Keyano College lays off staff amid budget pressures, federal policy changes
FORT McMURRAY — Keyano College has laid off a significant number of employees as part of what it describes as a strategic effort to “right-size” its workforce in response to federal policy changes and rising operational costs.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter, who spoke to Harvard Media News on condition of anonymity, say between 50 and 80 staff members have been let go in recent weeks. The college has declined to confirm any specific numbers, but acknowledged that changes are underway.
Ercelan Yazdani, a spokesperson for the college, said the institution is taking steps to maintain a balanced budget while preparing for the upcoming fiscal year. Yazdani added that Keyano is reassessing its program offerings and institutional supports, and that changes are being made with the long-term needs of the community in mind.
When asked specifically about the details of layoffs, Yazdani responded:
“The college is currently involved in budget planning to strategically right-size and maintain a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025.
Each year, our budget process focuses on enhancing our educational offerings, improving operational efficiency, and addressing the needs of businesses and industries in the region. Like other Alberta and Canadian post-secondary institutions this year, the College must consider recent federal policy changes and increasing operating costs. This reality requires us to reevaluate our program offerings and institutional supports while upholding our commitment to regional stewardship and addressing the needs of learners in Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo.
We cannot comment on specific impacts until we have an approved budget, which won’t be ready until late spring. However, we have started to implement efficiencies, such as adjusting the frequency of intakes for specific programs to enhance their relevance and accessibility while introducing new programs to meet emerging needs. For example, the newly developed Power & Process Technologies and Global Supply Chain Management programs, with intakes this coming fall, demonstrate the College’s ability to adapt to policy changes while continuing to serve learners and local organizations effectively. Similarly, we collaborated closely with the province over the past year to secure capital funding for essential renovations to enhance the educational offerings for our high-demand health programs.”
Keyano College was founded in 1965 and has over 2,000 students enrolled in a variety of programs. Thet maintain a main campus downtown Fort McMurray with the Suncor Energy Industrial Campus located in the Gregoire Industrial Park and a new campus in Fort Chipewyan. Outreach campuses are located in Anzac, and Fort McKay. The college is also a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network.
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