Chancellor Crosbie spoke of the vital importance of Memorial University to the province. President May delineated the goals of the campaign, referring to the “shoebox” of a gym in which he was speaking, which will be augmented through campaign donations by a field house complex. Representatives of the students, employees and pensioners illustrated their support of the campaign by marking their total $4 million contribution on a billboard. (Billboards tracking contribution levels were subsequently erected at the St. John's and Grenfell College campuses.) Corporate support to date of almost $11 million was announced by Dr. May. A highlight of the event was a pledge by Premier Brian Tobin.

“The people of this province will match dollar-for-dollar all of the funds raised for this campaign,” the premier said. “That is a $25 million investment in the young men and women in this province. And I issue a challenge, John [Crosbie]. If you exceed the $25 million, we'll go on matching you dollar-for-dollar.”

Premier Tobin's declaration was welcomed with a large round of applause from the roughly 800 students, faculty, staff and alumni assembled for the event. At that time, pledges from the university community and alumni stood at $14.5 million; the matching government contribution brought the total to $29 million.

President Arthur May officiated at the opening ceremony. “Since it opened its doors in 1975, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College has experienced a severe shortage of non-academic space as a result of a growing student population,” he said. “It didn't take long to identify this lack of space as a need The Opportunity Fund should address.”

Dr. Katy Bindon, principal of Grenfell College at the time, noted that the college is maturing in many ways, including the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the student body. “We began as a two-year feeder school and never really consolidated the extracurricular, social part of student life,” said Dr. Bindon. “The Student Centre Annex symbolizes growth, development and increased opportunities for students.”

In his remarks at the official opening, the college's Council of Students' Union President Shawn Musseau remarked, “This is a very beautiful facility. I know on behalf of the students' union and students on this campus, we are very pleased.”