Photo (from left to right): Nancy Brown, Dean of Donald School of Business, Science, and Technology, NXL Technologies owners Stephen McCall, Ryan Smith and Scott Wilson, Jim Brinkhurst, Red Deer Polytechnic Interim President, Joel Gingrich, Dean of School of Education and Trades, Rod Holt, Associate Vice President, Academic Entrepreneurship. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

$200,000 Sponsorship

Red Deer Polytechnic celebrates partnership with NXL Technologies

Feb 23, 2022 | 10:00 AM

In December, Red Deer Polytechnic was proud to host owners of NXL Technologies (formerly Nexus Energy Technologies) in a long-awaited tour of the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing (CIM-TAC), which included unveiling signage in recognition of their generous $200,000 sponsorship in 2019.

RDP officials say The Four Centres wing at the east end of the institution’s main campus houses the shops, labs and learning spaces used in Trades programs, CIM-TAC, and other learning and meeting spaces. To acknowledge the generous gift, officials say the common area nearest the entrance of the Four Centres wing was named the Nexus Energy Technologies Community Hub.

The popular study space showcases banners and signage celebrating Red Deer Polytechnic students who have won at Skills Alberta and Skills Canada competitions, along with other achievements of students in Trades and Technologies programs.

Since 2019, RDP officials note these organizations have experienced exciting changes. A merger was recently finalized, bringing Nexus Energy Technologies and Lee Specialties together to create NXL Technologies Inc. The post-secondary institution was Red Deer College at the time of the gift, and in 2021, was designated as a polytechnic institution and newly-named Red Deer Polytechnic.

Due to COVID-19, the recognition event held in December had previously been postponed. However, weeks before the merger was announced, a small handful of Red Deer Polytechnic leaders were able to host Ryan Smith, Scott Wilson and Stephen McCall on campus to say thank you in person, tour facilities in the Four Centres and visit the Nexus Energy Technologies Community Hub, which will later be renamed to reflect the merger.

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“We want to thank the leaders of Red Deer Polytechnic for hosting us at the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing,” said NXL Technologies co-owner, Stephen McCall. “Both parties have waited patiently to safely gather, and it was a pleasure to meet onsite to make public the sponsorship of the student community study space. The tour of CIM-TAC showcased their impressive equipment and technology.”

“We value innovation and feel that Red Deer Polytechnic will lead the way in this space, educating students in a variety of skill sets,” added McCall. “The value in supporting our future working class cannot be measured and we are proud of the talented students. Red Deer Polytechnic has done a tremendous job working with the community and we are honoured to be part of this community and facility.”

RDP officials say the 2019 gift supported a wide range of initiatives, including student-athlete scholarships, and it established an endowment fund to support Trades and Technology program development and delivery.

“The financial support from Nexus Energy Technologies has provided support for students in a wide range of programs, and the Nexus Energy Technologies Endowment creates a sustainable source of funding for programming Trades and Technologies,” said Rod Holt, Associate Vice President, Academic Entrepreneurship at Red Deer Polytechnic.

“Just as importantly, our partnership includes a few other prongs that support students, student outcomes and the alumni experience, including Ryan Smith’s volunteer contributions to our CIM-TAC Industry and Partner Advisory Committee. The commitment NXL Technologies has demonstrated to innovation, environmental sustainability and effective operations, aligns with our core values as an institution, and our partnership is a natural result of this synergy.”