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Confederation College receives $3M from province for two projects

THUNDER BAY – Confederation College is on the receiving end of provincial dollars to help fund two new capital projects.
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Premier Kathleen Wynne on Thursday announced $3 million in funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for two Confederation College capital projects. (Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – Confederation College is on the receiving end of provincial dollars to help fund two new capital projects.

Premier Kathleen Wynne held a media conference at Confederation College Thursday afternoon, announcing $3 million for a new wellness centre in Thunder Bay as well as a new home for their Sioux Lookout campus.

Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the college will receive $2 million towards the construction of the new wellness centre as well as $1 million of the $2.2 million project cost to house the Sioux Lookout facility inside the community’s brand new high school.

“We’re very proud as a government to support two new Confederation projects which will open up new possibilities for these students and others who attend college here in the north,” Wynne said while announcing the funding.

Confederation College president Jim Madder said the current building that houses the Sioux Lookout campus is 50 years old and “doesn’t really support learning anywhere near what we could do.”

Partnering with the new Sioux Lookout High School will give secondary students a direct track to pursuing a college education.

“The younger students will see the opportunities of going to (college) as literally walking right down the hall into a different location,” Madder said.

“We can do more dual credits starting the college experience when they’re in high school and as populations grow, as they are doing in Sioux Lookout, we’ll have more students who are going to be successful and come to post-secondary education.”

Resources in the new school, such as labs and shops, can be shared between the high school and college programs.

Ensuring the Sioux Lookout campus remains operational into the long-term future extends the college’s reach throughout the region.

“College students are typically home bound either because they’re taking care of their kids or they’re taking care of family members. They often have jobs and can’t leave that location,” Madder said.

“We deliver as much as 23 to 24 programs in those locations using technology and facilitators who are on site…If you’re in the room for practical nursing training in the new facility it will be as if you were in the room here.”

The wellness centre, which will replace the current fitness centre, is a $13.4 million project which will receive an $8.5 million contribution from the Student Union of Confederation College.

The facility, which also includes meeting and training space, will include flexible, adaptable multi-use spaces that can easily be converted between activities such as weightlifting and yoga as well as other components such as a nutrition centre.

“It’s workout spaces, it’s nutrition spaces, yes there’s a gym in there and a running track but a lot of it is very different needs than what we can currently support with our recreation facilities,” Madder said.

During her remarks Wynne said the facility can also be used for community events and local school boards can use it for sporting events.

Both buildings are expected to open in the fall of 2017.





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