UOIT celebrates grand opening of downtown Oshawa campus

Oshawa, ON - The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) celebrated the grand opening of its downtown Oshawa campus today during an event held at the historic Regent Theatre. Joining the celebration were Ajax-Pickering MPP Joe Dickson, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Regional Municipality of Durham Roger Anderson and Oshawa Mayor John Henry.

"UOIT's expansion in downtown Oshawa has been spectacular, but we are far from complete," said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president, UOIT. "We are projecting that by 2015 11,600 students will be enrolled at the university and potentially 5,600 of those students will be studying downtown. A recent economic feasibility study confirms that continued growth of UOIT and the anticipated economic spinoffs could mean hundreds of millions injected into the downtown and hundreds of new jobs created. It's definitely an exciting time for Oshawa and the university."

The event included bus tours of UOIT's downtown footprint, guided tours of the 61 Charles Street building and a reception. Internal and external plaques were also unveiled to commemorate the City of Oshawa's leadership in the preservation of the Regent Theatre and another external plaque was revealed to mark the theatre as a designated heritage building.

"The success and expansion of UOIT is a major component of Durham Region's economy," said Ajax-Pickering MPP Joe Dickson."UOIT's expansion in downtown Oshawa means that more students will be learning, living and working in Durham Region and that means more educated, highly trained Ontarians contributing to our economy here at home."

Currently, more than 1,300 students and faculty study and work at the downtown campus, which is home to the faculties of Education, and Social Science and Humanities. Students move between 55 Bond Street East, the Regent Theatre, 61 Charles Street, 2 Simcoe Street South and 11 Simcoe Street North to attend classes and labs and have access to important student services. Linking the Regent Theatre with 55 Bond Street, plans are underway to transform Victoria Street into an urban park this spring that will include a walkway, external seating, a small stage area for outdoor entertainment and possibly a farmers market.

"The downtown core has always been considered the heart of every city," said Chairman Anderson. "UOIT has taken this philosophy one step further by helping to inject a long-term youthful and revitalized energy into the city core. Thanks to UOIT's strategic efforts, Oshawa's downtown area is now primed with a bright future; new opportunities for economic development and expansion; and offers an excellent opportunity to further one's education."

"UOIT's contribution to and significant investment in downtown Oshawa has catapulted another evolution for our downtown, bringing more people, businesses, academia and our community back to its core," added Mayor Henry."The partnership between the city and UOIT is ever growing, making opportunities on all levels, not only a reality but an everyday occurrence.Thank you UOIT for your inspiration, injection of youthful energy and pride in our community,"

In 2008 the Faculty of Education was warmly received downtown when it moved to a refurbished 2,743 square-metre building at 11 Simcoe Street North. Students benefit from wired and wireless Internet connections, classrooms equipped with movable walls to provide larger spaces as required, innovative teaching technologies to help facilitate their learning and specialty classrooms for their science, art and drama studies. The Lois Sleightholm Teacher Resource Centre, located at the entrance of the building, offers students a wealth of resources in a room filled with sunshine through its two-storey floor to ceiling windows.

In September 2010 the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities moved into the new 2,787-square-metre, five-storey building at 55 Bond Street East. This facility includes four large classrooms, labs, study space for undergraduate and graduate students, a student lounge, a boardroom and faculty offices. In addition, the faculty moved into a dedicated floor in the 2 Simcoe Street South building, providing close to 743 square metres of space used predominantly for research but also includes some office space, the University-Community Link Unit (CLU) and psychology labs and a Media and Communication lab where undergraduate and graduate students can take part in faculty-led research projects.

During this time the historic Regent Theatre also re-opened and is used as a large lecture theatre for UOIT students, and for community and cultural events during the evenings and on weekends throughout the year.

Students began classes at the 4,879 square-metre 61 Charles Street building in January 2011. The first and second floors of the renovated building include classrooms and lecture halls, office space, study areas, student services including the Registrar's Office, Student Awards and Financial Aid and the Student Experience Centre, a cafè, a library dedicated to the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities diverse programs, the Centre for Evaluation and Survey Research and other common areas for students and faculty.

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Media contact
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
289.928.0268
melissa.levy@uoit.ca