to his department. The program gives instructors the unique ability to train on the very equipment that is currently being used in the field, and that greatly improves students’ prospects once they enter the job market.

“It’s completely sparked the creativity and the innova-tion of the staff that are working with heavy equipment on how they can better serve students and the region,” van’t Wout says.

Larry Gouthro, Finning Canada’s General Manager, Oil Sands, agrees with van’t Wout’s assertion that Equipped for the Future offers a win-win solution for students, educators and employers alike. He says that supporting Equipped for the Future was an easy decision for his company.

“We need to focus on what we’re good at, which is servicing and selling parts for the equipment that we sell,” Gouthro says. “To do that, we need trained technicians and we need to have someone like Keyano who

Over $2.4-million worth of training equipment

has been made available to Keyano students,

thanks to the Equipped for the Future program.

The program started with the donation of a loader

from Finning Canada in 2009 and has been

so successful that it has started to expand

beyond the Keyano’s trades department.

Congratulations to the Keyano College Foundation.

Your success today is the beginning of tomorrow’s achievements!

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will take that off our plates and take care of that for us. Keyano’s been very good at customizing their cours-es based on the needs of industry here in the Wood Buffalo Region.”

Dobie says that the program has been so successful that it started to expand beyond the trades department. Earlier this year, Wapose Medical Services donated an ambu-lance to help train EMT students. The Foundation is currently look-ing for donors to help out with some stage equipment that is needed for Keyano’s theatre program.

“This is just the beginning and the need is great,” says Dobie. “What has been really unique is that some of the equipment that’s been donated has actually spearheaded brand new training. It just shows how partnerships can benefit all.”

DOZER DONATION Demers Contracting Services donated a dozer to the Equipped for the Future program

CONGRATULATIONS KEYANO COLLEGE FOUNDATION

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Suncor Energy – Keyano Oil Sands Banquet Ad: Full page program (8-1/4” x 10-3/4” page trim), bleeds, 4c. KLVC. July 27, 2011.

™ Trademark of Suncor Energy Inc.

We see the possibilities.With stellar education, training and services, Keyano College opens up a world of possibilities for students. Suncor Energy

values and supports the vital role played by the college in creating healthy, vibrant communities in northeastern Alberta.

The Keyano College Foundation works hard to ensure the success of both students and the college. Suncor’s involvement

includes support for certificate and co-op programs, sponsorship of college events, and partnerships with the college in

community events. Working together with organizations that strengthen communities is part of seeing the possibilities –

and putting them into action.

performance

partnerships

possibilities

Find out more about Suncor’s track record

and how we are planning to responsibly

develop North America’s energy supply.

www.suncor.com/sustainability

Suncor employee volunteers

Jamie Gnanapragasam and

Hilary Quinn.

55 local charitable and

non-profit organizations supported

$172,950invested in the causes our employees care about

10,764 hours of employee volunteer time contributed

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T he Keyano College Foundation holds a number of annual events including a golf classic, charity poker tournament, gala and fundraiser for the Theatre and Arts Centre. While the primary purpose of these

events is to raise funds for Keyano College, they also serve as a valuable opportunity for community members, sponsors and supporters to be together. Sponsors can engage with students and department representatives, while donors enjoy themed golf games, theatre performances and black-tie affairs.

In the past year, the four annual events raised more than half a million dollars,

an impressive sum that directly supports Keyano’s students, educational programming and campus development. This year’s inaugural Charity Poker Tournament raised $25,000 for the College’s new hockey team, while a full house of 550 guests raised $30,000 at the Curtain Raiser to support the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre. The 2011 Golf Classic

raised more than $210,000 and the 2010 Gala, the premier black-tie event in Fort McMurray,

raised over $300,000. In the following pages these various events, as well as the volunteers, sponsors and donors who make them successful, are profi led.

OUTSTANDING EVENTS By Michelle Lindstrom

Annual events raise funds and bring the College’s supporters together

In the past year, the four annual events raised more

than half a million dollars, an impressive sum that directly supports Keyano’s students,

educational programming and campus development.

T

ROCKING GOOD TIME The 2011 Curtain Raiser, in support of the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre, featured Phantom of the Opera

A SURE BET James Pittman took home the grand prize of $5,000 at 2011’s inaugural Charity Poker Tournament


Suncor Energy – Keyano Oil Sands Banquet Ad: Full page program (8-1/4” x 10-3/4” page trim), bleeds, 4c. KLVC. July 27, 2011.

™ Trademark of Suncor Energy Inc.

We see the possibilities.With stellar education, training and services, Keyano College opens up a world of possibilities for students. Suncor Energy

values and supports the vital role played by the college in creating healthy, vibrant communities in northeastern Alberta.

The Keyano College Foundation works hard to ensure the success of both students and the college. Suncor’s involvement

includes support for certificate and co-op programs, sponsorship of college events, and partnerships with the college in

community events. Working together with organizations that strengthen communities is part of seeing the possibilities –

and putting them into action.

performance

partnerships

possibilities

Find out more about Suncor’s track record

and how we are planning to responsibly

develop North America’s energy supply.

www.suncor.com/sustainability

Suncor employee volunteers

Jamie Gnanapragasam and

Hilary Quinn.

55 local charitable and

non-profit organizations supported

$172,950invested in the causes our employees care about

10,764 hours of employee volunteer time contributed

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Meet Melane LeBlanc, Annual Giving Manager at the Keyano College Foundation. She started out as an events co-ordinator in 2006 and today, LeBlanc is involved with the Foundation’s annual events, athletics, scholarships, sponsorship and more. She speaks about the successful fundraising events the Foundation hosts each year. Q: What was the fi rst Gala like?A: It was in 1981. It was a very small and intimate affair and

it’s just grown exponentially. Now we have over 1,200 guests attending the black tie event.

Q: The Gala switched venues a few years back. Why was that?A: When I start at the Foundation, the event was still held in

Keyano Theatre and it had reached its capacity. We were opening up a brand new sport facility the following year and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to show-case the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre and expand our event to enable other partners to join us in this major fundraising endeavour.

Q: Did the venue change have a signifi cant impact on the event?

A: When I started, the maximum number we could have at the Gala was about 600 people. We are now double that. The fi rst Gala raised under $2,500 and last year we raised $320,000. The venue change and the expansion of the event had a huge impact on the fi nancial gain for the unrestricted funds for the College.

Q: Each year the Gala has a theme. Why is that?A: We fi nd our guests enjoy the themes because we’re able

to decorate the venue to match the themes. When we did the Roaring ’20s, I saw so many fl apper dresses. People really get into it. It’s an opportunity to do something different.

Q: How is the entertainment for the Gala determined?A: The crowd that attends ranges in age from about 30

to 60. So, we’ve been able to tap into the market of entertainers that those people recognize. We have stuck

Over the years, the Foundation’s events have grown immensely. But their purpose, to provide support to Keyano College’s current and future students, remains the same

ENHANCING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

INTERGALACTIC GALA The 2010 Gala Odyssey featured Canadian rock icon Tom Cochrane and his band Red Rider

ON THE GREEN Derek Keturakis, Chair of the 2011 Golf Classic, shows off his swing

By Michelle Lindstrom


26-33_Keyano_PRESENT_EVENTS.indd 28 9/29/11 2:50:13 PM

to Canadian artists as we want to showcase Canada’s talent. This year’s Gala will include two bands: Kenny Shields & Streetheart and Honeymoon Suite.

Q: What is the basic format of the Gala?

A: It’s not a sit-down dinner. You are mixing, mingling, dancing and talking with all your friends, neighbours and companions in the industry. We having limited seating so everybody moves around a lot. It’s the most prestigious black-tie event up here and the largest one as well. There are over 1,200 partners and friends at the Gala.

