Students, community leaders to explore next steps in wake of college campus closure

The Northwestern Polytechnic Fairview Campus. (Source: Save NWP Fairview Facebook)

A northwestern Alberta college is shutting down one of its campuses next year for its lack of financial sustainability, but students aren’t giving up quite yet.

Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) has a main campus in Grande Prairie, but its Fairview campus was first constructed around 75 years ago. Since then, it’s been home to trades, agricultural, health-care and technical-related programs.

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In a statement from Oct. 29, NWP announced the campus was no longer financially feasible and, in an attempt to “mitigate an anticipated ongoing budget shortfall,” would be shutting it down by the fall semester of 2026.

The college cited low student demand and more than $100 million in deferred maintenance required at the Fairview location.

“NWP’s analysis also shows that several programs at Fairview have high delivery costs, low enrolment, and are no longer aligned with evolving labour market needs,” NWP’s board chair, Shawna Miller, said in the release.

NWP said select Fairview-based programs will be moved to Grande Prairie by the fall and that current students can expect “additional program-specific information from their Dean in the coming weeks.”

But a group of students and community members isn’t going quietly. As the news got out, a Facebook group emerged entitled “Save NWP Fairview.”

The group, which has just over 1,000 followers, is composed of Peace Country members who have banded together to gather support from anyone with an interest in petitioning the college’s Board of Governors to re-evaluate the school’s position.

That includes calling local reeves, mayors and council members as well as canvassing businesses and neighbourhoods.

A media release from Save NWP Fairview said the community-led initiative’s goal is to explore an alternative like turning the campus into a community-owned and managed college or polytechnic.

“The goal is to preserve educational programs, retain regional expertise, and strengthen partnerships with local businesses, municipalities and post-secondary institutions,” it read.

They’re also requesting the Alberta government and NWP put a moratorium on the closure of Fairview campus and stop the removal of campus programs until a full feasibility study has been done.

A community meeting at Dunvegan Inn & Suites in Fairview on Thursday at 7 p.m. is set to discuss next steps for students, staff, and all other interested members in the future of Fairview.