LCHS expansion dream now a reality

The wait is finally over at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) as staff and students celebrated the completion of a $28.8 million renovation and expansion.

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Province of Alberta, through The Lloydminster Charter, jointly invested $28.8 million in the project, which added an extra 2-storey building that houses an additional 16 classrooms. 

With the new space,  which officially opened last week, the school, which was once attended by Grade 10 to 12 students only, will now welcome 335 Grade 9 students.

“The successful completion of this significant project can be largely attributed to the hard work and collaboration among various levels of government and local community,” said Sask Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill.

“Our government is proud to have contributed to this project which provides more new classrooms where students can achieve their goals.”

David Thompson, Lloydminster Public School Division board chair, explained the grand opening of the new wing was the realization of a dream that was developed seven or eight years ago.

“Without the timely approval of this project and the funding from both governments, today we’d be standing in the middle of a field talking about the dream we’ve now realized,” he said. 

“On behalf of the board, (thank you) to Synergy Credit Union and the City of Lloydminster. Synergy contributed half a million dollars and the city, a quarter of a million dollars, and that allowed us to enlarge and enhance this part of the building as well as student experience and community youths.”

Women in Business a sold-out event

The inaugural Women in Business seminar got off to a great start as a sold-out event.

The event, held on June 4 at the Centennial Civic Centre Auditorium, is the brainchild of Jill Kelly, owner and brand strategist of Red Bicycle
Communications.

It was billed as an opportunity to celebrate, inspire and empower women in business.

“We sold out already and we re-released tickets and we have a couple left, but we have about 144 women in the room,” said Kelly as attendees were filing in.

“We are really honoured this many women, not only in business, but interested in business, have come out to give support.”

Kelly says the purpose of it is to encourage women to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses and build a network of support for the people who are in business so they can continue to be in business.

One of the eager businesswomen in the room was Michelle Benning, property manager and accountant at Fort Pitt Developments and a Rotary member.

“I hope to learn a lot from the ladies in the room about how they’ve succeeded and progressed in their business experience in Lloydminster,” said Benning.

She also liked everything she saw on the agenda from the get-go.

“To be honest, I’ll find something beneficial out of everyone who’s here today. There’s always something to learn,” added Benning.

Stang to exit Synergy in an RV

The timing was right for Synergy Credit Union CEO Glenn Stang to announce his retirement in advance of major changes on the horizon to the financial services industry in Canada.

Stang will retire this year on Dec. 31 as Synergy’s top executive, a post he’s held since 2013.

“As we wish Glenn all the best in his retirement, we will be working to find a new leader to carry on his good work and continue to build Synergy as your financial wellness provider,” said Synergy’s board in a statement last Thursday.

Stang says he just doesn’t have enough time on his hands to see the credit union fully adapt to open banking being introduced by the federal government this year. 

“It will change how we do business with our members and how we serve our communities,” he said.

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