Joe McWilliams

Lakeside Leader

Brad Onofrychuk returns to his former home town on Aug. 21, to take over as Northern Lakes College’s Vice President, Academic.

Onofrychuk spent six years in Slave Lake in his youth, and is a graduate of Roland Michener Secondary School.

“I have fond memories of the many outdoor opportunities my family enjoyed while previously living here,” Onofrychuk says, in an Aug. 2 news release from the college. “I am very pleased with the focus Northern Lakes College has on students and accessibility. I look forward to contributing to the success Dr. Glenn Mitchell and the team has experienced.”

After finishing high school, Onofrychuk went on to study management at Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge. He followed that up with a master’s degree in business administration in the Spanish language in Mexico.

His favourite experiences, says the news release, include “teaching economics in London, England, coaching a team of students in the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition, and volunteering for Scouts Canada and Habitat for Humanity.”

Onofrychuk spent the past seven years in a dean’s role for Lakeland College, with business foundational learning and the School of Energy in his portfolio.

NLC President Glenn Mitchell says he’s looking forward to having Onofrychuk on the NLC team.

“Brad will bring a new level of integrity and experience to this role, ensuring his good fit at Northern Lakes College,” Mitchell says.

Reached by phone last week in Lloydminster, Onofrychuk filled in a few blanks.

Onofrychuk’s parents are Don and Jolayne Onofrychuk. Don was the head Fish & Wildlife officer in Slave Lake for about eight years, from about 1987 to the mid-1990s. Brad was in Grade 6 when the family moved to town and graduated from high school in 1993.

“I’ve got good memories of Slave Lake,” he says. “Lots of outdoor adventures. Great teachers in school.”

For the first year, Onofrychuk will be here on his own. His youngest child will be starting Grade 12 in Lloydminster next month, and Brad will work in Slave Lake, but “bounce back and forth,” for the rest of the school year. After that, he and wife Heather expect to be empty-nesters and plan to move permanently to Slave Lake.