A proposal from the Fairview Regional College Transition Committee is before Alberta Advanced Education to keep post-secondary education and trades training in the community.
According to a statement from the Town of Fairview, the plan focuses on keeping the Fairview campus operating during a “defined transition period while a long-term, sustainable model is finalized.”
“At its core, the submission emphasizes preserving access to education for rural, northern and Indigenous learners; supporting regional employers; and protecting an existing provincially funded training asset that has served the Peace Country for generations,” the statement reads. “The proposal highlights strong demand for trades, agriculture and healthcare training across northwestern Alberta, alignment with provincial workforce priorities, and opportunities to partner with other post-secondary institutions to maintain and grow programming locally.”
The proposal also stresses retaining instructional staff and infrastructure during the transition to ensure programs and training capacity are not lost.
Officials said the focus is not just on keeping the Fairview campus open but on “safeguarding educational opportunity, workforce development, and the long-term vitality of the Peace Region.”
The FRCTC’s submission is one of three proposals currently under review by Alberta Advanced Education. A decision on future post-secondary programming and campus operations in Fairview will be announced once the review is complete. The committee expects to provide additional information early in February.
In October, Northwestern Polytechnic announced it would close the Fairview campus this summer, citing financial unsustainability and a campus model that no longer meets the needs of students or industry.
