A standing-room-only crowd filled the Dunvegan Inn & Suites in Fairview on Thursday night (November 6) as upwards of 500 residents gathered to voice their concern over the announced closure of the Fairview Northwestern Polytechnic Campus at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.
The meeting, organized by concerned community members, drew alumni, former staff, students, and local leaders who called the decision a devastating blow to the region’s education and economy.
Peggy Johnson, a former student (Class of 1976) and long-time instructor at the college, opened the meeting with an emotional address, reflecting on the campus’s nearly 70-year legacy and its deep roots in the Fairview community.
Central Peace–Notley MLA Todd Loewen took questions from the audience and did not hold back his frustration with the announcement. “I was totally blindsided, shocked, and felt stabbed in the back,” Loewen said.
Residents expressed concern over the potential loss of jobs, the impact on local businesses, and the reduced opportunities for rural students seeking a post-secondary education close to home.
At the end of the town hall, an informal vote was held to gauge public sentiment on possible paths forward for the campus. Participants were asked to choose among three options:
- Option 1: Fairview Campus stays with Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP)
- Option 2: Fairview Campus is managed by another College or Polytechnic (e.g., Northern Lakes College or Lakeland College)
- Option 3: Fairview Campus is managed by the Fairview & Area Community (similar to the historical Fairview College model)
Options 2 and 3 received the majority of favourable responses from attendees, reflecting a strong desire to see the campus remain open under new management or return to local control.
In the Meantime, His Worship, Mayor Gord MacLeod talks about the meeting, the enthusiasm, the next steps, and the optimism to keep the campus open.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
