Don and Michelle Sutherland have been honoured as long-time supporters of Red Deer College with the re-naming of the Don and Michelle Sutherland Arts Centre Foyer. 

"The recognition for us for the time we've volunteered, plus the dollars we've donated... Red Deer College was very, very nice to us and the re-naming at the Arts Centre really means a lot to us," Don said.

The Sutherlands’ decades of financial support have contributed to a wide variety of needs across the College. The list includes Trades Scholarships, the Athletics Leadership Fund, Donald School of Business programming and, most recently, the Shaping our Future Campaign, which worked to garner support for the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

"I grew up here, and in my young days our adventures always took us over to the Red Deer College. I used to go to the gym and do badminton with friends, and work out and play squash and racquetball. When I entered my career in the electrical field, I took all four years of my trade at the College as well as my Masters," he explained. 

Later, their children passed through the halls of RDC as they sought their own education.  

"What the College has always done for us, is that we see them as a big part of our community. Training and development in our former company, Studon Electric & Controls, we did all of our local tradesmen training through the college and that meant a lot for us.  The continuing adult education was utilized from the college as well."

“Michelle was a member of the Red Deer Youth Orchestra and we were able to watch her play violin in the Arts Centre – plus we’ve been to a lot of other great events here. Red Deer College, and this place (Arts Centre), are very near and dear to our hearts.”

He said that for himself and his wife Michelle, they always wanted to retain a focus on giving back to their own community and to the college that gave them so much. 

"What really specifically meant a lot to Michelle and I when we were there was to have former employees and leadership team join us for this. I mentioned this at the college - success helps the community, and you have to be successful to do certain things. It's not about 'Don and Michelle' at this point, it was about the great team that I worked with because without that team, I would never have been up there speaking and would never have been able to donate. I'm so grateful to have so many people assist us in making that happen."

“As an alumnus of RDC, Don’s impressive career and inspiring work in our community contribute to our reputation. His generous gifts of time, to both our work and the work of other organizations, demonstrate the type of community leader we hope our learners will become,” says RDC President, Dr. Peter Nunoda. “And the ongoing support from both Don and Michelle, their advice, dedication and support, are key to our continued success as Red Deer University. We’re very proud to recognize their generous gift with this naming.”

-With files from Red Deer College