Q: The Keyano College Foundation Golf Classic brings community partners together for 18 holes at the Fort McMurray Golf Club. There’s also an outdoor banquet with live and silent auctions. What do you think makes the Golf Classic successful each year?

A: We have a motto here; it’s got to be the best for the best. That’s what I instil in my team. We’re doing something we want our guests to feel like is the best event they have ever attended. We also have a wonderful partner and title sponsor, ESS First North Catering. It’s our partners and friends that help us make these events.

College and students. Q: The Foundation also started a

new event, the Charity Poker Tournament, in February. Over 120 people attended the tourna-ment. How did this new event go?

A: It was really exciting, new and unique. For our fi rst year it was very successful and we’ve already been inundated with calls saying, ‘We want it again.’ It will be held in February 2012, but we’re going to have to expand it as we expect attendance to double.

Q: Why start up a new major event?A: It meets a different target up here

of young, single guys that weren’t aware of what the College did. It gave us a new opportunity to tap into a new market.

Q: How are the funds raised at the various events used?

A: Keyano College puts the money towards its greatest need, where they feel it will make the biggest impact.

ALL IN Over 120 people attended the 2011 inaugural Charity Poker Tournament, which raised funds for the College’s new hockey team

THE FIRST GALA RAISED UNDER $2,500 AND LAST

YEAR WE RAISED $320,000. THE VENUE CHANGE HAD A

HUGE IMPACT ON THE FINANCIAL GAIN FOR

THE UNRESTRICTED FUNDS FOR THE COLLEGE.

Q: What do the sponsors think of the event?

A: They really enjoy being able to understand what we do with their money and how we support the


26-33_Keyano_PRESENT_EVENTS.indd 29 9/29/11 2:47:05 PM


ATB Financial is building a new relationship with the Keyano College Foundation. The fi nancial company is the title sponsor of the Keyano College Foundation’s Gala for the next three years, including this year’s 30th anniversary Gala with the theme Romancing the Stone. “The Gala is a unique event,” says Bryan Rabik, ATB’s Senior Director, Corporate Financial Services. “Although it’s black-tie and a Gala atmo-sphere, it’s informal … almost like a concert,” he says. The Gala has a stellar reputation of pulling off a great night of fes-tivities for 1,200 friends and neighbours, says Rabik.

ATB is donating $100,000 per year to unspecifi ed funds, leaving it up to the College to determine how and where to invest the money. “We had a number of [sponsorship] options available to us, but what it boiled down to was investing in

infrastructure for the community,” Rabik says. “We’re eager to support organizations that build Fort McMurray’s infrastructure, human resource capacity and industry.”

The funds, potentially slated for scholarships, also help give local high school graduates the option to stay in Fort McMurray rather than leaving the region for post-secondary studies. ATB sees investing in the Keyano College Foundation as a good fi t for its corporate strategy in education.

In addition to a large presence from ATB at the Gala on November 5, Rabik expects the company to continue supporting the Foundation wherever it can in the future. Fifteen ATB employees, who manage and run ATB branches, volunteered at this year’s Golf Classic, just one more example of the support this dedicated sponsor shows.

ROMANCING THE STONE Bryan Rabik, ATB’s Senior Director, Corporate Financial Services, unveils the 2011 Gala theme

I WISH YOU WELL While Tom Cochrane performed at the 2010 Gala, Kenny Shields & Streetheart and Honeymoon Suite will entertain this year’s attendees

ATB Financial generously supports the Keyano College Foundation’s Gala, in addition to other initiatives

TITLE SPONSOR INVESTS IN THE COMMUNITY

By Michelle Lindstrom


HALLIBURTON

© 2011 Halliburton. All rights reserved.

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HALLIBURTON

© 2011 Halliburton. All rights reserved.

Solving challenges.™

“Through thick and thin, heavy oil’s economic challenges don’t have to be a sticking point.”Dense, viscous and asphalitic, heavy oil demands a high degree of expertise to economically develop and produce. Around the world, Halliburton experts have been providing proven “one stop” heavy oil solutions, along with unequalled customer commitment, for over 50 years.

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H008-11_Keyano_HAL-HvyOil.indd 1 9/21/11 7:53 PM000Key.Haliburton_FP.indd 1 9/22/11 9:38:40 AM26-33_Keyano_PRESENT_EVENTS.indd 31 9/29/11 2:47:27 PM

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I’ve been on the Keyano College Foundation board for coming on two years now and was approached by the Foundation’s Annual Giving Manager, who asked me to be the event’s new chair.

For my fi rst go I’d say it went well, although I can’t really take any credit for that. It’s defi nitely the Keyano Foundation’s team that does a fantastic job of keeping people, who are already busy with life in general, organized enough to follow through with the volunteer tasks at hand.

We started meeting as a committee via email in January and then face-to-face around March. The event is so well-run and set up that volunteers are able to look at what people have done in previous years and go back to a lot of the same tactics.

Having only attended one Golf Classic before as a guest, I found the biggest difference between that event and this year’s was getting involved in the pre-planning and seeing how the machine works behind the scenes. It’s very easy to just show up, have a great time and not notice the hard work of the volunteers because it is such an extremely well-run event with a long history.

One of the neat things that I almost look forward to more than the actual Saturday tournament is the sponsors’ reception the night before. It is so relaxed and so much fun. We all get partnered up with other sponsors we don’t know, play a couple of holes as a scramble event and basically just network.

Corporately, I see a lot of value in keeping arts and culture alive in the communities we live in or serve. At the end of the day, it’s about raising funds for the College.

The fi rst one-day tournament was held in 1990 at Miskanaw Golf Club in Fort McMurray. Approximately 40 players raised $2,500 for the Foundation. The 2011 Golf Classic, held on June 4 at the Fort McMurray Golf Club, raised more than $210,000. That latest sum was made possible with the support of 75 sponsors, 248 golfers and dozens of volun-teers. Each year Colleen Stewart, Fort McMurray Golf Club’s Food and Beverage Manager, and Blair McDowell, the Golf Club’s Director of Golf and General Manager, oversee a sponsors’ gala at the clubhouse on the Friday night before the event. While McDowell says the Golf Classic is ultimately about the students, he also notes that it’s nice to have different things like this to do in the community.

JEWEL OF THE NORTH (TOP) Derek Keturakis (MIDDLE) Athletes from Keyano College volunteered at the 2010 Golf Classic (BOTTOM) Golfers at the 2011 event

Derek Keturakis, General Manager, Alberta North, TELUS, chaired the 2011 Golf Classic. Keturakis describes how he became the tournament’s chair and what the experience was like

VOLUNTEER PROFILE

As told to Michelle Lindstrom


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We are so grateful to all the sponsors who have made the2011 Oilsands Banquet possible. This is a great opportunity for a large group of stakeholders to come together and celebrate 30 years of the Key-ano College Foundation and the service we provide to the College and to students. Together, we have forged powerful relationships that have facili-tated capital expansion, program development, student support, awards, scholarships, bursaries and endowments.

Many of our students have gone on to grow successful businesses, to become leaders and innovators in their chosen fi elds. The investment you make in students today and into the future will reap lasting benefi ts as we realize the limitless potential of this region and province.

Your support of this event and the commemorative publication has en-abled us to share our story, and those of our partners, stakeholders, staff and students. Special thanks to Westbrier Communications and Venture Publishing for being gracious hosts and producers of this fi rst-class publi-cation and event.

