From Left to right: Stuart Cullum (President, Red Deer Polytechnic), Scott Bollman (District Vice President, Scotiabank), Lloyd Desjarlais (Dean of Indigenous Initiatives, Red Deer Polytechnic, Caitlin Fox (Instructor, Red Deer Polytechnic). (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

$250,000 FROM SCOTIABANK

Red Deer Polytechnic receives significant donation for land-based learning

May 8, 2024 | 2:03 PM

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has received a boost to its education and cultural enrichment with a $250,000 pledge from Scotiabank to support the establishment of the Land Based Learning and Reconciliation Initiative.

The initiative aims to create a dedicated space on campus for learning, community engagement, and the promotion of Indigenous traditions and teachings.

“Elders and staff at RDP have identified an on-campus location which is an ideal setting for an outdoor learning space, located on the south side of the campus adjacent to Waskasoo Creek,” says Lloyd Desjarlais, dean of Indigenous initiatives.

The outdoor learning space is designed to provide a welcoming and inclusive gathering place for educational and cultural engagements, including ceremonies, arts, and community gatherings, fostering deeper understanding and respect for Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

It includes access to medicinal plants, wildlife, and a mix of pathways and open spaces that, “will serve as a dynamic venue for integrating cultural and Indigenous perspectives across all of our academic programs,” Desjarlais says.

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ScotiaRISE is a 10-year initiative launched by Scotiabank, committing $500 million to enhance economic inclusion and resilience among disadvantaged groups. The program centers on three main pillars: boosting high school completion rates, helping newcomers acclimate quickly, and eliminating barriers to career advancement.

“The Land-Based Learning Initiative helps build brighter futures for students of Red Deer Polytechnic, and further reconciliation here in central Alberta,” says Scott Bollman, district vice president for Scotiabank. “I thank Red Deer Polytechnic for the opportunity to be involved.”

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