TORONTO, Ontario, November 25, 2011—Bernard Trottier, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore, The Honourable Laurel Broten, Minister of Education, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues and Member of Provincial Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and John Davies, President, Humber College today officially opened Humber’s newest building, the Lakeshore Commons, at the college’s Lakeshore campus.
The Lakeshore Commons is Humber’s new “front door” to the Lakeshore campus, and the hub for student interaction and learning. As the new campus centrepiece surrounded by an academic village of nine historic buildings, this 110,000 square foot facility is fully electronic, built to LEED Silver standards and features the Centre for Digital & Media Communications, interactive and open concept creative learning space, labs, classrooms, a student gallery and more than 400 cafeteria spaces. The Lakeshore Commons will help the campus serve an additional 2,200 students, primarily in the Schools of Community & Social Services, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Media Studies& Information Technology and The Business School.
The Lakeshore Commons, along with funding for the Humber Arts & Media Studios and Humber’s Centre for Justice Leadership received a Government of Canada investment of $5 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and a $30 million investment from the Ontario government through the 2009 Budget. The Lakeshore Commons was built in less than two years and generated more than 600 jobs during and post construction.
In Ontario, the Knowledge Infrastructure Program represents a total investment of $2.3 billion to improve infrastructure at postsecondary institutions. The federal government is investing $799 million in 56 KIP projects, while the Province of Ontario is providing $981 million toward 49 of those projects. Other partners are contributing an additional $569 million. Also, the Province is providing $75 million for another eight projects.
“Our Government has invested in innovation and knowledge infrastructure to set the foundation for economic prosperity,” said Trottier. “This project has not only created jobs for people in our community, but it also provides infrastructure that will benefit Humber College for years to come.”
"Investing in the Humber Lakeshore campus is vital to future economic growth in our community and beyond," said Laurel Broten, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. "Our government’s support for the revitalization of this campus has created 600 jobs and is helping to revitalize the Lakeshore and strengthen our neighborhoods. Humber College’s transformed campus will not only benefit the College, its student population, but also our community for years to come."
“The Lakeshore Commons is the new focal point of Humber’s Lakeshore Campus. It is our most substantial investment out of all of the Lakeshore revitalization projects, and will continue the college’s tradition of developing broadly educated and highly skilled graduates,” said Davies. “We are grateful to the Ontario government for providing $30 million and the federal government for giving $5 million in funding for new building and revitalization projects that allow us to provide students with a quality educational experience and prepare them for the jobs of the future.”
The Lakeshore Commons was named with the help of the Humber community. The college held a contest open to all students, faculty and employees inviting them to submit a name for the facility. More than 1,500 responses were received. A panel of five judges narrowed down the submissions before arriving at the top three suggestions. The panel chose the final name with the approval of the Humber administration.
As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada introduced the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a $2-billion economic stimulus measure to maintain and improve research and training facilities at Canadian universities, colleges and CEGEPs. The program is providing economic stimulus, creating jobs, and generating the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canadian institutions at the forefront of scientific advancement and ensure economic growth in the future.
The Government of Ontario is investing more than $1 billion in infrastructure at colleges and universities to modernize facilities and boost long-term research and skills training capacity. Support for KIP projects are part of the Ontario government's plan to help every student succeed and build a knowledge-based economy for the future.
For more information on the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, visit the Knowledge Infrastructure Program website. For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit the Canada’s Economic Action Plan website.
For information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit: www.infrastructureapp.mei.gov.on.ca/en. Learn more about Putting Students First: Ontario’s Plan for Postsecondary Education, a plan to ensure all qualified Ontario students have access to the high-quality, affordable training and education they need to succeed in the modern world.
- 30 -
For further information (media only), please contact:
Stephanie Thomas
Special Assistant (Communications)
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-960-7728
Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities:
Tanya Blazina
Communications Branch
416-325-2746
tanya.blazina@ontario.ca
Andrew Leopold/Kevin Gonsalves
Humber College Institute of Technology &
Advanced Learning
Marketing and Communications
416.675.6622 ext. 4296/5778
Andrew cell: 416.518.8989
andrew.leopold@humber.ca / kevin.gonsalves@humber.ca