Cindy AmerongenVice President, External Relations

THANK YOU


WESTBRIERCOMMUNICATIONS INC

MEDIA SPONSOR EVENT ORGANIZER

SILVER

BRONZE

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PLATINUM

PRESENTING

DPS logo page_2_Layout 1 11-09-28 6:24 PM Page 1

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WESTBRIERCOMMUNICATIONS INC

MEDIA SPONSOR EVENT ORGANIZER

SILVER

BRONZE

GOLD

PLATINUM

PRESENTING

DPS logo page_2_Layout 1 11-09-28 6:24 PM Page 1

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HELPING HAND Jarrod Saunders, President of the Student’s Association of Keyano College, received support through the Keyano College Foundation


In 2005, new legislat ion from the Government of Alberta’s Advanced Education and Technology depart-ment proposed funding to post-secondary inst i tu-t ions in Alberta, including the Access to the Future Fund. Since 2006, the Access to the Future Fund has matched money raised by post-secondary inst i tut ions in the province, based on a predetermined al locat ion for each inst i tut ion.

Keyano Col lege’s maximum al locat ion for the Access to the Future Fund was $1 .2 mi l l ion. Through private and corporate donations, the Foundation exceeded that f igure every year. Whi le money from the Access to the Future Fund has been suspended by the government for at least two years, the Keyano Col lege Foundation put the $1 .2 mi l l ion i t received each year s ince 2006 to various uses.

Monies from the Access to the Future Fund were

used to create student awards at Keyano Col lege. “As an inst i tut ion, we made a pr ior i ty of bui lding an endowment that would provide scholarships in perpetuity,” says Cindy Amerongen, Vice President, External Relat ions.

Thanks to the fund, donations mult ipl ied and fur ther opportunit ies were created for the Col lege to meet student needs. Keyano Col lege’s Access to the Future Matching Grant Endowment now has a pr inciple amount of over $630,000. I t provides 25 awards of $1 ,000 every year to Keyano students, based on academic achievement and f inancial need.

The majority of the Access to the Future Fund was used to enhance programs through capital purchases and program renewal. The Trades Divis ion upgraded several pieces of heavy duty training equipment. The Nursing and Al l ied Health Studies department was

able to purchase six advanced simulator training dol ls , including Noel le the bir thing dol l and Surgical Sal ly. The simulators are used in the nursing lab which helps Keyano students prepare for s i tuat ions they ’ l l face when on the job.

Technology at the Col lege has also been supported through the grant. “ We’ve invested in technology, such as SMART Board technologies in a number of c lassrooms, and we have enhanced our administrat ive and student computer network ,” says Amerongen. “ We’ve also supported research posit ions, research projects and curr iculum development.”

“ We are real ly looking forward to a renewal of grant al locat ions from the Access to the Future Fund in the coming years; there is no doubt that govern-ment grants to match donor gif ts have helped to enhance teaching and learning.”

ACCESS TO THE FUTURE FUND


36-39_Keyano_PRESENT_S_SUPPORT.indd 36 9/29/11 3:38:04 PM

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STUDENT SUPPORT

ithout its students, a college campus is little more than a collection of buildings. The

student body is what makes Keyano College a vital and bustling institution and gives a sense of heart

and community to the College. While there are many ways that businesses and individu-

als can support Keyano College, many Foundation supporters choose to direct their donations to individual students. Since many students are just beginning to embark on career paths, the fi nancial and moral support that the Foundation’s donors provide to them is invaluable.

Jarrod Saunders is one of those students who received such support. Saunders, the president of the Student’s Associ-ation of Keyano College, says that there are many awards available to students, thanks to the Foundation and its many generous donors.

“Financial support is more than simply alleviating debt,” he says. “Students in a better fi nancial position get to work less hours, spend more time on their studies and focus on the often-neglected social as-pects of College life.”

Each year, the Keyano College Foundation is able to give out thousands of dollars worth of scholarships, bursaries and awards to Keyano stu-dents, thanks to donations from both individuals and com-panies. Donors can specify award criteria in order to customize them and refl ect their own experiences and values.

Dick Nelson did just that and is thrilled with the way that he is able to help Keyano students. Nelson is a former Keyano employee who served as the College’s Materials Manager from 1988 to 1996. While working at Keyano, Nelson attended classes as part of Keyano’s employee development program. He earned certifi cations that led him to positions at Suncor, fi rst as Senior Buyer, in the Contracts Department, and later as Busi-ness Development Co-ordinator.

When Nelson was still employed at Keyano, he received the staff Distinguished Service Award, which came with a $1,500 cash prize. Since he was already employed at the time, Nelson

knew that a struggling student would probably need the money more than he did. He decided to donate $1,000 back to the College and for many years following that, Nelson continued his donations. They were in turn matched by Suncor resulting in the creation of an endowment that funds the annual $500 Dick Nelson Bursary.

Nelson’s bursary is awarded to a student in a College prepa-ration program who has been out of high school for at least fi ve years. Nelson created the award in order to give back to the community that helped him on his own rewarding career path. He also wanted to recognize the hardships that are faced by ma-ture students, who often follow less-traditional academic paths

and can encounter challenges while trying to work and become better-educated at the same time.

“The bursary is in thanks and recognition to Keyano,” Nelson says. “They enabled

me to get my Grade 12, and designations in the fi eld that I’m in today. The College gave me an excellent start and I really appreciate it.”

Adele Thomson’s feelings echo those of Nelson. She is also a former Keyano em-

ployee, student and community member who worked at the College for a total of 17 years,

eventually becoming the Associate Dean of the Mackenzie campus. She is now Manager, Aboriginal Relations

at Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. She and her husband cre-ated the Lawrence and Adele Thomson Adult Education Award, which is an endowed annual $1,000 bursary given to a female Aboriginal student in the Academic Upgrading program.

Like Nelson, Thomson’s urge to donate didn’t come only from her ties to Keyano, but from the fi rsthand knowledge that such a bursary could make a real difference to a student trying to get on the right academic track. In both her current position and during her time at Keyano, Thomson has seen Aboriginal students face unique fi nancial and social obstacles, and a cash award can make a difference in a student’s academic success.

“I’ve worked with a lot of Aboriginal students in Fort McMurray and in the outlying areas,” Thomson says. “They

By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

Financial awards through the Keyano College Foundation help to boost students’ confi dence and fi nancial situations, while also strengthening ties to the Wood Buffalo Region

Each year, the Keyano College Foundation is able to give out thousands of dollars worth of scholarships, bursa-

ries and awards to Keyano students.

W

HELPING HAND Jarrod Saunders, President of the Student’s Association of Keyano College, received support through the Keyano College Foundation


36-39_Keyano_PRESENT_S_SUPPORT.indd 37 9/29/11 3:38:20 PM

NEW OPPORTUNITIES Aaron Stevenson, a student in the Environmental Technology Diploma Program, received an award from the Keyano College Foundation

start out in adult upgrading and it’s chal-lenging because a lot of them do have families and other fi nancial commit-ments. It’s a long road to hoe before they get into a career.”

Thomson says that completing upgrad-ing before being able to enter a career program means a longer path, which also comes with increased fi nancial pressures. “It can just seem almost insurmountable. That’s why this seemed so worthwhile to my husband and me,” Thomson says.

While the vast majority of students use a cash award to help with tuition and living expenses, not all of the awards are purely a fi nancial boost. Aaron Stevenson is a student in the Environmental Technology program who recently received an award that is both a gift of experience and a fi nancial donation.

Stevenson was chosen to represent Keyano College in July at a summer school program hosted by Total E&P Canada in

Paris, France, called Universit Total. The fi ve-day program brought together 115 students from 25 different countries to share perspectives on issues surrounding the oil and gas industry. Stevenson, who is interested in working on reclamation projects for oil and gas companies once he graduates next year, said that the program exposed him to many career options and opportunities.

“It’s opened the door to contacts at To-tal, which creates the potential for me for employment,” Stevenson says. “I learned a lot about Total as a company, where they’re headed in the future, different jobs they’re doing and future Canadian projects that I hope to become a part of.” The trip was also his fi rst time travelling outside of Canada. Seeing another part of the world encouraged Stevenson to enrol in a French language night course. “Now I want to become fl uent,” he says.

