The Northern Lights Public Schools Board of Trustees recognized B&R Eckel’s Transport Ltd. for their ongoing support of the division’s students and schools with a 2021 Friends of Education Award, presented at the Board’s meeting on Wednesday, September 29.
“We greatly value the time that B&R and its staff have committed to our students and our division over many, many years,” said Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “They are always eager to get involved with initiatives that benefit our students and go above and beyond to provide support to our schools.”
For nearly a decade, B&R Eckels has transported the division’s Mobile Trades Lab to and from schools throughout the Bonnyville and Cold Lake area. This has allowed NLPS to offer hands-on welding programming to students at our middle schools and provide them with an introduction to the trades.
B&R was one of the partners who came together to establish the division’s Trades Exposure Centre, which allows NLPS to operate its service rig training program for high school students. The centre also hosts an annual Indigenous Trades Carnival and B&R has participated by sending equipment and staff to share information with students about different careers.
In addition, B&R generously supports many school fundraising initiatives, providing financial support as well as in-kind donations. This includes everything from sending their big barbecue and staff to flip burgers and hot dogs at events, to sending a team to help move a sea can or relocate some equipment for a school.
“We are grateful for the multitude of ways that you continue to support our students and schools,” said Hrynyk. “Your support has allowed us to offer our students amazing opportunities and experiences that they otherwise may not have been able to access.”
This is the first 2021 Friends of Education Award that the Board has presented. A second 2021 award, as well as two 2020 awards, are scheduled to be presented at the October 13 Board meeting.
The Northern Lights Public Schools Board of Trustees presented the Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre with a 2021 Friends of Education Award at the Board’s meeting on Wednesday, October 13.
The Centennial Centre was recognized for its ongoing support of the division and its students, including being the home of students and staff from Bonnyville Centralized High School for two years while the school was being modernized.
“Ever since the Centennial Centre opened its doors, they have looked for ways to partner with us to benefit our students,” said Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “The staff at the centre are always welcoming and go above and beyond to make our programs and events a success.”
For 12 years, the Centennial Centre was the home of the division’s C2 School program which offered students in grades 3 to 7 the opportunity to come to the centre for a week and explore curriculum through unique hands-on learning opportunities. Students used the amenities at the C2 to learn about literacy, numeracy, science, health and wellness, citizenship and career preparation. This included everything from launching parachutes off the second floor to the hub below and cooking in the kitchen, to skating with the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs and learning math by measuring the track or estimating the number of seats in the RJ Lalonde Arena.
At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, the C2 became home to the students and staff of BCHS while the school was undergoing a major modernization. Throughout the two years the school was located at the C2, the staff and board were gracious hosts and partners, agreeing to extend the lease when the renovations took longer than expected and delaying their own renovation plans to accommodate the school.
Les Parsons, the new General Manager of the C2 said, "I hear many positive comments about the great relationship between Northern Lights Public Schools and our Centennial Centre. Hats off to those who have worked together for the past 15 years to build this cooperative relationship that continues to benefit our entire community."
Parsons affirmed that hosting BCHS at the C2 for two years was an "absolute pleasure for the staff."
“Our partnership with the Centennial Centre is a great example of how schools and the community can work together to maximize opportunities for students,” said Hrynyk. “We look forward to many more years of working with the centre to create unique experiences for our students.”
The Bonnyville and District Centennial Centre is one of two recipients of a 2021 Friends of Education Award. Information about all of the 2021 recipients is available on the NLPS website.
