2009-2008

News Release

REF NO.: 168

SUBJECT: Memorial welcomes infrastructure funding

DATE: May 27, 2009

The federal and provincial governments announced an investment in infrastructure for Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic.
For the university, the funding will enable the development of a new academic building in Corner Brook at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.
The Grenfell College building is an approximately $27 million project. Over $11 million in funding will come from the federal government and more than $15 million from the province.
Dr. Eddy Campbell, Memorial’s acting president, welcomed the funding.
“We appreciate the support of our provincial and federal governments and are very pleased that infrastructure funding will be coming to Memorial. We need this kind of investment if we are to continue to develop as one of the finer universities in this country. The ministers’ messages also indicated that they are aware of our other strategic infrastructure needs, such as the redevelopment of our Science Building, and that there will be another announcement in the near future, so we welcomed that as well,” he said.
“We are thrilled to receive this news,” said Dr. Holly Pike, acting principal, Grenfell College. “The new building, which will adjoin the current Arts and Science Building, will add much-needed academic, research and meeting spaces, and will be a striking architectural feature of the campus. Disciplines such as chemistry, physics, earth science, biology and ecological economics will benefit from the addition. Faculty and staff offices, as well as dedicated study areas for students, will also be included; small group rooms will be particularly important for our business program.”
The announcement was made by Peter MacKay, minister of national defence and minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and Darin King, provincial minister of education.
The federal funding is part of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions, including universities and community colleges.
The provincial funding is part of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s $4-billion, multi-year infrastructure strategy.
 

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