Celebrating Selkirk College

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• Selkirk struggle, our struggle
• Selkirk College should listen to letter Nelson writer’s advice
• Careful to avoid a greenwash
• Apology from president of Selkirk faculty association
• Selkirk students ask for a show of solidarity
• Tuition hike short-sighted

It’s far too easy to forget just how important Selkirk College is to this region. Once we are finished our education and move onto the world of work, it’s no longer top of mind.

On today’s front page you’ll find a feature story by Star reporter Andrea Klassen about the Kootenay School of the Arts year-end show. Now formally part of Selkirk College, KSA continues to offer budding talent an outlet and foundation for the future. Upon returning from the assignment, Klassen enthused that there is an “impressive amount of raw talent” at the Victoria Street campus.

Indeed.

The focus of this weekend is on the KSA arm of the regional institution, but the incredible budding talent extends well beyond the pottery wheels and easels. Programs based at the Tenth Street Campus and Silver King Campus include professional music, digital arts and new media, ski resort management, golf resort management, professional cooking, welding, woodworking, hairdressing and the list goes on. It’s astounding when you think about the amount activity that takes place at these campuses daily.

This year Selkirk saw more than 2,400 students enroll. Of those, about 560 attended classes in Nelson. That’s a lot of students to bolster the local economy.

If you pop by one of the local pubs on a weekday night you might be surprised to see the place packed. In a town this size, you don’t expect a crowd on a Tuesday night. College life brings with it a certain level of social interaction and gathering spots like Mike’s Place are happy for the business. Not an exhaustive study on the economic impact Selkirk has, but you get the point.

The educational, economic and social aspects of a vibrant post secondary institution should never be taken for granted. We all need to celebrate with them and thank Selkirk for the opportunity to host a place that can inspire, empower and make a difference in the future of our community and country.

—Nelson Star