The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, and Gudie Hutchings, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, were joined by Elizabeth Kidd, Interim President and CEO of College of the North Atlantic, and MHA for Stephenville - Port au Port, John Finn, in Stephenville today to announce $6.8 million in infrastructure funding for 10 college campuses.
The announcement, funded through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) has the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador each investing nearly $3.4 million into College of the North Atlantic as part of a Renewal and Modernization Project.
“These projects will help College of the North Atlantic meet the commitments in its Modernization Plan and provide students an opportunity to learn in modern facilities,” said Minister Byrne. “These infrastructure investments equip the college with the tools needed to prepare students for tomorrow’s well-paying careers.”
The funding will enable the college to make improvements and upgrades to building envelopes, lighting systems and HVAC systems to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Shops, labs and specialized classroom spaces will be upgraded to modern standards reflecting the training needs of students and industry professionals.
Campuses receiving funding as part of this investment are: Bay St. George, Burin, Carbonear, Corner Brook, Gander, Grand Falls – Windsor, Happy Valley – Goose Bay, Prince Philip Drive (St. John’s), Ridge Road (St. John’s) and Seal Cove.
“CNA`s Renewal and Modernization Projects will work to improve the learning environment at 10 campus locations in our province,” said Ms. Hutchings. “The money from the Strategic Investment Fund will go towards a number of different projects, including but not limited to electrical projects, and air quality system upgrades.”
The improvements and renovations will enable the college to effectively respond to industry growth areas and offer quality programs aligned with industry demands and standards; producing graduates with enhanced skills and career readiness. The facilities renovations and upgrades will create local employment and contribute to the overall economic well-being of the Bay St. George region and regions across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This is but one of several infrastructure projects that we will be undertaking throughout the province and I am confident they will all serve to enhance the learning experience for our students,” said President Kidd. “As outlined in our CNA Modernization Plan 2019, the need to improve our campus facilities is paramount. We will continue to work with our provincial and federal partners to strengthen our physical plant, and to explore new energy conservation and demand management plans with the goal of lessening our environmental impact. Today’s announcement goes a long way in achieving that goal.”
The funding from the Government of Canada comes as part of a $2 billion Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund which is improving research and innovation infrastructure at universities and colleges across the country, including College of the North Atlantic.
The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada’s universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada’s climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
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Media Contacts:
Roger Hulan
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca
Ryan Crocker
Media Relations Manager
Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca