AltaGas Partnership Creates Student-Centred Collaboration Hub at Northwestern Polytechnic

Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) is pleased to announce a new addition to the Spartan Controls Northwestern Centre for Industrial Automation & Innovation, thanks to a $250,000 boost aimed at enhancing and supporting the student experience. 

Recognizing the value of peer-to-peer interactions, teamwork, and community-building, AltaGas has committed to establishing the AltaGas Collaboration Corner within the leading-edge 15,565 sq ft facility. 

This dedicated space will serve as a welcoming hub for student connection and support, complementing Northwestern Polytechnic’s newest state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility, scheduled to open in September 2025. 

“The AltaGas Collaboration Corner is a shining example of what is possible when industry and education work together,” said NWP President and CEO, Dr. Vanessa Sheane. “We are immensely proud to partner with organizations that share our commitment to developing the next generation of skilled workers with the benefit of innovative, student-centred environments that reflect the needs of the north.”

The Spartan Controls Northwestern Centre for Industrial Automation & Innovation has been purposely designed in partnership with industry to deliver an unmatched regional asset that supports student success and workforce readiness.  

“We believe giving back means investing in people and potential,” says Jamie Thibault, Operations Manager for Northwest Alberta at AltaGas. 

“AltaGas is proud to support a space that inspires collaboration, inclusion, and learning - these core values resonate deeply with us and the communities we serve.”

For more than three decades, AltaGas has been connecting customers and markets, and now, the North American energy leader will have a daily connection with NWP’s aspiring power engineering and instrumentation industry professionals. 

“AltaGas’s investment goes beyond the creation of impactful infrastructure - it’s a commitment to our students, their futures, and the vitality of our communities,” said NWP Vice President of External Relations, Cindy Park. 

“We are grateful for the strategic vision and goodwill of our industry partners. Together, we are not just creating space; we are driving momentum for meaningful transformation across the region.”

The AltaGas Collaboration Corner will open within the Spartan Controls Northwestern Centre for Industrial Automation & Innovation in time for the Fall 2025 influx of new students. 

Learn more about this great facility by visiting NWP.me/IndustrySolutions.