Tower at NorQuest College to be renamed after $2M donation from civic employees

A $2-million donation to NorQuest College is the largest gift from the Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund in its 77-year history.

The donation — which represents the efforts of over 11,000 members, from nine different unions and associations — was unveiled Tuesday at NorQuest’s downtown campus. In recognition of the gift, the college’s Heritage Tower is to be renamed the Civic Employees Legacy Tower.

“On behalf of all of our members, we would like to say how proud we are to be part of the spirited and vibrant growth of NorQuest College,” the fund’s board chair, Brenda Waluk, said in a release. “Our members are very committed to making a difference in this community.”

The newly named Civic Employees Legacy Tower will include NorQuest’s new Innovation Studio, a cutting-edge think-tank facility.

“From 2013 to 2017, we have become a first-choice institution, increasing our student population by 72 per cent from 10,220 learners to the 17,592 we have today,” Jodi L. Abbott, NorQuest’s president and CEO, said in the release. “This incredibly generous gift will allow us to better prepare our learners for tomorrow’s workforce needs.”

The Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund was established in 1941 and at that time was called the Welfare Chest Fund. It was created to provide financial assistance to soldiers returning home from the Second World War.

NorQuest’s plans for continued growth include reaching 40,000 learners by 2025.