SAIT Polytechnic will be forever changed thanks to the leadership and generosity of John and Cheryl Aldred. Their $15 million gift is the largest ever given to a polytechnic or college in Canada. This investment, through the Promising Futures™ Campaign, will support SAIT’s new Trades and Technology Complex.

John and Cheryl have had a long and illustrious relationship with SAIT, giving generously of their time, expertise and finances. John’s first contact with SAIT was in 1968 when, as a recent immigrant from the United Kingdom, he challenged and passed the final exam to become a licensed Heavy Duty Mechanic. In 2008, John was the recipient of SAIT’s Honorary Bachelor of Applied Technology degree.

John has served as a leader and advisor on a number of major SAIT projects. He completed a six-year term as the Vice-Chair of SAIT's Board of Governors (2001-2006) and assumed a leadership role in the Invest in Technology fundraising campaign (2001-2006). Presently, he is the co-chair of the Promising Futures™ Campaign.

John and Cheryl are the founders of the Cadmus Foundation, created to help build the profile of trades and technical education in Alberta. Since 1997, they have donated generously to SAIT scholarships, training labs and equipment. They were the first to embrace the ground-breaking concept of the Trades Teaching Chair which provides a SAIT faculty member with a sabbatical year to spend on innovative research projects.

In recognition of John and Cheryl’s contribution to SAIT, the largest of three buildings in SAIT’s new Trades and Technology Complex will be named the Aldred Centre. 

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SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT is a member of Polytechnics Canada and one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2011.

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