Stevenson would like to stay in the

Fort McMurray area after graduation to work near the oil sands projects. Such a sentiment is another one of the important benefi ts of donating directly to students. When students receive awards through the Keyano College Foundation, it not only boosts their confi dence and fi nancial situation, but also strengthens their ties to the Wood Buffalo area. Dick Nelson believes that if the College and the Foun-dation support students, the students will return the favour by strengthening the local community.

“There has always been a struggle to fi nd qualifi ed people in Fort McMurray,” Nelson says. “To support that, the College needs to continue to train and educate qualifi ed people. I don’t care if that’s some-body working at a non-credit life skills course so they can know how to manage their money or someone who’s training to be an electrician … there’s a need for all those people in Fort McMurray.”


HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BURSARY, SCHOLARSHIP OR AWARD

Businesses and individuals who want to show support for students attending Keyano College have a variety of options when it comes to donating to the Student Awards program. Donors can choose to create their own annual award by giving money each year when the Foundation calls for donations in April.

Alternatively, donors can create an endowment by giving a lump sum. Once the sum matures, it will pay out indefinitely on an annual basis. These two options can also be combined if the donor wants the award to begin paying out immediately without waiting for the initial endowment investment to mature. Generally, annual awards consist of $500 to $5,000, while endowments require a minimum $10,000 donation.

In addition to the satisfaction of giving to students, donors are invited to attend the annual Awards Ceremony. There, they can choose to personally present their awards or meet the student that will directly benefit from their donation. All donations to student scholarships and awards are eligible for charitable donation tax receipts.

Donors who wish to support Keyano students but do not want to commit to an endowment or annual award created in their own name, can contribute to an existing award, bursary or scholarship. One of the most popular ways to donate is to give to the Huskies Athletic Endowment, which supports students involved in Keyano’s thriving athletic teams.

KEYANO COLLEGE FOUNDATION 30 Years of Raising Funds and Friends www.keyano.ca38Pantone 876 C

R = 186G = 135B = 72

C = 30M = 50Y = 85K = 0

Process Black C

supporting the oilsands

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Pantone 876 C

R = 186G = 135B = 72

C = 30M = 50Y = 85K = 0

Process Black C

supporting the oilsands

aeconinfrastructure780.430.4070

aecon lockerbie industrial

780.416.5700

CanonbieContracting780.410.6900

innovative steam technologies519.740.0036

lockerbie & hole Contracting780.452.1250

building things that matter

000Key.AECON_FP.indd 1 9/23/11 9:49:08 AM36-39_Keyano_PRESENT_S_SUPPORT.indd 39 9/29/11 3:02:17 PM

LOYAL SUPPORTERS Dennine and Marty Giles have been donating to the Foundation for 16 years



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W hen Dennine and Marty Giles moved to Fort McMurray in June of 1995, they came with “a nine-month-old baby, a hope and a

prayer.” The couple opened a Ford dealership, Northstar Ford Lincoln, on MacKenzie Boulevard that Oc-tober. A few weeks later, the Giles attended the Keyano Col-lege Foundation’s annual Gala.

It was the very fi rst social event the couple had attended in their new hometown and it’s an evening Dennine still remembers fondly. “We were so elated to fi nd that sort of function,” she says of the Gala that took place 16 years ago. “You could feel the spirit. You could feel what everybody was trying to take care of.”

That annual fundraising Gala had a big impact on the Giles family, and the couple has continued donating to the Keyano College Foundation ever since. Over the last 16 years, Dennine and Marty Giles’ business has grown to include dealer-ships in Calgary and Cochrane and a staff of over 200. A lot has changed in the their lives, but supporting their community through the Foundation remains constant.

“It’s easy to give to,” Marty says. Den-nine agrees and says that the Foundation’s work is very visible in the community. “What happens when you support our College here is you actually get to see fi rsthand the development and what they use the money for and where it goes,” Dennine says.

The couple has witnessed, again and again, the major role the Keyano College Foundation plays in shaping the city of Fort McMurray and communities in the Wood Buffalo Region. They cite their son’s local basketball team, which received support from Keyano College team members and coaches, as just one example. “Our son would never have access to that quality of coaching and that competitive level without Keyano,” Marty says. “That’s just one of probably 100 examples of what Keyano does in the community.”

Recently, the Giles family decided to create an endow-ment through the Foundation. Marty says it was a pleasure to

meet the fi rst recipient of the Northstar Ford Lincoln Marty and Dennine Giles Business Award, who was announced last year. The scholarship is available to students in the Business Administration Diploma program or Aboriginal Entrepre-neurship, in any year of study. The award emphasizes an entrepreneurial spirit and community involvement.

Entrepreneurship is an area Marty is keen to develop further at the College. He hopes that perhaps in 20 years time, Keyano College will not only be known for trades and technology but may also be the home of the best small business school in Canada. He sees the couple’s $75,000-donation over fi ve years as the planting of a seed that will continue to grow. “It’s not just about pipe fi tting and truck

driving and teachers and nurses. Entrepreneurs are an important part of the fabric of a community,”

Marty says.

The Giles aren’t the only peoplewho feel contributing to the Keyano College Foundation is important in shaping the region of Wood Buffalo. Kara Flynn is the Manager of Public

Affairs at Syncrude Canada Ltd., a company that has corporate headquarters

in Fort McMurray and projects located in the region. Flynn says the College and the Foundation

help provide much more than just a skilled and trained workforce for the city. “They are a part of the broader community fabric,” says Flynn.

Syncrude has a long record of supporting the Keyano College Foundation, including a major contribution to the College’s sport and wellness centre, which is a key recre-ational facility in the community and home of the Keyano Huskies. Syncrude’s support is refl ected in the facility’s name, the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre. “It’s not just about core education,” Flynn says. “It’s about providing the full slate of services and quality of life that build our home.”

In 2008, Syncrude announced a $5-million donation to support infrastructure developments at the College,

WHY WE DONATEThe citizens and companies that support the Keyano College Foundation

witness the impact their donations have on the community

By Alex Boston

What happens when you support our College here is you actually get to see fi rsthand the

development and what they use the money for and where it goes.

W



TEAM EFFORT In 2010, Shell Canada and its Athabasca Oil

Sands Project Partners announced a major donation

including the creation of the Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation Program. The program increases career opportuni-ties for local Aboriginal residents.

Suncor Energy is a founding supporter that has contributed over $5 million to the Foundation over the past 30 years. The company is currently supporting the Haul Truck program and the Process Op-erations program with a pledge of $2 mil-lion over fi ve years. Both courses teach students critical skills that are needed in the industry.

Cathy Glover is the Director of Stake-holder Relations and Community Invest-ment at Suncor. She says that over the past three decades, the College has become a key feature in the community. “Having a post-secondary institution in the region became important so that we could en-courage young people to stay in the com-munity and get their post-secondary edu-cation in the community,” Glover says.

Glover believes having an academic institution in Fort McMurray also helps to build and strengthen the quality of the city. In addition, Glover says that the College makes it easier for companies like Suncor to attract and retain employees. “[Citizens] know that the option is there for their children to stay in the community and get their post-secondary education. That certainly helps to build the fabric of the community,” says Glover.

Donations to the Keyano CollegeFoundation are not just in the form of monetary support. Shell Canada’s Cam-pus Ambassador Program supports se-lect post-secondary institutions across the country, including Keyano College. The program brings Shell employees to campus to build relationships with the College’s staff and students.

“It’s a pretty unique program,” says Simone Marler, Communications Man-ager, Shell Albian Sands. “Our team brings real industry experience and perspective right into institutions like Keyano. We might do lectures, offer fi eld trips or sit on advisory committees for new programs.”

