Over the years, the Kemps have shown their love for the College by supporting numerous fundraising calls to action. Starting in the early 1980s, they donated to the campaign to build the Alumni Centre, and later they provided additional support to furnish the Alumni Centre, which has become the heart of entertainment and events at the College.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Rita and Gerald Kemp continued to support students at Olds College by giving annually to the Phone Campaign for student awards. The Kemps bought a theatre seat in 2007 in the Trans Canada Theatre during the Visions Capital Campaign, and encouraged their classmates to purchase a brick in the newly developed Botanic Gardens and Treatment Wetlands for their class’s 60th anniversary.
However, this was not the last time this couple stepped up to the plate to show their support. In Olds College's Centennial year, the Kemp family provided a substantial gift to the National Meat Training Centre Campaign. They were also one of the first donors to show their support of the Beyond Campaign, a transformational multi-year fundraising initiative used to enhance the quality of learning spaces and promotion of student success, with a gift in March 2016. Rita continued to give to the College after her husband Gerald's passing and has a total lifetime give of over $50,000.
Pictured: Rita and Gerald Kemp on the right.
Outside of her impact on Olds College, Rita was a respected and impactful community member, who held a passion for flowers and history. In the spring of 2025, she was recognized as the recipient of the highly esteemed King Charles III Coronation Medal. This came as no surprise due to her devotion to local history. She was widely recognized as a role model, due to her grace, compassion and humility. These characteristics were evident to the College as recipients of her and her husband's generosity.
Olds College will remember Rita and Gerald fondly, and we are glad to be part of their journey.