RDC name change awaiting approvals

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“We couldn’t be more excited,” exclaims Ward. “The next major milestone will be when we change our name. We finished our community consultation and I’ll be meeting with the agency this week to short-list the name which I’ll take to the Board with a recommendation and the Board will approve that name on the board meeting in the middle of February.”

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Ward says once they receive government approval to start using the new name, they will officially start operating as a university, something Ward considers to be a game-changer for the institution, region and province.

“Logos and all of that, we’ve done all that work,” explains Ward. “We’ll be ready to launch those with the name in February but again, waiting for the government to give final approval on the name and permission to use it.”

Ward also notes transitioning costs are being absorbed mostly by the College’s budget.

“Most of the new costs will be related to new programs that we offer,” states Ward. “So if we offer a new degree, we need to be funded to offer that new degree, so that’s really the main cost but our branding and the other things, we will absorb ourselves. Branding an institution runs anywhere from a quarter of a million dollars to a million dollars.”

With the Canada Winter Games set to run from February 15 – March 3 in Red Deer and RDC to host five events during that time, Ward says the College and its facilities will be ready.

“We’ve had all of the test events here already to prove that the facilities are up to standard,” says Ward. “In fact, if you speak to the committees that are in charge of each of the five events, they’ve said they’ve not seen anything like the facilities that we have. So whether it’s the new squash courts which have just been tested, wheelchair basketball, badminton, figure skating or short-track speed skating, all have had preliminary events before the Games and they say the facilities are second to none.”

According to Ward, the new student residence which will serve as the Athletes Village during the Games is also done for the most part.

“We’re starting to move furniture in over the next two weeks,” says Ward. “The solar panels are up and hooked up, there’s just a few little pieces to put up but we will be ready. Student athletes will be in there and we couldn’t be more proud of that facility.”

Ward anticipates opening the new facility for a media tour next week, noting athletes will start moving in on February 12.

“Team Alberta has already been here this past weekend,” states Ward. “So being here maybe gives them a little bit of a home court advantage to get a sense of everything and feel for everything.”