The Alberta Peace and Police Officer College belongs on the shore of Lac La Biche, according to the people of that community.
Lac La Biche, one of four finalists for the $100-million project, is offering the province two free quarter sections on the lake.
“It’s just beautiful. You can see the whole lake, and there is a beach right there,” Lac La Biche Mayor Tom Lett said. “It’s a valuable piece of property.”
The Town of Lac La Biche partnered with Portage College, Lakeland County and the regional economic development commission to prepare the bid.
The partners hired a private consultant to prepare the bid, which to date has cost about $50,000.
“Our approach was to go all out,” Lett said Friday in a telephone interview.
The site is in Lakeland County about six miles outside of the town, adjacent to a gun range and close to an airport with a 6,500-foot runway.
The site is removed from the urban area, eliminating any potential conflict with neighbours, a point Lett said is in Lac La Biche’s favour.
Water, sewer and infrastructure services are already present at the site.
Lac La Biche is 220 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, 148 kilometres west of Cold Lake, and 291 kilometres south of Fort McMurray.
One of Alberta’s oldest communities, Lac La Biche has a population of about 2,700, and serves another 10,000 people in its trading area.
The district takes in the Beaver Lake and Heart Lake First Nations, the Metis settlement of Kikino and other communities such as Plamandon.
“The Aboriginal communities have given us their support, and I think all the northern mayors are behind us too,” Lett said.
Forestry, natural gas, agriculture, government services, education, small business and tourism drive the local economy. Lac La Biche is the center of the region’s oil and gas operations. The police college will have a major impact on Lac La Biche, similar to that of Portage College. Established in 1967, the college is now the town’s largest employer.
Portage College offers instruction in business, university studies, human services, health and wellness, native arts and culture, trades and technical, and learning and employment foundations.
The college has an enrollment of about 1,000 full-time equivalent students.
“We think (the police college) is a good fit with the college we already have,” Lett said.
Lett said Lac La Biche residents are excited their town is among the final four and were busy last week preparing for the MLA committee’s visit.
“Most of them think we have a good chance,” Lett said. “If we don’t get it, I hope Fort Macleod does.”
