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Last updated:
September 22, 1999

September 22, 1999

college’s TEC 2000 campaign passes $2 million after only ten months

Lethbridge Community College will recognize the six lead donors to TEC 2000 with room / facility naming. Seventy-four others also recognized at luncheon.

After only ten months Lethbridge Community College’s $4 million TEC 2000 capital campaign has reached the half-way point, exceeding the expectations of organizers.

“The response has been very positive,” says Derek Redman, a partner at Davidson and Williams and campaign co-chair. “It is apparent that both individuals and the business community recognize the value of LCC. The College is a practical, hands-on institution that has served almost every southern Albertan in some capacity.”

TEC 2000 is a three-year $4 million campaign to ensure the College continues to have the “technology to enhance careers.” The goal is to add a third floor to the College’s Technologies Wing and expand educational technologies across the campus.

“In reaching the halfway point this early in the campaign, we could begin construction of the third floor as early this spring,” says LCC President Dr. Donna Allan. “Our community support to date has been wonderful and our lead donors will soon see their donations in use.”

Six lead gifts alone brought in more than $1 million while more than 70 other contributions have been received from College board members, employees, alumni and other community supporters. In recognizing the contribution of these major donors, the College will be naming a number of facilities in their honor.

The Flora Matteotti Centre for Teaching and Learning
Val and Flora Matteotti are well known benefactors to the College and the Southern Alberta community. Since 1989, they have donated more than $500,000 to the College through a number of fundraising activities. They are also honorary Chairs of the TEC 2000 Campaign.

They were the first Southern Albertans onboard the TEC 2000 campaign with a lead gift of $350,000.

The Matteottis say there were two reasons why they became involved in TEC 2000. Two of Flora’s nieces graduated from the College, both with honors. “Those girls had some great teachers at the College,” says Flora. “This is the community’s college, and we need to keep it strong.”

The Flora Matteotti Centre for Teaching and Learning is responsible for maintaining excellence in instructional training and technology on the LCC campus. New teaching techniques are melded with modern delivery methods to broaden the reach of LCC’s education and training potential.

LCC Business Training and Development - The Terry Royer Institute
Terry Royer was raised in Lethbridge and was president of the first students association of Catholic Central High School. He was involved in almost every sport at CCH and went onto a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Lethbridge. Mr. Royer was the first chair of the Business and Industry Development program area at LCC (later to become the Business Training and Development Institute). He was very active as a leader and instructor in this area from 1974 to 1984.

Terry Royer is president and CEO of Royal Host Corp. a Calgary-based hospitality services company that specializes in providing a full range of hotel management services. Royal Host currently owns and provides management and/or franchise services for more than 15,000 guest rooms including Lethbridge’s two Travelodges and the Super 8. Mr Royer was co-founder of Royal Host in 1974 when it operated in Lethbridge under the name Relax Industries, until 1985 when it moved to Calgary.

Mr. Royer holds a MBA from the University of Western Ontario. As well, he has taken and taught courses at LCC in the past. He has been actively involved in a number of community and business organizations, including the C.D. Howe Institute, Young President’s Organization, Calgary Economic Development Authority and coaching minor basketball, baseball and football.

Terry and Maureen Royer have made a significant contribution to TEC 2000 as a way of supporting hands-on practical education in Southern Alberta. LCC’s former Business Training and Development Institute, including programs conducted at the Magrath Centre and on the LCC main campus, will bear his name.

The Lethbridge Community College Students’ Association
Their lead gift of $200,000, as pledged through a student referendum last spring, was a big boost to the TEC 2000 initiative. LCCSA president Mike Holliday says the students view this contribution as a bridge to the future.

There will be recognition plaques placed at the entrances to the new third floor when it is completed.

The Sunflower Room (TE1202)
Tom and Emmy Droog started Alberta Sunflower Seeds Ltd. (Spitz) from scratch in 1982 after becoming disillusioned with government’s role in Canadian agriculture. The company started out marketing birdseed across Canada. It was an employee’s idea to roast and flavor the seeds with other seasonings resulting in the SPITZ brand of sunflower seeds being born in 1989.

The Droogs wanted to make a difference in the futures of young people and are big supporters of agriculture education at LCC. In addition to their donation to TEC 2000, they are offering five new $1,000 scholarships focusing on entrepreneurship and positive attitude.

The Droogs have been recognized in the business community locally, provincially and nationally including a 1996 Entrepreneur of the Year for the Prairies region. This award in the Food and Agriculture division recognizes their ingenuity, hard work and innovation. They were also recognized in 1996 and 1997 as one of the 50 Best Managed Private Companies in Canada for their innovative business practices.

Until recently, TE1202 was widely known as the College’s primary darkroom for photography courses. Due to changes in technology and demand for space, the College renovated the room over this summer to a state of the art conference room with full audio and video conferencing capability.

The Canbra Meeting Room (CE1305)
Canbra Foods was founded in 1957 as Western Canadian Seed Processors. The oilseed refinery became operational in 1961 and Canbra started producing packaged products in 1962. It was the first fully-integrated oilseed processing center in Western Canada.

In 1974, the name of the company was changed to Canbra Foods Ltd. Canbra pioneered the processing of canola margarine and shortening. Today, over 80% of Canbra’s output comes from canola but it also refines sunflower, soybean, cottonseed and corn oils. Their major products include refined canola cooking and salad oils, margarine, shortening and canola meal.

Canbra employs approximately 250 people and supports numerous community events and activities. The company’s gift is a combination of their annual charity golf tournament proceeds (held on August 26, 1999) and a corporate contribution.

President Larry McNamara is a TEC 2000 campaign co-chair and a business leader who values the educational support of LCC in training the workforce to meet the needs of industry.
The Canbra Meeting Room (formerly the Chinook Room) is a well known room on campus and widely used by the College and general community for meetings and training sessions.

The E.C. Fredericks Theatre (CE1365)
Emil Fredericks was a ’surprise’ donor to TEC 2OOO. He is a Lethbridge senior who had a very successful career in Southern Alberta. After starting a general store in Jefferson Station, southeast of Cardston, Mr. Fredericks branched out into postal services and farm fuel. In 1947, he and his brother-in-law began a trucking business which became Economy Carriers. Now, the Calgary-based transportation company employs more than 600. Mr. Fredericks was also a founding member of the Alberta Trucking Association.

Mr. Fredericks is a firm believer in lifelong learning and has continued his own education even since retirement. He received a B.A. from Athabasca University in 1984 and his B.G.S. from Athabasca in 1992. He enjoys history and anthropology and has even taken a course in ancient history at Oxford.

The Fredericks Theatre is one of the College’s two main lecture theatres. Boasting brand-new video projection equipment, this theatre, which only seats 100, is the College’s largest.

The Wesbridge Construction Carpentry Shop (TR1835)
Wesbridge Construction has more than 60 employees and many are LCC graduates. Lyal Sakamoto has served on the board of the Alberta Construction Association and Wesbridge supports numerous community projects around Southern Alberta. TR1835 is one of three main carpentry labs located in the Trades Wing.

Other Lead Donors
These other lead donors (in the Gold Circle - $25,000 to $199,000) have contributed greatly to the TEC 2000 campaign along with nearly 70 others in the Bronze and Silver Circles.

• DA Building Systems
• Lethbridge Community College Alumni Association
•  Lethbridge Community Foundation
• Sony of Canada
• Glenn F. Varzari
  

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for further information, contact Cheryl Dick, Fundraising Director, 320-3486.

or see the TEC 2000 website: lethbridgec.ab.ca/tec2000

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