Agri-News: October 5, 2026 issue
See event listings and more articles in this edition.
This school year marks another milestone for collegiate education in Alberta with the opening of the CTR Strathmore & District Practical Ranching School in Strathmore. Operated by Christ the Redeemer Catholic Separate School Division, the new collegiate offers an agriculture-focused pathway that connects classroom learning with practical, career-oriented experiences.
The new collegiate is one of several schools across Alberta helping students discover opportunities in agriculture and related industries while earning high school credits, gaining workplace experience and building connections with post-secondary institutions and employers.
Collegiate schools are designed to provide students with hands-on learning experiences that align with labour market needs. Through partnerships with industry and post-secondary institutions, students can explore career pathways, participate in workplace learning, and, in some cases, earn post-secondary credits before graduating from high school. Provincial investments continue to support the expansion of collegiate schools and the growing range of pathway options available to Alberta students. The Government of Alberta's 2026 budget provided $32.1 million in operating and capital funding for collegiate schools.
Agriculture pathways continue to expand
The opening of the new Strathmore collegiate reflects growing interest in agricultural education across Alberta.
Students interested in animal health, agricultural science, agribusiness, sustainability, horticulture, agricultural technology and related fields can also access collegiate programming at a number of other locations throughout the province:
- Heartland Collegiate in Fort Saskatchewan, which opened through Elk Island School Division in 2025, offers several pathways including Animal Health Sciences.
- Prairie Land Collegiate, serving students in Hanna, Cessford, Altario, Youngstown and online, opened in 2025 through Prairie Land School Division. The collegiate offers pathways in Agriculture, Agricultural Sciences, Agribusiness and Agricultural Sustainability.
- In northern Alberta, HPSD Pathways School in High Prairie first opened in 2025 through High Prairie School Division and offers a range of pathways, including Agriculture.
- Students in Calgary can pursue studies through Fusion Collegiate, which opened in 2024 through the Fusion Education Association and offers pathways that include Agriculture and Animal Health.
- South of Medicine Hat, students have access to South Alberta Flight Academy and Yuill School of Agriculture in Dunmore. Opened in 2024 through Prairie Rose School Division, the collegiate offers pathways in Agricultural Sciences, Agribusiness, Agricultural Technology, Environmental Science, Horticulture, Greenhouse Management and Agriculture.
- The Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute in Lethbridge, a partnership involving Palliser School Division, Lethbridge School Division, Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division, Horizon School Division, Westwind School Division and Livingstone Range School Division, also offers agriculture-related pathways for students in the region.
- Further north, Building Futures Collegiate School in Fort Vermilion, High Level and La Crete has been providing collegiate programming since 2023 through Fort Vermilion School Division, including agriculture-focused opportunities.
- Central Alberta students can explore agricultural technology programming through the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute, which opened in 2023 through a partnership involving Chinook's Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Separate School Division, Red Deer Public School Division and Wolf Creek School Division.
School choice and career readiness
The continued growth of collegiate schools is creating more options for Alberta families while helping students connect their education to future careers. Whether students are interested in farming, animal health, agribusiness, environmental sciences or emerging agricultural technologies, collegiate schools provide opportunities to explore those interests while still in high school.
Agriculture remains one of Alberta's largest industries, and collegiate pathways are helping students develop the knowledge, practical skills and workplace experience needed to pursue careers in the sector. At the same time, they are giving families additional education choices that reflect students' interests, strengths and career goals.
With the addition of new schools and expanded programming across the province, more Alberta students than ever have access to collegiate learning opportunities that combine academic studies with real-world experience and direct connections to Alberta's growing agricultural sector.
For more background information about collegiate schools in Alberta, visit Collegiate schools. For specific information about collegiate program offerings and enrolment opportunities, families are encouraged to contact the school authority directly.
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