Shell has also contributed $3-million to Keyano College over the last 14 years. That includes a $2-million donation, announced in 2010, between Shell Canada and its Athabasca Oil Sands Project Partners, Marathon Oil Canada and Chevron Canada. The money was directed towards a diverse range of established projects and programs, including the Shell Safety Induction Centre, a new campus in Fort Chipew-yan, The Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab and the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Certifi cate program. “Keyano College really understands the needs of the community and the businesses in this region and so we want to support their core work,” Marler says.

Ever since Total E&P Canada, a Cal-gary-based energy company, entered the community of Fort McMurray in 2006, they’ve been dedicated to the Keyano Col-lege Foundation. “We feel [the College and Foundation] bring such an amazing amount of capacity to the community,” says Bar-bara Camponi, the Manager of Corporate Shared Values, Stakeholder Relations and Community Engagement at Total E&P. “It touches every person in the community and the regional municipality.”

In the past fi ve years, Total E&P has donated to the Foundation in a number of ways. In 2011, the company announced a donation of $845,000 over fi ve years to support various Keyano College projects and programs.

In 2007, Total E&P started support-ing the Keyano College Science Outreach Program with the donation of a hybrid tow vehicle, an innovative mobile green-house and program support. The program aims to raise awareness and interest in hands-on science education in the Wood Buffalo Region. “The region of Wood Buffalo is one of the largest municipalities in North America. It’s a pretty massive land space with lots of rural communi-ties,” says Lynne Perry-Reid, Community Engagement Co-ordinator at Total E&P. “The program is able to bring different kinds of education around sciences and biology to rural communities and also within Fort McMurray.”




KM YC

1

sg

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TOTALLY AWESOME

Total E&P Canada has

been supporting the Foundation

since 2006

As the Keyano College Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary its many donors, including individuals like the Giles and companies like Syncrude, Suncor, Shell and Total E&P, refl ect on why they donate their money to

the Foundation. In all cases, it comes down to a desire to support the entire community, which is exactly what the Foundation does with donors’ dollars.

These major donors also look for-ward to future relationships with the

Keyano College Foundation. “They’ve certainly contributed a tremendous amount,” says Glover, of Suncor Energy, of the Foundation. “We’re looking forward to seeing where the next 30 years go.”


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100100%


STUDENT SUPPORT DRIVES THE FOUNDATION

The Keyano College Foundation has been raising funds and friends in support of education in the Wood Buffalo Region for 30 years. See how those donations

are raised and who they ultimately benefi t

ONE HUNDRED PER CENT of the money raised by the Keyano College Foundation goes to Keyano College. The College sup-ports the Foundation’s operating expenses, including the salaries of the Foundation’s six full-time staff members.

Unrestricted monies are raised through annual events hosted by the Keyano College Foundation, including the Gala and Golf Classic. Funds are transferred to Keyano College and used to address the College’s needs, from capital improvements to student awards.

Individual and corporate donations support many different initiatives, from specific programs to scholarships for students. Staff members of Keyano College also support the Foundation through optional payroll deductions.

“Endowments speak to the solidity of your organization and your vision to be able to be prepared for the future,” says Cindy Amerongen, Vice President, External Relations. When Amerongen started working for the Foundation six years ago, the Foundation’s endowment fund sat at just under $900,000 . She’s helped to enhance the endowment fund, which now sits at close to $4 MILLION in funds.

Last year the Foundation launched a new endowment: the Huskies Athletic Endow-ment. “The goal is to have a principal of $500,000 and the purpose is to help us attract and retain international students,” Amerongen says.


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Funds raised by the Foundation go to a variety of areas of the College. The students are the ultimate benefi ciaries.

OVER $1 MILLION PROVIDED ANNUALLY IN PROGRAM SUPPORT:

Environmental Technology DiplomaAboriginal Entrepreneurship ProgramHaul Truck ProgramProcess OperationsWildlife ManagementSyncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation Program

••••••

CAPITAL CAMPAIGNSFort Chipewyan CampusThe Oilsands Power & Process Engineering LabThe Oilsands Trades & Technology CentreSyncrude Technology Centre

Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre

Bob Lamb Education CentreNorm Weiss Arts Centre

••••

•

•

•

EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGYOver $2.4 million in donated equipment through

the Equipped for the Future initiativeOver $1 million in matching funds through Access to the Future Program

•

•

THEATRE & ARTS CENTRESyncrude Arts Alive Series

TELUS 4-Play Drama SeriesTheatre Angels

Theatre Curtain Raiser Fundraising event

••

••

HUSKIES ATHLETICSCommunity OutreachNew team launches (Basketball and Hockey)Endowment and Awards

••

•

STUDENT SUPPORTSStudent Emergency LoansHot Lunch ProgramPassport to Success funding program for single parent studentsEndowments and Awards

•••

•

SPECIAL PROJECTSStudent field tripsAboriginal Awareness DaysCareer Fair and Open HouseSummer Solstice and Lights of Christmas

••••


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T he following six individuals have becomeinvolved with the Keyano College Foundation for varied reasons. For some, attending courses at the College has encouraged them to support future

students. Others are local employers who depend on the

skilled tradespeople that Keyano trains. While their stories are different, they all share a belief in the Foundation and the many people it supports. The Keyano College Foundation is grateful to their community of champions and looks forward to meeting more champions in the years to come.

FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS

By Penny Frazier

Meet six people whose lives have been touched by Keyano and now give back to the Foundation that helped them get their start

T

David and Nicole Bouchier“We see the many benefi ts that having the College facili-ties in the outlying northern communities brings, so we are giving back.”

Debbie and Leo Robert“It is so important for kids to be able to stay in the community to continue their education or learn a trade.”

Tim Walsh“The Foundation’s ties to the community are so far-reaching, it is exceptional. I will stay involved with Keyano as long as I can.”

Melissa Blake“Keyano responds to the needs of the community by provid-ing the education and training needed for viable careers in our region and beyond.”


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David Bouchier’s involvement with Keyano College began over two decades ago. He used to hitchhike back and forth from Fort McKay to Keyano’s Suncor Energy Industrial Campus, where he completed his Heavy Equip-ment training. Bouchier’s wife, Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, is also a Keyano alumnus. She completed upgrading in Fort Chipewyan, then recieved a Com-puter Information Systems diploma and an Aboriginal Entrepreneurship certifi -cate at Keyano College.

The couple now owns and oper-ates Fort McKay-based The Bouchier Group, a company that provides con-

struction, maintenance and general services to the Athabasca oil sands region. The successful company is comprised of Bouchier Contracting Ltd. and Bouchier Site Services Ltd. About 70 per cent of The Bouchier Group’s staff of over 500 people is Aboriginal.

The Bouchiers consistently support their community in a variety of ways. That includes giving back to Keyano, the post-secondary institution that helped the couple get their start. “Education opens the door for our people to be successful,” Nicole says, pointing to those Keyano College programs that are targeted specifi cally to Aboriginal learners.

The Bouchier Group has donated pieces of equipment to support the College’s Equipped For the Future program. “In our business we are so involved in heavy equipment,” Nicole says. “We want to contribute to the ongoing success of these programs.”

The Bouchiers live in Fort McKay, where David serves on the Fort McKay First Nation Council. Nicole is a mem-ber of the Keyano College Foundation’s board of directors. “We see the many benefi ts that having the College facili-ties in the outlying northern commu-nities brings,” Nicole says. “So we are giving back.”


DAVID AND NICOLE BOUCHIER


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Japan Canada Oil Sands is a leading player in Canadian oil sands technology projects and has been active in the Athabasca Oil Sands since 1978. Using Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (“SAGD”) technology, we currently operate a 10,000 bbl/d bitumen project southwestsouthwest of Fort McMurray, and we are applying for a 30,000 bbl/d expansion to our Hangingstone oil sands operations.

www.jacos.com

Congratulations

to The Keyano College Foundation on their

30th Anniversary!

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In 1974, Debbie moved from Calgary to Fort McMurray and became one of 12 women to live in the fi rst all-women camp established in the town. Leo headed west from Val Gagne, Ontario to work in the oil fi eld and soon, Leo and Debbie became “the Roberts.”

By the early 1980s they had started a family and an oil fi eld service and supply business, L. Robert Enterprises. The business, which the Roberts have since retired from, became a leading provider of various services to the oil sands and construction industries in northern Alberta.

As local employers, the Roberts knew fi rsthand the importance of having a post-secondary institution in Fort

McMurray. “It is so important for kids to be able to stay in the community to con-tinue their education or learn a trade,” Debbie says. An additional benefi t of the College is how it unites people: “Keyano is a hub that brings the whole community together with annual events that every-one looks forward to,” Debbie says.

Debbie has served as chair of the Foun-dation’s Board of Directors and as a mem-ber of the College’s Board of Governors. She remembers being absolutely terri-fi ed at her fi rst workshop for the Board of Governors in 1995. She embarked on a steep learning curve, but enjoyed the experience of serving on the Board of Governors so much that she served two consecutive three-year terms.

“There is no curriculum that could give you an education in that amount of time as this experience [did],” Debbie says. “I acquired so many skills through a whole gamut of learning opportuni-ties that I was then able to extend out to the community.”

Now retired and living in Kelowna, the Roberts’ ties to the Fort McMur-ray community and their commitment to Keyano College are still very strong. Their ongoing support for Keyano includes providing fi nancial support to scholarships for tradespeople, including the Welding Apprenticeship and Equipment Technician Apprentice-ship programs, and for students in the Nursing program.


DEBBIE AND LEO ROBERT


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Fort McMurray is a long way, both physically and culturally, from Danville, Quebec. But when Melissa Blake, Mayor of the Regional Municipal-ity of Wood Buffalo, moved to Alberta’s north with her family in 1982, she was quickly drawn to something exciting that her new home had to offer: the world of live theatre.

Watching theatre at Keyano College was Blake’s fi rst-ever theatre experi-ence. “At the time they were doing a

production of My Fair Lady and it was absolutely dazzling,” she says. “It was an incredible presentation on a revolving stage and I knew from that moment on that our move to Fort McMurray was the right choice.”

Those theatre productions quickly convinced Blake of the many ways that Keyano College and the Foundation im-pact the entire community. She became a regular theatre-goer and went on to at-tend Keyano College as a student years

later. Blake completed the Business Ad-ministration program at Keyano College in 1992 and then secured her degree two years later through Athabasca University.

Blake takes great pride in her place on the Keyano College Wall of Fame, which celebrates alumni who have gone on to achieve success and made outstanding contributions to the community. She’s also appreciative that she was able to stay in Fort McMurray and pursue her education. “It was great being able to take


MELISSA BLAKE


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all of my courses at the College and to be taught right here in Fort McMurray,” Blake says.

Blake has served as mayor of the Regional Mu-nicipality of Wood Buffalo since 2004, following two consecutive terms as a councillor. She contin-ues to be an avid supporter of Keyano College and recognizes its place in the community.

“Keyano responds to the needs of the communi-ty by providing the education and training needed for viable careers in our region and beyond,” she says. “It remains one of the most prominent hubs of the community.”


Long-time Fort McMurray resident Tim Walsh is also a long-time business owner who participates in vari-ous community initiatives. Walsh started a real estate business in 1972 and while his busy work schedule often takes him away from Fort McMurray, his roots are still very much planted in the city.

“I live here part-time, but the College continues to be an important part of my life and an integral part of the commu-nity,” says Walsh, Broker and Owner, Re/Max Fort McMurray. “If you look at Fort McMurray and the importance of this institution in terms of employment-related education through the variety of

courses it offers, it is vital to us.”In order to support education at Key-

ano College, Walsh created a legacy gift. Walsh’s $50,000 endowed donation to the Keyano College Foundation sup-ports three new student awards at Key-ano College. Annual awards of $1,000 each are available to students enrolled in Business Administration, Aboriginal Entrepreneurship and Environmental Technology programs.

“I really enjoy giving back to the com-munity and the College,” Walsh says. “I funded some scholarships as an ongoing contribution. I have always been interest-ed in the fi eld of education and I will stay

involved with Keyano as long as I can.”Tim also served as chair of the Keyano

College Board of Governors for six years, acting as a liaison between the board and the Keyano College Foundation. “It was an important time in my life,” says Walsh. “The Foundation’s ties to the community are so far-reaching, it is exceptional.”

One of Walsh’s favourite memories of serving on the Board of Governors was attending the annual convocation ceremonies, where he got to see and meet the graduates of the many programs Keyano College offers. “It is a wonderful College with wonderful students, staff and faculty members,” Walsh says.


TIM WALSH



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Oilsands Trades & Technology Centre

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F or 30 years, the Keyano College Foundation has helped broaden minds, creating educational op-portunities in the Wood Buffalo Region. As the area continues its economic climb, the Foundation is hard

at work solving the ongoing human resources challenges fac-ing the oil sands and collaborating frequently with industry to meet its needs.

The Foundation raises funds for the programs and facilities needed to support the community. It has made tremendous gains in developing Keyano College as a fi rst-class post-sec-ondary institution with a top-notch student experience. In ad-dition to the full complement of university courses and trades, a thriving sports culture now permeates the College.

As an economic upswing gains momentum, the Foundation and College are actively consulting industry and community organizations to prepare for increased demand. The Founda-tion’s last 30 years have been a time of immense growth and the future looks no different.

F


Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab


PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Keyano College Foundation builds on success to reach more students

By Caitlin Crawshaw

Since the day it opened its doors, Keyano College has been adapting to meet the needs of the community. Estab-lished in 1965 as a small training centre in Fort McMurray, the school evolved into a fully fl edged community college within a decade. Originally dubbed the Alberta Vocational Centre, the College was renamed Keyano College in 1975, a nod to the First Nations in the area.

Roughly translated, the Cree word “keyano” means “shar-ing.” More than three decades later the name still fi ts the busy northern College, which shares resources with the city of Fort McMurray, industry and First Nations communities in the Wood Buffalo Region.

At the College, students learn trades, study academic dis-ciplines, earn professional certifi cation or simply pursue life-long learning. As the area has developed, thanks to the rising demand for oil, interest in the College’s courses has grown exponentially. To serve this rapidly growing community, the College relies on the Keyano College Foundation to help iden-tify programming needs and seek out fi nancial support from individuals, organizations and corporations.

This year, the Keyano College Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary and the College takes pause to consider its future. The institution’s new leader, Dr. Kevin Nagel, stepped into the role of president this spring. His focus is the people of Wood Buffalo. “I think the College needs to really embrace its role,” he says, “facilitating the whole community moving forward.”

Keyano College has become a place for anyone looking to ex-pand his or her horizons with education. The College educates many, including out-of-town oil sands workers needing to hone their technical skills, born-and-raised Fort McMurray residents fresh out of high school and retirees interested in learning just for the sake of it.

The College has historically emphasized its Heavy Industry programming, since it is a critical player staffi ng the oil sands. Nagel says that there simply aren’t enough people staffi ng the

workforce of the oil sands. In fact, economic projections sug-gest another 12,000 workers will be needed by 2019. “Right now, we’re producing as many job-ready people as we can,” he says, “and we’re still way behind.”

Nagel points out that Fort McMurray is no longer a boom-town and manages a robust economy while the rest of the country experiences a downturn. But economic changes do af-fect the College, particularly in terms of how many students it accommodates, the programs it offers and the educational technology it needs.

