Lakeland Catholic District Profile

The Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 150 is located about 250 kilometers
Northeast of Edmonton. The two major urban communities in the jurisdiction are Bonnyville and
Cold Lake. Within these communities, the District operates six schools: Three in Bonnyville and three
in Cold Lake, which all boast of offering dual-track programs (English and French Immersion). The
District has recently expanded to include parts of the Counties of Smoky Lake and Thorhild, and within
this area, Lakeland Catholic opened a new school in the village of Waskatenau.

The Lakeland region of northeastern Alberta has a rich multi-cultural identity, a reflection of its diverse
settlement history. The earliest inhabitants were aboriginal who were later joined (in the early 1900’s)
by French-Canadian pioneers from Quebec, followed by a significant wave of Polish and Ukrainian
immigration in the late 1920s. In the early 1950s, the Federal Government developed an air force base
(4 Wing Cold Lake) and town site and since then, the base staffing and rotational protocol has ensured
a healthy infux of new residents from across Canada.

The regional economy is differentiated by locale. On aggregate, oil and gas production is the keystone
of the regional economy. Bonnyville and Waskatenau derives the largest share of benefits from the
agricultural sector while, 4 Wing Cold Lake plays a leading role in the economic health of the City of
Cold Lake.

The Lakeland Catholic School District serves the needs of all students with equal intensity and look
forward to new and on-going initiatives we will pursue in our Education Plan. More specifically,
Enhanced Literacy Programming (K-9), the implementation of new three-year Education Plans; the
implementation of AISI (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement) projects; expanded CTS (Career
Technology Studies) program offerings; enhanced collaborative planning and professional development
opportunities for teachers, upgraded district facilities and full implementation of site-based decision-
making.

As always, our Catholic Christian community remains strong as all members of our
district and community work collaboratively to achieve personal and academic
success for all.