As the official opening of the University of Lethbridge's new Markin Hall building nears, the Certified General Accountants' Association of Alberta (CGA Alberta) announced a major donation to fund the CGA Faculty Fellowship in Accounting and support the operating costs of the Markin Hall Finance Trading Floor.

The gift, a $375,000 donation, is coupled by matching funds through the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total of the contributions to an impressive $750,000.

"The features within Markin Hall – like the video-conference rooms, specialized case rooms and especially the Finance Trading Floor – will be tools used to create a state-of-the-art learning environment," says Dr. Bill Cade, the U of L's president and vice-chancellor.

"As a result of CGA Alberta's support of the Finance Trading Floor and the CGA Faculty Fellowship, we are going to see even more students graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence to effectively navigate any economic landscape – these are the very people who will be leaders in our province and nation in years to come."

A classroom in Markin Hall will be named the CGA Alberta Case Room to recognize the Certified General Accountants' Association of Alberta gift. The 50-seat room will be available to the entire University community and will provide valuable community lecture space in Markin Hall, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2010.

Markin Hall will truly stand as a symbol of successful partnerships – partnerships between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Management; and partnerships between the University, the Alberta Government and loyal supporters like CGA Alberta.

"We are pleased to be able to support the development of the new Markin Hall and the Faculty of Management. Our relationship with the University of Lethbridge is important in helping us offer our students and members the best education opportunities available," said John Carpenter, CEO of CGA Alberta.

"It is also a key part of our commitment and the role our profession plays in society to help further the knowledge, skills and leadership of accounting and accountants."

Dr. Murray Lindsay, Dean of the U of L's Faculty of Management said that over the past number of years, CGA Alberta has shown great support through their generous donations to management programs.

"CGA Alberta has been a valuable partner of the Faculty of Management. In the past, it has been a key sponsor of the Management Students' Society, providing our students the financial means to organize numerous professional seminars and participate in student case competitions," Lindsay said.

"Through its recent sponsorship of the CGA Alberta Faculty Fellow and the CGA Alberta Case Room, the Association has made a very meaningful commitment which will benefit our undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as teaching and research."

Deborah Jarvie, a Management faculty member who is the recipient of the CGA Alberta Faculty Fellowship, said it has allowed her to work toward the completion of her doctoral program, among other benefits.

"I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the CGAs for the generosity and support they have shown toward the growth and development at the University of Lethbridge. On a personal level, I am honored to be named as the CGA Faculty Fellow, and am grateful for the Association's contribution to my research funding."