Higher education and trades training got a major $5.6 million boost Tuesday by Rick Bartolucci, Sudbury MPP.
Flanked by postsecondary presidents and representatives and union officials, Bartolucci made the announcement at the offices of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 2486 on Spruce St.
Major construction projects, now appearing or planned on local campuses, will benefit from the funding said Pio Cerilli, vice president of TESC Contracting, and acting president of the Sudbury Construction Association.
Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci announced postsecondary funding of $1 million for College Boréal, $1.6 million for Cambrian College, $2.5 million for Laurentian University, as well as $488,000 to construct a state-of-the-art training facility for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 2486.
The post-secondary funding was for enhanced security on campus, energy efficiency work on campus buildings and to make upgrades and improvements to existing buildings.
“This is almost $5.6 million invested in people who are part of our community, in three campuses and in a trades facility,” said Bartolucci.
The funding from Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation means that construction for a 6,000-square foot training centre for apprentices and for skills upgrading is assured,” said Tom Cardinal, business manager of Local 2486.
The training centre is the first of its kind in the north, said Bartolucci.
“It means that our trades persons can upgrade their skills here, instead of having to travel to southern Ontario,” said Bartolucci.
Laurentian University president Judith Woodsworth said that, with all the building going on or planned at Laurentian University, skilled tradespeople were an absolute necessity.
“We are experiencing unprecedented growth. Our student population has increased by 44 percent and, because our grants have jumped from $9 million to $38 million in five years, we need more space for the academics we need to hire. That means construction work,” said Woodsworth.
Student safety will also be addressed by the campus funding. Laurentian will establish an emergency preparedness centre, and trails and lighting will be improved.
Cambrian College will establish a women's safety program, said Janneke Dekker, director of facilities management. In addition, popular programs such as heavy duty mechanics and the powerline course will be expanded with new equipment. Renovations continue on the library, she noted.
College Boréal will use the funding to develop a security program with local police for females and add more cameras, said president Denis Hubert.
“We will also use the money to upgrade our nursery and greenhouse program and establish a new hotel and culinary program. There will be a new applied theatre arts program to develop skills in proper lighting and stage building techniques,” said Hubert.