Alberta Advanced Education and Technology, which over-sees post-secondary funding, is focused on the equitable dis-tribution of funding across the province’s institutions. “It’s not provided in accordance with the demand, so all of the demand that’s over and above what the ministry is providing needs to be addressed somehow,” Nagel says.

This is where the Foundation comes in. To adapt to economic changes and the community’s shifting needs, the Keyano Col-lege Foundation collaborates with industry. With the help of industry players and community members, the Foundation ral-lies fi nancial support and expertise to get things done. “They’re a catalyst in my mind,” says Cathy Davis-Herbert, Dean, Life-long Learning Division. “They bring together people with great ideas and the resources to help us start a great conversation that leads to good educational outcomes.”

While the Foundation helps the College respond to indus-try demand, industry also plays a strong role in the College. Ann Everatt, Vice President, Academics, says that support from industry has been instrumental in the creation of many new programs, including the Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Prepa-ration Program and new facilities such as the campus at Fort Chipewyan.

Industry involvement is also critical for keeping the College up-to-date on labour market changes and the kind of training companies require from its workers. “It’s a partnership,” says



Everatt. “We have a mandate to meet the regional labour mar-ket needs and they help us do that.”

Keyano College plays a crucial role in the growth of com-panies like Shell Canada. “They prepare our future employees to work effectively and safely and then we get to hire them and grow our buisness,” says Simone Marler, Communications Manager, Shell Albian Sands. “There’s a wonderful overlap be-tween what the community needs and what we need and that’s really what Keyano is all about.”

Going forward, Nagel wants to see the College expand its academic offerings to help attract and retain students. As a consequence of the city’s wealth, many families look outside of the province, and sometimes the country, for their children’s post-secondary education. But with many degree programs and university transfer programs, Nagel wants more young people to see Keyano as their fi rst choice. It’s not just about the success of the College, but a matter of the health of the community. “What I fi nd is that when students have to leave and complete their education at another centre, there aren’t a lot of them who end up coming back and working in the area,” Nagel says.

The Keyano College Foundation has made tremendous gains in developing the College as a premier, student-focused institution. In addition to the full complement of university courses and trades, sports have become a major focus. The sporting culture adds a powerful sense of school pride and a training ground for athletes. This is largely the result of the Foundation’s efforts to engage alumni and cor-porate donors, whose generous donations have supported the necessary infrastructure for collegiate sports.

Alumnus Moe Farhat, an Investment Advisor and Financial Planner at RBC Dominion Securities, became involved with the Foundation’s Board of Directors through his role as as a bas-ketball coach. With limited resources at his disposal, he worked hard to fi nd scholarships for players and funding for travel to away games. Two years ago, he opted to put his fi nancial exper-tise to work for the College by volunteering for the Foundation. Since then, Keyano’s athletic funding has swelled and the sports teams have expanded to include men’s and women’s basketball, as well as an Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference (ACAC) hockey team that will enter its inaugural season in 2012.

“There’s been a lot of money given to the athletics side of the College,” says Farhat. “I think that provides the opportunity for local students to stay and play in the sports they want to.” Now, in addition to local talent, Keyano receives applications from athletes around the world, looking to launch their athletic careers while pursuing a college education.

Some residents of Wood Buffalo don’t live in the city of Fort McMurray, but rather in the outlying communities. To reach out to these populations, Keyano has learning centres in Gre-goire Lake, Fort McKay, Conklin and Janvier and a new cam-

pus in Fort Chipewyan. Gary Bosgoed, Vice Chair of the Foundation’s Board of

Directors and Vice President of WorleyParsons, believes edu-cating First Nations people in their home communities is likely to produce the best educational outcomes. After all, college years are tough enough for young people without adding relo-cation to the mix. “You need the support of your community,” says Bosgoed, himself from a First Nations community and with experience on the boards of several other post-secondary insti-tutions in Canada. “If we can deliver education at the door steps of students, I think that’s the best way to go.”

Keyano College maintains a rapid pace of growth, largely propelled by the behind-the-scenes work of the Keyano College Foundation. Even in an economic downturn, the College con-tinues to grow. This September, a record-breaking 700 of about 2,500 daytime students attended the College’s orientation. The continuing education branch of the College saw 19,000 regis-trations in 2011.

Cindy Amerongen, Vice President, External Relations, says that the Foundation will continue to position itself as a strategic partner, working with community members, businesses and in-dustry in order to support those new students. “We’ll continue to talk to our partners about what they require,” Amerongen says, “and how, together, we can make those things happen.”

One of the biggest upcoming projects is the construction of the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab. Construc-tion of the facility is expected to begin next fall, with students arriving in January 2013. The lab will support specifi c technol-ogies and will allow the College to launch new programming and expand its current ability to train students.

It’s challenging to forecast the community’s future needs, especially in the event of a boom. But as the economic recov-ery builds, the Foundation and College are actively consulting industry and community organizations to prepare for predicted increased demand. “This College can not stand still and be what it is right now,” Amerongen says, “It has to be embedded in the community and working with industry. That’s where the Foun-dation has a vital role to play.”


GRAND OPENING A new campus in Fort Chipewyan opened this September. The building, which can accomo-date 100 students, also has a state-of-the-art library


Keyano rethinks the notion of a college as a single place, instead becoming a community partner

YOURS, MINE AND OURS

By Caitlin Crawshaw

A new campus celebrates a 30-year relationship: Fort Chipewyan CampusSince its early days, Keyano College has reached out to the First Nations and Mé-tis communities beyond Fort McMurray, like the hamlet of Fort Chipewyan. For three decades, the College has provided educational opportunities to the pre-dominantly Aboriginal community that many Cree, Dene and Métis people call home. Keyano, however, has never had a permanent home in Fort Chipewyan, in-stead it has used rented or leased spaces.

This September, in response to grow-ing demand for Keyano’s programs, the College opened a permanent campus at Fort Chipewyan. The building contains seven classrooms and can accomodate 70 to 100 students.

Like many of the College’s capital projects, this one was heavily supported by the efforts of the Keyano College Foundation and by numerous corporate partners. “The Foundation made this possible,” says Cathy Davis-Herbert, Dean, Life Long Learning.

The campus will offer adult upgrad-ing programs to prepare students for college-level courses. Depending on the demand, the campus may also offer post-secondary courses in business ad-ministration, childhood studies and uni-versity studies. The new Fort Chipewy-an institution is also equipped with the latest telecommunications tools needed for distance education delivery.

This is one of many initiatives that demonstrate the College’s commitment to First Nations people, says Gary Bos-goed, Vice Chair of the Keyano College Foundation’s Board of Directors. The

new campus is also one of many suc-cess stories that speak to the cohesive-ness of the Foundation. “It’s a good mix of industry and community people,” he says. “It’s amazing the common ground we have when it comes to the needs of students.”

Preparing for the future: Syncrude Aboriginal Trades Preparation ProgramSince the inception of the Syncrude Ab-original Trades Preparation Program (SATP), Gary Bosgoed has proudly served as master of ceremonies at the program’s graduation event.

“It’s so inspiring. These young people just needed the opportunity to show they can do anything they put their minds to. They’ve proven it, and you can see the light in their eyes and the desire to get out there and live the best life they can,” Bosgoed says.

Bosgoed enjoys celebrating with the program’s students. Armed with in-demand skills, the sky’s the limit for these burgeoning tradespeople. “These graduates are exposed to an unbeliev-able range of opportunities once they’ve graduated,” Bosgoed says.

This year, the program’s third cohort of 40 students begin the seven-month, full-time program. During the course of the program, students develop essential skills such as fi rst aid, interpersonal skills and preparation for the Trades Entrance exam. At the conclusion of the course, they’re eligible to become apprentices with Syncrude Canada or pursue fur-ther education in their trade at Keyano College.

