Crooks School of Transportation

Art and Mary Jane Crooks

Nov. 16, 2009 - Lethbridge College announced development of the Crooks School of Transportation today, naming the School after the donors who made a substantial gift toward this initiative.

Community leaders Art and Mary Jane Crooks, strong believers in the importance of trades to Alberta’s future, made a substantial contribution toward the revisioning and retooling of Lethbridge College’s Centre of Innovation in Trades and Sustainable Technologies.

Alberta’s Access to the Future Fund, which supports innovation and excellence within Alberta’s advanced learning system, was able to match a portion of the Crooks’ gift, bringing the total naming of the school to $2 million.

The Crooks are familiar with the quality of Lethbridge College grads and the importance of attracting, training and retaining them here in southern Alberta.

“The opportunities available to our young people are continually growing and changing,” said Crooks, former long-time owner of Canadian Tire on the city’s north side. “As business owners, we’ve long been impressed with the grads we’ve hired. Community support is critical to the college to ensure it has what it needs to provide these students with the best education possible. We see our gift to Lethbridge College as an investment in the entire community.”