By NICK STEWART
Greater Sudbury’s Cambrian College is receiving a $4.6 million injection from the provincial government for library upgrades, technology centre projects and a new energy centre.
The province will provide $2.6 million to Cambrian College, which will be used to upgrade and refurbish many of the school’s various laboratories, shops and facilities. The school’s first step in making use of the funding is to transform the school’s library into a learning commons. Construction has already begun and is expected to be completed by September 2007.
“Our library really hasn’t had any kind of a facelift, other than new computers added every year, since 1978,” says Sylvia Barnard, president, Cambrian College. “If you think about what has gone on in education since 1978, there’s a world of difference.”
Among other features, the new library space will contain a series of seminar rooms. This transformation will place a strong emphasis on encouraging students to work within small groups, a topic which has been repeatedly mentioned by employers in the community as being key for new workers.
“Employers tell us that, when they graduate, students need to understand how they fit within the organization and how they get along with other people,” says Barnard. “They need to be able to work as part of a team, and the best way to do that is to put them through that kind of activity. That’s difficult to do when you have a wide open space where some are trying to study and others are trying to work in groups.”
The learning commons will feature more computers, with access to a variety of new databases. While college students of the past relied upon library books, Barnard says the modern student is relying increasingly on such databases as education and research becomes more and more digital.
Located on-site at Cambrian, the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) also received $2 million “with no strings attached,” says Darryl Lake, CEO.
In exchange the province will use them as a model to be used throughout Ontario. NORCAT will utilize the funds to expand activities with small- and medium-sized businesses.
“A lot has been said about our concept of an innovation/commercialization incubator park out back,” Lake says.
“There’s no question we’re making huge strides in that, and thanks to Rick [Bartolucci], the Ministry [of Northern Development and Mines], the Ministry of Research and Innovation, and there are many other players that are coming onboard with this.”
Such projects will help the province to recover from the downturn in the manufacturing industry, he says, adding that Ontario is the only government in Canada to take the necessary steps to reverse this downturn by assisting initiatives that help small- and medium-sized businesses.
Lake says the funding represents a sign that the province officially recognizes NORCAT’s role in assisting with innovation and business development. He points to page 62, of the provincial budget, where NORCAT is specifically identified as having “a solid track record for helping Northern Ontario companies bring innovative products to market.”
What’s more, Lake recently received a letter directly from Premier Dalton McGuinty, where he said the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation recognized the contributions of NORCAT to enhance future prosperity for the people of Ontario -- not just the North.
Cambrian will also receive $50,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to pursue the first phase of its plan to establish a sustainable energy centre of excellence.
