Dr. Brad Donaldson, Lethbridge College President and CEO, has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his dedication and service to adult education. Donaldson received the medal at a special ceremony during the Alberta Post-Secondary Network meeting March 2.
The Platinum Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne as Queen of Canada. The medal recognizes outstanding service from Albertans who have dedicated themselves to family, community and country.
Alberta Advanced Education nominated Donaldson for demonstrating exceptional qualities and outstanding service to the province in the field of post-secondary education.
“Education enables success, allowing people to achieve their goals and aspirations, and I can’t think of a more powerful motivator for why I serve in the post-secondary system,” says Donaldson. “It’s not for personal acknowledgment, and I am humbled and appreciative of this recognition.”
Donaldson, who has been President and CEO of Lethbridge College since September 2022, has long been a leader in Alberta’s post-secondary environment. Prior to moving to Lethbridge, he served as Vice President – Academic (VPA) at SAIT in Calgary, VPA at Red Deer College, and Dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation at SAIT. Donaldson has also been a member of several academic and business committees and boards provincially, nationally and internationally.
“It is wonderful to see Brad receive this recognition, as the award is a symbol of one’s commitment and ongoing effort to improve our city, our province, and our global community,” says Michael Marcotte, chair of Lethbridge College’s Board of Governors. “Education plays such an important role in creating a world where there is safety and opportunity for people regardless of their status. A life-long commitment to furthering education is admirable, especially when it’s motivated by a passion for constant growth and evolution as we’ve seen in Brad’s career.”
The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal will be awarded to 7,000 Albertans in recognition of significant contributions to the province. Anyone nominated for the medal must have a direct connection to the province and must have made a significant contribution to the province. Medals are officially awarded to recipients at presentation ceremonies throughout the province, organized by program partners.