Olds College garnered praise and adulation from federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney as he delivered the keynote speech at the school's gala on March 21.
Kenney, who is also the federal minister for multiculturalism, called the college the heart of rural Alberta, touting its unique practical curriculum.
ìLet me say how great it is that you are focused on what you do best. Not on pretensions as is often the case in colleges of becoming a university that is all things to all people,î Kenney said. ìThey could not be more wrong.î
He added that few universities could boast of a 96 per cent employment rate within six months of graduation.
The minister's speech addressed the country's labour shortage in the trades and how many university undergraduates find themselves under-employed. He talked about Germany, which has half of Canada's youth employment rate and where 65 per cent of high school graduates go into apprenticeship programs, leaving with jobs.
ìThey regard vocational education and apprenticeships as having exactly the same esteem and worth and dignity and value as academic education and we all ñ parents, teachers, the education system, federal and provincial governments ñ we've all got to change our message,î Kenney said. ìThere is equal dignity and worth between an apprenticeship program, between going to agriculture college and doing your B.A. at university.î
Kenney also trumpeted what the federal government has done to support the agricultural sector, including removing trade barriers to Asian markets and the European Union.
He also took a shot at so-called ìknow-it-alls,î specifically David Suzuki, for opposing the use of genetically modified organisms and new technology in farming.
Kenney was not the only dignitary attending the gala, which brought more than 400 people to the Ralph Klein Centre, including alumni, donors, community partners and politicians among other VIPs.
Dave Hancock, the interim premier, was scheduled to appear but cancelled.
But another provincial politician, Wildrose Party and Official Opposition leader Danielle Smith, was present.
Smith said she attended the gala three of the last four years but missed the 2013 centennial event. Previous galas were held in the Alumni Centre so this was her first time inside the Ralph Klein Centre.
She wanted to see Olds College's new facilities and partnerships and called the school a model for how colleges should collaborate with school boards and community agencies.
ìIt's pretty exciting to see all the work that Olds is doing,î she said.
Arborist students, who were suspended in their climbing gear in the atrium, welcomed Smith, along with other visitors.
Part of the Ralph Klein Centre was cordoned off for a silent auction and a cocktail party before dinner.
Under soft lighting and to the wafting aroma of gourmet food, the college showed off some of its signature wares, from meat to craft beer.
The soiree also featured speeches from school administration.
Bob Clark, the new chair of the school's board of governors, recognized 4-H as Olds College's partner of the year.
Following a speech from Andy Pittman, the chair of the Alberta 4-H council, a group called Ballyhoo treated guests to a performance that featured dance, juggling and fire eating.
A live auction was also held with proceeds going to the school's Opportunity Fund.
After a speech from Verlyn Olson, provincial minister of agriculture and rural development and deputy house leader, Olds College president Tom Thompson presented an honorary degree to Art Froehlich, donor and chair of the school's Entrepreneurship Advisory Committee.
