Parkland College students have turned the page to 2013 and are back in class, ready to tackle what lies ahead. For many of them, January marks the start of the second term. There are over 500 full-time students at campuses in Yorkton, Melville, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle, and Canora. Another 1,600 people are registered part time, and some 3,900 are casual students enrolled in skills training and upgrading courses.

For the college itself, it’s a milestone year. The new year marks the 40th anniversary of Parkland College. Since its inception in 1973, the college has worked to expand the philosophy of life-long learning in East Central Saskatchewan. Among the seven basic principles upon which the community college system was founded is the idea that programs are to be developed in response to the needs of the community. Today, Parkland College offers a broad spectrum of educational services from trades training and high school upgrading to the province’s most diverse off-campus university offerings.

“We pride ourselves on delivering programs that offer variety and flexibility,” said President Dr. Fay Myers. “Our course offerings are adaptable to the demands of the region. We see that in the fact that our skilled trades programs are thriving right now.”

It should also be a big year for the Trades and Technology Centre. Myers notes fundraising is progressing well with over a dozen companies and community groups already on board. The college is optimistic that it will break ground on this much needed facility this year, with a grand opening set for 2014.

Parkland College heads into 2013 with a new strategic plan that provides strategic directions and priorities for the next three years and beyond. The mission for Parkland College is to act as a catalyst – changing lives, communities and industry one learner at a time. It is accompanied by a vision of prosperous individuals, enterprises and economies driven by excellence at Parkland College.

“We wish to thank our partners – the many individuals, organizations and businesses with whom we have worked in recent years,” Myers said. “As a result of your support, we continue to address the training, advanced skills and education needs of the region and province.”