News Archives: CIBC Donates $100,000 to GPRC Accessibility Services
Monday, September 18th, 2017
GRANDE PRAIRIE – CIBC is making a difference in the lives of GPRC students and their families with a donation of $100,000 for accessibility services at GPRC.
CIBC is donating $25,000 a year for the next four years to the College’s Accessibility Supports and Disability Services program that supports and promotes an accessible, inclusive and supportive environment for all students at GPRC.
“Accessibility services have made a positive impact on my GPRC experience by easing the concerns that I had about attending College when I was in high school. I’m very thankful for them,” says GPRC Academic Upgrading student, Nikita Phillips-Mathurin, who is visually impaired. “The staff are always willing to listen to my questions and concerns. They actually put a reader on one of the library computers so if I need something printed I have access to the technology I need.”
GPRC’s Accessibility Supports and Disability Services program served more than 885 students since 2009. CIBC’s donation helps GPRC enhance assistive technology, and to develop and deliver programs so the College can continue to provide the supports needed by its students. In addition, $15,000 of the donation will go towards awards for students with accessibility needs.
“Our College prides itself on providing our students with an inclusive and supportive environment and CIBC is helping us achieve that goal,” says Don Gnatiuk, GPRC President and CEO. “We want every student who wants to continue their post-secondary education and pursue their dreams to know that GPRC is the place for them, no matter their accessibility needs.”
Accessibility services connects students with disabilities to the resources they need to help them achieve their goals and succeed in their post-secondary education.
“At CIBC, we are committed to advancing opportunities for students and are very pleased to support an organization that nurtures our shared value of inclusion,” says Linda Watchorn, District Vice President, Alberta Northwest, CIBC. “Through this donation to GPRC’s Accessibility Supports and Disability Services program, we are honoured to support greater access to education for students with accessibility needs, and to help equip them for further success.”
The GPRC accessibility services team is based at the Grande Prairie campus and coordinates services and accommodations for students on the Grande Prairie and Fairview campuses, along with the four learning centres in Hinton, Jasper, Grande Cache and Edson.
“Without GPRC’s accessibility services and the educational assistant they provide me, I wouldn’t be able to continue with my education,” says Aly Keay, a second year Management Diploma student who uses a wheelchair. “It’s a blessing to be able to go to school so close to home and have the support I need.”
About GPRC
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in postsecondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information, visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans GPRC Corporate Communications Phone: 780-539-2951 |