News Archives: GPRC Completes First Step to Identify New Programming Opportunities in Jasper
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016
GRANDE PRAIRIE – Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) has completed the first phase of its project to explore the new post-secondary opportunities including the potential of a new world-class culinary arts program in Jasper.
GPRC funded the first phase of the project which launched in May and involved consultation with local leaders in the hospitality industry, community leaders and other post-secondary and private institutions from across the country that currently offer culinary programs.
The consultation process included a combination of surveys and one-on-one interviews to assess the level of commitment in the community, the programming needs, and the current reality of the local industry to determine the viability of the project.
GPRC presented the results of the consultation process at a community meeting with the local stakeholder groups today and confirmed the community’s interested in pursuing the next phase of the program.
GPRC has also continuously updated and engaged with its partners at Advanced Education, Culture and Tourism, Travel Alberta and Parks Canada about progress of the project.
“GPRC continues to see support from the community as well as our colleagues at the federal and provincial governments for the planning work we have completed. Based on this support GPRC will move into the next phase of the project,” said GPRC President and CEO Don Gnatiuk.
The second phase of the project involves examining various program options with experts in the culinary education training field, considering potential options for the physical space needed in the community and creating an active, local advisory group.
“The creation of the local advisory group will help lead the work required in Jasper for GPRC to successfully continue ahead with new educational programs in the community,” says Gnatiuk.
The advisory committee, made up of stakeholders, will be formed by mid-December and is essential to complete the phase of the project in late spring 2017.
More information about the Jasper Project can be found on GPRC’s website, visit: gprc.me/jasperproject
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in post-secondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information, visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans
GPRC
Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-539-2951