College to break ground in spring
$10.64M in federal funds speeds up new campus building
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, November 28, 2016
IQALUIT
Thanks to a $10.64 million infusion from the federal government, Nunavut Arctic College will break ground for a new campus building in the spring.
Education Minister Paul Quassa thanks Bardish Chagger, the federal leader of the government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, at the announcement of $10.64 million in infrastructure funding for Nunavut Arctic College Nov. 23. - photo courtesy Government of Nunavut |
Students and staff gathered Nov. 23 to hear Bardish Chagger, leader of government in the House of Commons, announce the funds.
The Government of Nunavut already set aside $18.9 million for the project.
"Education is a priority for the Government of Nunavut," said Education Minister Paul Quassa.
"Investing in infrastructure for post-secondary education through the proposed expansion of the Nunatta campus in Iqaluit is a tremendous addition to our capacity for delivering programs as we continue building a representative workforce."
Chagger announced the funding on behalf of federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development minister Navdeep Bains, who administers the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund.
"The future of Canada and Nunavut depends on the success of our students," Bains stated via news release.
"That's why we need to ensure they have the facilities they need for tomorrow's job market. Through this Strategic Investment Fund support, we are strengthening Nunavut Arctic College - and the community - by helping students gain unique knowledge and research skills that will allow them to excel in the innovation economy."
It's exciting news for Nunatta campus dean Eric Corneau.
"It's allowed us to accelerate the process for the design and construction schedule," Corneau told Nunavut News/North.
The design, which is almost ready to be shown to the public, will see a 2,500 square-foot building providing an additional 16 classrooms linked to the existing college campus building by a bridge.
"We expect to be breaking ground in the spring and have the facility open at the very latest for September 2019," said Corneau.
The new building will house the community learning centre, Inuit language and culture centre of excellence, and an additional space for the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium.
"We're looking at other programs that will be there," Corneau said, adding programs are currently scattered throughout Iqaluit at two or three other locations.
"The idea is really to try and consolidate all of our programs onto the campus site here."
Similar plans are in the works for the Kitikmeot campus in Cambridge Bay - programs there are taking place in five locations.
"The whole thrust behind the growth of the college - the college is growing every year - is offering new programs. Next September, we start with the law program. And I don't think that growth will stop. We continue to receive requests to deliver more programs and expand our degree delivery programs," said Corneau.
"This is an incredible step forward for the college. It's extremely exciting to see this project going forward. We've been working on this for a very long time and to see it come to this point where we're breaking ground in spring is incredible."
