As Portage College and St. Paul area stakeholders continue to seek repurpose options for the college campus in St. Paul, college officials are reaffirming their commitment to the St. Paul community, where Portage College has maintained an educational presence for more than 50 years.
“We’re not leaving, we are right-sizing our space needs,” says Bev Moghrabi, Vice-President of Student and College Services at Portage College.
The process began in May of 2024, when Portage College received funding from Advanced Education to facilitate key stakeholder consultations to determine future needs, right-sizing initiatives, and designs for the St. Paul campus renewal. Initial financial estimates for a campus renewal project were approximately $37 million. The College does not have the funding currently for this build.
Throughout this right-sizing initiative, with the assistance of a project consulting firm, we conducted extensive community consultations, including:
- Community meetings at Portage College
- Smart Start Consultation with leadership, students, and staff
- Stakeholder conversations with St. Paul Arts Foundation, STEAM, Connect for Food, Portage Market, and the St. Paul Farmers Market
- Town of St. Paul Community Awareness Event
- Chamber of Commerce meeting
Images: Portage College St. Paul Campus Feasibility Study and Business Case
The right-sizing project was designed to be completed by June 30, 2025, delivering scope definitions, drawings, and shovel-ready architectural plans.
Since that time, the College’s financial situation changed dramatically. Changing demographics, shifting educational models and the delisting of several of our programs for international students, are now leading to an operating deficit which begins in 2026-27. Our 2026-27 budget was facing a $5M operating deficit prior to our planned adjustments to balance. This financial reality has led the College’s Executive and Board to discuss a variety of scenarios for the St. Paul Campus.
These discussions included scenarios such as:
- Possibly transferring the 59,000 square foot campus to a third party with the College renting back a smaller area
- Finding alternative rental space within the community
- Repurposing the campus property
- Relocating classrooms to the existing student housing building utilizing approximately 4,300 square feet which would accommodate all programs except Food Sciences.
Images: Portage College St. Paul Campus Feasibility Study and Business Case
This past June, discussions between Portage College, community members, and St. Paul’s municipal council representatives intensified to address several challenges facing our campus, including aging infrastructure, reduced in-person enrollment, and financial constraints. Various options were explored to create a more sustainable model benefiting both the College and the community.
At the same time as these ongoing consultations with all levels of government and regional business leaders, Portage College decided to relocate the Professional Cook Certificate program from St. Paul to Lac La Biche. That decision was based on enrollment patterns, budget, infrastructure demands and regional employment trends. Our executive team met with staff at the St. Paul campus last Friday to provide updates on these developments.
“We have maintained a very strong message—which we continued in Friday’s meeting with staff, that we remain committed to the St. Paul community and programming,” says Moghrabi.
Some community members expressed concerns following the staff meeting. Moghrabi understands the concerns and commends the community for rallying around the issue. As budget timelines draw near, she hopes the College and community can find the best purpose for the campus buildings.
“We continue to be connected to the St. Paul community. For our staff and students, it’s where they live, where they learn, and where they work,” says Moghrabi. “We too want to find the best purpose, the most efficient and affordable use, for our current campus in St. Paul.”
While there is still uncertainty about aspects of our St. Paul campus footprint, Portage College is committed in remaining long-term in the community. Updates on these discussions will be published on the Portage College website.
Images: Portage College St. Paul Campus Feasibility Study and Business Case
Background on the St. Paul Campus
Historical Development:
- 1973-1980: AVC (later Portage College) expanded services, including community-based programs in St. Paul and Athabasca
- 1981: New training facility opened in St. Paul
- 2002: Portage expanded in St. Paul with a new location
- 2005: Planning began to retrofit and relocate to the former Glen Avon Elementary School (originally built in 1956)
- 2009: Grand opening of the St. Paul campus in September
- 2010: The 1966 and 1988 west portions of the facility retrofitted ($3.2 million)
- 2012: New 12-unit student residence apartment opened after reconstruction following a fire
- 2014: Lower levels of the 1956/1958 portions retrofitted ($3.4 million)
- 2015: Upper levels of the 1956/1958 portions retrofitted ($1.7 million)
Current Operations:
- Programs offered: Academic Upgrading, Administrative Professional, Culinary Arts, Practical Nurse, Pre-Employment Cooking, Tourism and Hospitality, and University Transfer Courses
- Student headcount in 2023-24: 154 students
- According to the STANTEC Asset Management Plan completed in 2019, Portage College’s St. Paul Campus is projected to reach end-of-life in 2040
Inquiries:
Portage College
Corporate Communications
w. 780-623-5786
c. 780-404-1539 or email