THUNDER BAY -- Tbaytel has added its name to the list as the latest contributor to Confederation College’s new Technology Education and Collaboration Hub (TEC Hub), which is set to be completed midway through June.
The $19-million project has received funding from both the provincial and federal governments. The 45,000 square-foot addition will connect to the existing McIntyre Building, and will focus on advanced manufacturing technology and innovation and incubation.
On Thursday, Confederation College launched a campaign to help fund what goes inside building.
Alongside the renewal of existing equipment, the new equipment -- which college president Jim Madder described as “industry-leading” -- will include three-dimensional printers, milling machines, autoclaves, and outreach equipment.
Madder believes the arrival of the new technology will help attract trades, engineering, and manufacturing students. He says it will open the door for Southern Ontario students to fill up the program due to the high volume of these types of programs in their region.
“Digitally-based milling equipment,” Madder described. “Its accuracy is remarkable. This is destination equipment. This is equipment that will get people come to us so they can get the skills to use it.”
The campaign hopes to raise $5 million over the course of three years, and was kickstarted by a Tbaytel donation of $200,000.
“We take on a lot of graduates from Confederation College,” said director of marketing and communications Amy Meunier. “We have strong electrical engineering programs here so it helps to be strong partners with [the college].”
The campaign has already received a Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation contribution for $2 million. They will be relying on various donations in the next three years to attain their goal.
As for the building itself, construction is set to be completed in three weeks, and will be open for students in the fall term.
