Whitby, Ontario - Educators, employers, government officials and community members turned out in large numbers today to help celebrate one of the latest milestones at Durham College.
The $5-million expansion of the college's innovative and highly successful Skills Training Centre has greatly enhanced and updated learning facilities for students.
Among the key features of the enlarged centre are: a tiered lecture theatre with computer hookups, a 25-seat learning commons, a 25-seat computer lab, new classrooms equipped for computer-based presentations, and a new student lounge. The expanded centre is enabling Durham Collage to serve another 500 full-time students through its top-notch skilled trades, apprenticeship and specialty programs.
The project was made possible through the $28.75-million grant the college received from the SuperBuild Growth Fund. The remainder of the grant is being applied toward a major expansion of Durham College's Oshawa campus.
"When we opened the Skills Training Centre in 1993, we knew we were setting a bold precedent for skilled trades and apprenticeship training in Ontario," noted Bev Balenko, vice-president of business & skills development at Durham College, at the grand opening today. "Employers tell us that our grads produce tangible results from their very first day on the job. Now we can produce even more of the highly skilled workers employers need."
Jim Flaherty, Ontario deputy premier and minister of finance, noted in his address at the ceremony, "The SuperBuild program is for people and their communities. High quality colleges and universities, where students can acquire the skills they need to be successful, directly contribute to the betterment of our society."
Since the Skills Training Centre admitted its first students eight years ago, more than 10,000 students have graduated from its programs. The centre is also known for its many achievements, including the dozens of training partnerships it has created with leading businesses in Durham Region and Canada.
In recognition of its prolific work in helping create the Youth Internship Apprenticeship Program, the centre received a prestigious Program Excellence Award in 2000 from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. As well, Skills Training Centre students are frequent winners in the annual Ontario Skills Challenge, with some going on to compete at the Canada-wide competition.
| Contact: |
Catherine Shearer-Kudel |
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