Doors close on college home project
FUNDRAISING GOAL LIKELY SURPASSED
Lethbridge College and local home builders are celebrating the successful conclusion of a five-year partnership.
They joined representatives of Stranville Living Master Builder on Thursday at the site of the final project built as part of the College Home initiative.
Over those five years, officials reported, contributions from Lethbridge builders, suppliers and trades people have raised $720,000 in support of the college’s new Trades and Technology Centre. Its first phase opened in 2015, but students will move into the completed facility this fall.
For Stranville, one of seven contractors who took part, it’s the second home committed to the project. The bi-level residence, on Northlander Bend West in the Garry Station subdivision, will be part of the builders’ Parade of Homes in September.
“We understand that building great homes and providing outstanding post-possession service is only possible by using the highest quality projects installed by highly trained industry professionals,” said Stranville general manager Dell Mathews in a statement.
His company, he said, appreciated “the opportunity to contribute financially to the training of our local workforce through the world-class facility at the Lethbridge College.”
College and builders’ association officials announced the collaboration in 2013, hoping to raise $750,000. With the sale of the eighth and final home, they expect to surpass that goal. “We are at the end of the project and as we round the home stretch with our financial pledge nearly met, the anticipation builds to see the final result of the entire donation,” said Angela Cornforth, president of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association - Lethbridge.
But “It will be even better to see those students walk through the doors of the new trades facility, and know that we had a hand in their future.”
Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder praised the initiative as an example of private enterprise partnering with public services.
Mayor Chris Spearman paid tribute to builders and their trades partners who honoured their commitments even though the homebuilding sector in many parts of Alberta was facing depressed markets.
The industry in Lethbridge raised the money “but it’s also an investment in people.”