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Highlights of the 1990's

1989-90 was a year of expansion within Cumberland Regional College. An operating agreement with Saskatchewan Communications Network was signed to manage four receiving sites in the region. In response to an increase in the number of adults seeking career-related changes, the College increased resources allocated to career services. Staff was added in Hudson Bay and Paddockwood to provide a more consistent service to the communities less easily served by the existing offices and staff. Staff increased from 23 in 1988-89 to 38 in 1989-90. New office and training facilities were leased which were developed and equipped to a higher standard than ever before.

In Melfort...

the College moved into Northland Plaza on Saskatchewan Avenue where Sears presently occupies space. There was office space plus 3 classrooms. Staff fondly remember the white caps that graced the hallways as spring floods overcame the facility. In Nipawin, the staff moved from Centre Street to 201 1st Ave. W. where the Rural Service Centre is now located. There were 2 classrooms in this facility as well as the administrative offices. In Tisdale, the space in the Robinson Store Building (now Tisdale Recorder) was upgraded. In November, 1989 the administrative office in Hudson Bay opened up again after being closed since 1985, this time in the old Spruce Haven school that had moved to Heritage Park. Soon after, in January of 1990, the College moved back to Main Street to a vacant dry goods store.

A University Program Centre...

in Melfort was established in 1990-91 in which a full first-year of Arts and Science program was offered. A mobile fleet of 12 computers was purchased to allow computer training to be extended into smaller communities.

In 1991-92...

the Melfort Program Centre was officially designated as a U of S Off-Campus Delivery Site. Technical programs included Truck Driver Training, Motor Vehicle Mechanical Repair, Home Care/Special Care Aide, Early Childhood Development/Rehabilitation Worker and Business Certificate I. Literacy/E.S.L. Programs participation rates increased by 54%.

There was 100%...

increase in University registrations in 1992-93. In cooperation with the Eastern Swampy Cree Nations, a group of four reserves northeast of Nipawin took a Home Care/Special Care Aide program. Seven full-time Basic Education programs were delivered in the Region, including one at James Smith Cree Nation. The PALS (Principle of the Alphabet Literacy System) program was placed at Kinistin First Nation in conjunction with the Kinistin Adult Literacy Project. Computer training for the business sector became an important part of the Community Education program area.

The College successfully...

delivered eleven full-time certificate programs with the help of Future Skills, Saskatchewan Skills Extension Program (S.S.E.P.), HRDC and Sask Polytech during the 1994-95 program year. Three Career Explorations programs were held as well as 16 weeks of Life Skills for Adult Basic Education Programs. During June of 1995, Hudson Bay College operations were moved to the bottom floor of the Blake Beattie School.

The 1995-96 program year...

saw 131 volunteer tutors working in the Literacy area. Highlights for the year in Community Education were three two-day Cultural Awareness Workshops and a two-day Women’s Conference held in the region. Participants from across the province attended these workshops. The construction of administration space and the renovation of additional classrooms made it possible for the College in Melfort to move all of its operations to the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate. This move took place in October of 1995.

During 1996-97...

the Future Skills work-based training projects provided Cumberland Regional College with an excellent opportunity to work closer with businesses in our region. Seventy trainees spent a total of 43,120 participant hours in work-based training projects. In Nipawin, College programs, administration and the Human Resource Centre moved into a newly renovated joint-use facility in March, 1997.

1997-98 was...

a year highlighted by the development of numerous partnerships. In cooperation with these partners, the College effectively developed a Regional Needs Assessment, established multimedia career services, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Eastern Region II Metis Association, accredited Eastern Region II’s Basic Education Programs, and provided workplace literacy. In August of 1997, the Tisdale office and program areas moved into the RECplex Joint-Use Facility.

During 1998-99...

the College provided 383 courses for 7,335 individuals, for a total of 312,298 participant hours of learning.

As of the end of 1998-99...

Cumberland Regional College had provided learning to 105,902 individuals in the Northeast since 1975.

In the year 2000...

Cumberland Regional College celebrates 25 years of providing adult education to the people of Northeast Saskatchewan. Our activities over the years have reflected our mission statement (1998): "to provide quality lifelong learning opportunities today that prepare individuals and communities for tomorrow. Our supportive staff continue to build a reputation for providing a variety of services that create flexible, affordable and accessible programs."