Funded by a $2-million donation from

Syncrude Canada, SATP grew from the Foundation’s collaborations with gov-ernment, industry, community partners and First Nations groups. The program has been running for three years and its popularity continues to swell. Last year, SATP received 240 applications.

The success of the program is thanks to many partners brought together by the Keyano College Foundation, says Cathy Davis-Herbert, Dean, Life Long Learning. “What the Foundation does brilliantly is bring together people who want to work towards a common vision,” she says.

Next generation: Corporate partners help Keyano connect with youthEach spring as the snow melts and fi rst buds appear on trees, a hybrid GMC Sierra hauling a mobile greenhouse rolls into school yards of Fort McMur-ray and the surrounding communities. Using the functioning green house, Keyano College students and instruc-tors teach children, and their teachers, about the fi ner points of growing plants. It’s a hands-on, interactive program that teaches plant science in an effort to instil an appreciation for nature in the next generation.

The program is largely funded by Total E&P Canada. Four years ago, the company donated a mobile greenhouse decked out with the lighting and air fl ow systems needed to grow plants. It also donated a hybrid truck to tow the greenhouse. Now, between the months of April and June, volunteers bring the rig to elementary schools, allowing kids to grow their own seeds. After an initial

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE



GREEN THUMBS A mobile greenhouse helps Keyano connect with children in Fort McMurray and surrounding communities

visit, the Science Outreach Program returns to the schools two weeks later to show kids how their plants have fared.

“It’s been hugely successful,” says Louis Dingley, Chair, University Studies, Science and Environmental Technologies. The pro-gram is popular in area schools and is a staple of Fort McKay’s Treaty Day Parade. Each year during the parade, program volunteers drive the greenhouse through town and hand out plants to the community.

Total E&P has also supported other outreach activities, like the Science Outreach Program, which brings high school students into the Col-lege’s labs for science demonstrations. Dingley points out that it’s a win-win scenario: like any energy company, Total E&P needs scientists and the College benefi ts from inspiring youth to pursue an education in science. But such a partnership doesn’t happen without help. “It’s the Foundation’s support that makes this pos-sible,” he says.

C

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Melane LeBlanc - Annual Giving Manager, Janet Oswald - Finance Coordinator, Brenda Fortais - Fundraising Events Coordinator, Stephen Loo - Stakeholder Development Coordinator, Cindy Amerongen - Vice President External Relations, Lorna Simpson - Foundation & Athletics Fundraising Coordinator, Paulette Fitzgerald - Secretary to the Board of the Directors and

Executive Assistant, Angele Dobie - Fund Development Manager


At Chevron, we believe incidents are preventable.

We believe we must do it safely or not at all.And we obligate -- and reward -- our employees and contractors for stopping work if they suspect any unsafe work condition or hazard.

Getting results the right way. It’s what makes Chevron a partner of choice, now and in the future.

For more information, please visit Chevron.ca and Chevron.com

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000Key.Chevon_FP.indd 1 9/27/11 4:29:56 PM

The staff of the Keyano College Foundation thank the many generous donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters who, over the last 30 years, have made the Foundation such an integral part of the community fabric of the Wood Buffalo Region. Thank you!

64-67_Keyano_BACK_SECTION.indd 64 9/29/11 3:42:50 PM

At Chevron, we believe incidents are preventable.

We believe we must do it safely or not at all.And we obligate -- and reward -- our employees and contractors for stopping work if they suspect any unsafe work condition or hazard.

Getting results the right way. It’s what makes Chevron a partner of choice, now and in the future.

For more information, please visit Chevron.ca and Chevron.com

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ou’re not going to get a lot of advancement in society without a well-educated work-force,” says Brian Magee, Trea-

surer of the Keyano College Foundation’s Board of Directors.

It’s a belief that has guided Magee’s involvement in the Foundation for over 11 years. Magee is the longest-serving person on the board, which consists of all volunteer members. “I really believe in education and that ongoing education is a lifelong endeavour,” Magee says. “Get-ting involved with the Foundation and the College seemed to be a really good fi t for that.”

Magee joins 25 other members of the Board of Directors. The team ensures that the Keyano College Foundation con-tinues to meet the needs of the College, its students, community members and industry alike.

Those needs have changed over the years as the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has experienced a tre-mendous amount of growth. “I would say there is nowhere else on earth like Fort McMurray. It’s such a dynamic and

diverse place,” says board member Moe Farhat.

Farhat recently joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors and is its youngest member. He grew up in Fort McMur-ray and attended Keyano College for one year, then completed his schooling at the University of Alberta before return-ing to his hometown. “I coached the [Keyano] basketball team and in that role, I worked with the Foundation and learned what it was all about,” Farhat says. In his position, Farhat looks up to board members like Magee, who has many years of experience to bring consis-tency to the team.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors has strong leadership, as well as the sup-port of the community. “With fi rms and individuals investing in the Foundation, they reap the rewards of having a well-trained, well-educated cadre of individu-als coming out of the College,” Magee say. “It truly is a great win on all respects.”

Such support has helped the Founda-tion achieve a lot, including signifi cant accomplishments in the 11 years Ma-gee has been involved. Some highlights

include construction of the technol-ogy centre and the sport and wellness centre. He is also proud of the many dollars that the Foundation has raised to support students through scholarships and em-phasizes the Foundation’s focus on mini-mizing administration costs so that the bulk of donor’s dollars go where they’re needed most.

Farhat’s experiences with the board don’t go back as far as Magee’s, but he does have some favourites in his short time with the Foundation. He says a main highlight is seeing students graduate from the new programs that the Foundation has supported. “So many of the students that are educated at Keyano continue on afterwards in Fort McMurray and raise their families [here],” he says.

With the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo poised for growth, the Foundation continues to rely on the lead-ership of its Board of Directors. It’s an exciting time for the board and its mem-bers, like Farhat and Magee. “The Foun-dation and College are ready to grow with the community,” says Farhat. “We will continue to evolve.”

YY


Important milestones remind us of what really matters.

Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Keyano College Foundation on 30 years of fostering innovative learning.

For more than 10 years, we’ve been there with you.

Shell Canada Energy is 60% owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20%) and Marathon Oil Canada Corporation (20%). AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine & Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader.

LET’S BUILD A BETTER ENERGY FUTURE. LET’S GO.

HONOURING OUR HERITAGE, cELEBRATING OUR FUTURE.

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LOOKING AHEADTwo members of the Board of Directors refl ect on the Foundation’s

past, present and future

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Important milestones remind us of what really matters.

Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Keyano College Foundation on 30 years of fostering innovative learning.

For more than 10 years, we’ve been there with you.

Shell Canada Energy is 60% owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20%) and Marathon Oil Canada Corporation (20%). AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine & Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader.

LET’S BUILD A BETTER ENERGY FUTURE. LET’S GO.

HONOURING OUR HERITAGE, cELEBRATING OUR FUTURE.

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Thanks to you, we’re all smarter.Congratulations Keyano College Foundation. For 30 years, you have had an immeasurable impact on the growth and continued success of our students, industry and community as a whole. We at Syncrude are proud to volunteer our time and resources to support the many projects—from learning, to sports, to the arts—that make our region so vibrant.

The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among Canadian Oil Sands Limited, Imperial Oil Resources, Mocal Energy Limited, Murphy Oil Company Ltd., Nexen Oil Sands Partnership, Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership, and Suncor Energy Oil and Gas Partnership.

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keyano college foundation – 30 years of raising friends and funds

Documents

marathon oil

charity poker

process engineering

lifelong learning

atbs senior

annual events

actively consulting

shell albian