Maria Canton
Northern News Services

FORT SMITH (Jun 28/99) - Thanks to a government P3 project, Thebacha campus is getting a new $3-million family housing complex.

The complex is being sponsored by the Department of Education Culture and Employment. MLA and Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Michael Miltenberger was on hand to participate in the official sod- turning at the Aurora College construction site last week in Fort Smith.

The P3 (public private partnership) initiative is a partnership between the GNWT and the private sector to facilitate the need for public infrastructure.

The Thebacha campus P3 housing project is the first of its kind to proceed to the contract stage.

"The P3 initiative has provided an opportunity for Aurora College to work closely with developers to design and develop needed accommodation for college students," Miltenberger said.

"The project will result in a fine facility that will enhance the quality of education provided by the Thebacha campus well into the next millennium."

The new family residences, which will be similar to row housing, will be within walking distance of the school.

Existing campus housing is scattered throughout the town and consists of apartments and 30 individual houses.

"The long-term plan of the college is to create a campus community with housing in close proximity to the school," said Aurora College president Maurice Evans.

"This is a very important project for us, certainly for the Thebacha campus and for our college system as a whole."

Within walking distance of the daycare, elementary school and high school, the new housing will simplify life for students who have families.

The project involves the construction and leasing of 20 three-bedroom and five four-bedroom residential units and is scheduled to be completed for the 2000-2001 school year.