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Portage College

Coordinates: 54°45′58″N 111°58′07″W / 54.76599°N 111.96862°W / 54.76599; -111.96862
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Portage College
Former names
  • Alberta Vocational College
  • Pe-Te-Pun (New Dawn)
MottoBuilding success by delivering exceptional learning experiences. [citation needed]
Typepublic community college
Established1968
ChairmanRandolph Benson
PresidentNancy Broadbent
Undergraduatesavailable – 1st & 2nd year university transfer
Location,
Alberta
,
Canada

54°45′58″N 111°58′07″W / 54.76599°N 111.96862°W / 54.76599; -111.96862
Campus
ColoursTeal and Purple   
AffiliationsCICan, CCAA, AACTI
MascotEddy Rocks the Voyageur
Websitewww.portagecollege.ca

Portage College is a public board-governed community college in Lac La Biche, Alberta, Canada. Portage has seven campus locations throughout northeastern Alberta.

History

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In 1968, Alberta NewStart was established in Lac La Biche as part of the federal government's initiative to research basic adult education. NewStart offered instruction in areas as diverse as academic upgrading, trapping, wild fur management, and oilfield management. However, after several months the government decided to close the facility and cease the research. A group of Aboriginal students faced with the pending closure of their school decided to challenge the government by staging a sit-in. The group was successful, and the government awarded a grant to continue the NewStart program. The school took on a new name “Pe-Ta-Pun” meaning “New Dawn.”

In 1973, the Alberta government took over the program, reopening it as the province's fifth Alberta Vocational Centre. From 1973 to 1980 programs and services expanded to include community-based programs. In 1980, the Minister of Advanced Education announced plans to replace the vocational centre's temporary facilities with a new campus, which was opened in 1985. A board of governors was established for the college in 1998 and the following year the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development approved a change of name to “Portage College.”

Locations

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The main campus is located in Lac La Biche, Alberta and regional service centres are located in Cold Lake and St. Paul. Additional campuses are found in Goodfish Lake, Frog Lake, Saddle Lake, and Boyle.[1]

Programs

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Portage College offers over 30 certificate and diploma programs, career programs, trades and technical, academic upgrading, business, university studies, human services, health and wellness and native arts and culture. Continuing education is offered in the fields of business, university studies, human services, health and wellness, native arts and culture, trades and technical careers.[citation needed]

Museum of Aboriginal Peoples' Art and Artifacts

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The museum is housed at the Portage College Corporate Centre and contains nearly 2000 Indigenous artworks and artifacts. The exhibits provide an in-depth look at North American Aboriginal Art from First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures.[2] Since 2018 the museum houses a permanent collection of the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (Daphne Odjig, Alex Janvier, Joseph Sánchez, Norval Morrisseau, Eddy Cobiness, Carl Ray and Jackson Beardy).[3][4]

Athletics

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Portage College is home to seven collegiate teams including men's and women's soccer, men's and women's futsal, men's hockey, golf and curling. The teams compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, consisting of teams throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Voyageur curling, soccer, futsal and hockey games/practices are held at the Bold Center in Lac La Biche, a 233,000 square foot facility.

Voyageur Golf is played at the Lac La Biche Golf & Country Club.

The College Team logo depicts the traditional voyageur that used to travel on the lakes and rivers of northeastern Alberta. Team colors are red and navy blue.

Honorary graduates

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The following have been given honorary degrees from Portage College for their work in the community and their continued promotion of the college.

Name Distinction Year
Bill Hunter Business Diploma 2004
Floyd Thompson Honorary Parchment 2005
Elsie Quintal Native Cultural Arts Certificate 2006
Jan Reimer Women's Shelter Crisis Worker Diploma 2007
Lawrence Spence Human Services Diploma 2008
Ray Coates Honorary Parchment 2009
Hon. Ray Danyluk Business and Community Development Diploma 2009
Norm Quinney Diploma 2010
Chief James Jackson Jr. Diploma 2010
John Irwin Honorary Parchment 2011
Gerald and Randy Wowk Honorary Parchment 2012
Ted Langford Business/Community Development Diploma 2013
John Borders Honorary Parchment 2014
Uta Squire Early Learning and Child Care 2015
Elder David McGilvery Artisan Entrepreneurship Diploma 2016
June Cardinal-Howse Honorary Business Diploma 2017
Myrna Fox Early Learning and Child Care/Educational Assistant Diploma 2018
Rosalie Halfe Honorary Parchment Community Development 2019
Rennie Houle Honorary Parchment Community Development 2019
NA Postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic 2020
Bill Britton Honorary Parchment Community Development 2021
Kalan Britton Honorary Parchment Community Development 2021
Lorraine Quinney Honorary Parchment Community Development 2022
Shirley Moocheweinies Honorary Parchment Community Development 2022

See also

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References

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All facts, unless otherwise stated, are from Portage College's web site:

  1. ^ Portage College. "Campus Locations". Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  2. ^ "Museum of Aboriginal Peoples' Art & Artifacts". www.portagecollege.ca. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  3. ^ "Indigenous artists Joseph Sanchez and Alex Janvier attend Lac La Biche museum opening". LakelandToday.ca. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. ^ "Portage College opens permanent exhibition of works from Canada's 'Indian Group of Seven'". Alberta Native News. 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
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