Olds College opens national equine centre, dedicates Shirley McClellan Riding Arena

Key government officials joined approximately 200 invited guests today as Olds College celebrated both the grand opening of the Canadian Equine Centre of Innovation (CECI) and the official naming of the Shirley McClellan Riding Arena. They also joined Olds College in celebrating the conclusion of its 2009 Capital Vision Campaign, which successfully raised over $32 Million for vital new learning facilities such as the CECI and several others.

Following brief announcements by the Hon. Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, and Bill Quinney, Olds College Board of Governors Chair, Shirley McClellan took the stage and shared a few words prior to the official naming of the arena. A plaque dedicating the arena in McClellan’s name was then unveiled.

“This is an event of great significance to both the Canadian Equine Industry and the province of Alberta and we think it couldn’t be more fitting to honour Shirley McClellan this way,” said Dr. Tom Thompson, Olds College President. “During a storied career that has seen her in the roles of Provincial Treasurer, Alberta Minister of Agriculture, Deputy Premier and today, the Chair of Horse Racing Alberta, she has been an unabashed proponent of rural education. We are honoured to name this magnificent new structure the Shirley McClellan Riding Arena.”

After the presentation, a student equine demonstration, ribbon-cutting and tours of the new cutting-edge facility took place. Throughout the official program, dignitaries shared elements from Olds College’s 2009 Report to the Community.

The Canadian Equine Centre of Innovation is now the definitive national centre for innovation incorporating leading-edge expertise, facilities, technology and applied research to provide unique human resource solutions for the equine industry. More than 750,000 Canadians work in this $15.7 Billion industry and the need for a centralized curriculum that can be applied nationwide is stronger than ever. In a recent study, a range of student needs from business viability and sustainability education to environmental stewardship awareness to genetic improvement and breeding training were identified.

Traditionally, Olds College’s Equine Science Program has always received more applicants than there is space. The new, larger centre, featuring indoor livestock labs and multifaceted Equine Reproduction Centre (to name just a fraction of its features) will allow the College to double the number of students in Equine-related programs. The end result will be more students who are better equipped to enter the workplace, and new crops of leading graduates for the equine industry.

Funding for this $9 Million centre came from the Government of Alberta through the larger 2009 Capital Vision Campaign. A testament to the value Olds College’s supporters place upon real-life, hands-on education, it has benefitted both students and the industries that need them through the creation of state-of-the art facilities such as the Community Learning Campus and The Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands.

Tagged as: Canadian Equine Centre of Innovation, Capital Vision Campaign, equine, funding, Horner, McClellan, report to the community, rural