Red Crow classes will resume in September at new location

WATCH ABOVE: The Blood Tribe held a press conference Tuesday, releasing some good news for the over 500 students who attend Red Crow College, which was devastated by fire. Global’s Kimberly Tams reports.

LETHBRIDGE – While the investigation into Friday’s devastating fire at Red Crow Community College continues, officials announced Tuesday they believe the fire was electrical in nature and started in a third-floor computer lab.

College Vice President Henry Big Throat said it was a complete loss, including furniture, computers, cultural artifacts and student records.

Officials have been scrambling to find teaching space for the hundreds of students ahead of the fall semester, and a plan is now in place to relocate to the Old Saipoyi School in Stand Off, Alta.

“It was an old middle school and it was vacated,” said Big Throat. “There were some tenants in there, but they were cooperative in moving out and will give us the room to set up our classrooms. There will be minimal interruption for classes for students.”

The college, built in the 1900s, was formerly the site of St. Mary’s residential school. It was reopened in the 1990s to become one of the original First Nation colleges in the country, focusing on the history, language and culture of the area’s First Nations people.

Charlene Mountain Horse, chairperson of the Board of Governors, said not only does the college focus on culture – it also has a strong tradition of high-quality graduates.

“The programs out the of the Red college…have supported students in obtaining certification as doctors. We have had graduates as lawyers, Licence Practical Nurses and social workers.”

The future of the college building is unclear. In the meantime, officials are asking the government and others to help them renovate the new temporary location.