BY BILL BRADLEY 
Vale Inco kicked off Laurentian University's Next 50 Fundraising Campaign, the biggest campaign in its history, with a big splash Monday at Laurentian University.
Monday morning,at Laurentian University's new West Residence, Vale Inco announced $4.2 million for the Living with Lakes Centre after committing $300,000 in June 2006 to studying the feasibility of the 30,000 square foot structure meeting Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental design) standards, the strictest in the LEED classification series.
“I am a graduate of Laurentian University myself and this is a good chance to give back to the institution that gave so much to me,” said Scott McDonald, Vale Inco's Executive President of Human Resources.
“Vale Inco has a proud history of support and involvement with Laurentian University and we're excited by this opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to education and environmental sustainability,” said Fred Stanford, President of Vale Inco's Ontario Operations and a member of Laurentian's Board of Governors.
The building, which will house the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit, will be named the Vale Inco Living With Lakes Centre, and represents the second largest community investment in Greater Sudbury by Vale Inco, said Angie Robson, Vale Inco public affairs.
“Vale Inco has been a major contributor to higher education at Laurentian University as far back as 1962 when $2.5 million was donated to the first financial campaign of the university for construction of the then new campus,” said Robson.
In 2006, Vale Inco contributed $5 million to the proposed Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and $500,000 to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's Bursary campaign, said Robson.
Laurentian University is at a turning point, said Judith Woodsworth, President of Laurentian University.
“Our past success will be celebrated during our 50th anniversary in 2010. In preparation for that momentous occasion we are today announcing the beginning of our Next 50 Campaign with our most ambitious goal of raising $50 million by that date. Today's donation by Vale Inco once again shows their leadership in helping our university realize its full potential,” said Woodsworth.
The building is expected to be started this year.The building is expected to use 77 percent less energy than a similar sized structure, said architect Jeffrey Laberge of J.L. Richards.
Michael Atkins, President of Laurentian Media Group, and a member of the Next 50 Campaign Cabinet, said the announcement Monday by Vale Inco was especially significant.
“Laurentian University is at the centre and core of the future of Sudbury and has to be supported by anyone who cares about a sustainable future,” said Atkins.
