Olds College made a pitch last week at town council's policies and priorities meeting for council to consider spending $50,000 on a history book that is being written in advance of the college's centennial in 2013.
Jordan Cleland, the college's vice-president of advancement, told council that the history book is one part of a series of events throughout 2012 and 2013 that will mark the centennial, including the World Ploughing Championships.
ìI believe the Town of Olds' and Olds College histories are (linked),î he said.
The cost of the author travelling to Ottawa and Edmonton for archival material, researching and writing the book is estimated at $95,000, while design/printing and promotion is estimated to cost a further $60,000, the college estimates.
The book, to be written by Barry Potyondi of Calgary, should be completed by September and be printed by March 2012, Cleland said. Potyondi was hired last November to begin work on the project.
ìI suppose it's an ambitious (proposal). The level of urgency increases with each month,î Cleland told councillors, adding that support could be spread out over two years.
Cleland said a writer had to be hired so that the project could move along in time to coincide with the college's centennial. The college received six proposals for the project, from Edmonton, Calgary and as far away as Ottawa.
Coun. Mary Jane Harper said she would like to see the town supporting many different Olds College activities leading up to the centennial and didn't want to pigeonhole the town into supporting just a history book.
ìI would far sooner support . . . the entire centennial events,î she said.
Cleland said he hoped the town could support all centennial activities.
ìThat would be very welcome. Whether or not the Town of Olds wants to financially support one specific element of the centennial or provide us with that same dollar amount to underwrite all the various events . . . the investor's always right so we work with them on however they would like to structure their investment,î he said.
Cleland said long-standing community members, Olds College students and faculty could be owners of the book.
The college plans to sell about 3,000 books.
The college plans on making a similar pitch to Mountain View County on Jan. 27.
The presentation made by the college was received for information.
"I suppose it's an ambitious (proposal). The level of urgency increases with each month."Jordan Cleland, vice-president of advancement, Olds College
