By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Donation made to Red Deer College’s new Alternative Energy Lab

Feb 9, 2018 | 10:50 AM

Red Deer College has announced a generous donation towards its new Alternative Energy Lab.
 
The lab, which is scheduled to open up later this year, will aid industry and research, while also providing students with the skills necessary to install, operate and maintain alternative energy systems, according to the college’s website.
 
BGIS Canada, a 30-year partner with the college, is contributing $100,000 towards its construction.
 
“BGIS is proud to support the Red Deer College Foundation’s ‘Shaping Our Future’ initiative, and their commitment to sustainable growth and innovative development,” said Mike Greidanus, BIGIS Canada President. “As Canada’s leading provider of real estate management services, we are committed to relentlessly focusing on enabling innovation for our clients, with education being a fundamental building block of this commitment. We are honoured and excited to be a part of this project and to continue to build on our successful partnership with RDC.”
 
As thanks for the donation, Red Deer College will name one of the classrooms in the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre the BGIS Geothermal Meeting Room.
 
“Through their corporate and community work, BGIS continually demonstrates their unwavering commitment to enhancing our student experience,” says Michael Donlevy, Vice President, Business Development at RDC. “As we look to RDC’s exciting future, we know that the contributions from partners such as BGIS will provide an incredible benefit to Red Deer College and to the learners we serve.” 
 
Joel Ward, RDC President and CEO, added Red Deer College should be on the leading edge as central Alberta moves to an alternative energy economy.
 
“With partners like BGIS and the doors that they’ve opened for us with other companies, it will go a long way to get the right technology in here, and more donations quite frankly for some of this technology that can be kind of expensive,” he said.
 
The 4000 sq.ft. LEED silver Alternative Energy Lab will be home to students in the Engineering Technology program, as well as electrical and plumbing apprenticeship programs, and from some potentially new programming.