Great Plains College officially opened its new healthcare lab on September 23, a milestone for healthcare education in the region and a key component of its newly launched Practical Nursing program. The lab is sponsored by the Kindersley & District Co-op through a $25,000 naming rights sponsorship.
“This is a proud moment for the college and the community,” said Brad Mahon, president and CEO of Great Plains College. “The opening of the GPC Healthcare Lab, sponsored by Kindersley & District Co-op, represents the culmination of months of program planning and recruitment, lab construction, and collaboration with our partners. We’re thrilled to see the space come to life and to welcome nearly 40 students who will go on to serve the healthcare needs of the region.”
The lab will serve as a hands-on training space for the 14 Practical Nursing students who began their two-year program this fall. It will also support 24 Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) students, allowing them to develop the skills necessary to enter the workforce.
Brad Mahon highlighted the importance of local training, noting that “people that train local are more likely to stay local.” He credited community partners, including SAS Quality, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Kindersley & District Co-op, for helping remove financial and logistical barriers to establishing the lab.
Keleah Ostrander, Vice President of students and programming, emphasized the regional impact of the new programs. “Over the past 24 months we’ve been really working towards bringing the practical nursing program to Kindersley. Not only is opening the healthcare lab exciting, but also that we have our practical nursing students with us today. That program is now off the ground with a full cohort and it’s extraordinarily exciting for the region.”
The lab features modern equipment and simulation tools that allow students to practice real-life scenarios in a controlled environment, providing essential hands-on experience.
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Blair Ferner, general manager of the Kindersley & District Co-op, said the sponsorship goes beyond naming rights. “At Co-op, we believe it’s more than just serving our members. We believe in investing in the health, well-being and future of our communities. Supporting the development in healthcare education through the partnership is not just naming a lab, it’s both creating opportunities, opportunities for students to learn and grow, for families to feel confident that they’re getting and receiving close-to-home care, and for communities to thrive with skilled healthcare professionals right in our region.”
Mayor Ken Francis of Kindersley also welcomed the students and staff. “On behalf of Town Council and the residents of Kindersley, I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the college staff and faculty, and of course, the students. You’re the most important piece of this whole system. It’s a proud moment not just for the town and the college, but for the entire area of West Central Saskatchewan.”
Kim Gartner, MLA, brought greetings on behalf of Premier Scott Moe and the Government of Saskatchewan, recognizing the importance of community partnerships. “The contributions made by the Kindersley and District Co-op towards this educational healthcare lab will provide opportunities to West Central residents to receive their education close to home and will address important local opportunities. It’s my hope that the first employment experience that these students will gain in this healthcare lab will be in the Kindersley-Beggar constituency.”
The grand opening included tours of the lab for community partners and media, highlighting the modern facilities available to both Practical Nursing and CCA students. College staff and program instructors were on hand to demonstrate the lab’s features and explain how the space supports high-quality healthcare education.
The launch of the healthcare lab and the Practical Nursing program represents a significant step for Great Plains College in addressing regional healthcare workforce needs and ensuring that graduates are equipped to serve their communities.