Before MacEwan ever opened its doors to its first students, and the idea of an Edmonton community college, there were plans in place for one of its earliest campuses. That's how John Chomiak first got involved.

Chomiak's firm, Vinto Engineering (renamed Hemisphere Engineering in 1976), was hired to consult on a project that would turn a Dominion grocery store into a college campus for a new post-secondary institution. During the renovation and construction stage, of the building which would be known as Cromdale campus, Chomiak sat in on meetings that included Dr. J.W. Grant MacEwan, the college's namesake.

"Occasionally, I would see Dr. MacEwan roaming the construction site and we would have coffee together," recalls Chomiak. "But it wasn't until the construction was completed and the building turned over that I realized the significance of this man."

Chomiak recalls it didn't take long for the Cromdale Campus to become a popular spot for students — and for MacEwan to expand. Eventually, a site for the new City Centre Campus was obtained on the former CN rail yard, but until that structure could be completed, the college leased twin buildings on 107 Street.

"I was significantly involved in providing mechanical engineering services in the renovation of these two towers to create a vertical campus," says Chomiak.

Over the years and the campus expansions since, Chomiak and his firm played a major part. Along the way, Chomiak served on the board of the Ukrainian Foundation for College Education, which in more recent years has funded million-dollar endowments at the university; was appointed a member of the Friends of MacEwan by former president Dr. Paul J. Byrne; and served as an honorary chair alongside wife Cathie at the Mad Hatter's Gala, 30 years after attending the inaugural event and sponsoring many others. More recently, in addition to his other philanthropic efforts, Chomiak has championed for the creation of the Distinguished Visiting Artist in Country Music and is the proud grandfather of a MacEwan graduate.

"I've always been proud of the work we've done in providing engineering services for so many of MacEwan's buildings," says Chomiak. "And so proud to see MacEwan's advancement from a community college."