UOIT honours investments of four Durham Region families in innovative research facilities

Students enrolled in the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s (UOIT) Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS) have access to four innovative laboratories in the Automotive Centre of Excellence’s (ACE) Integrated Research and Training Facility (IRTF), thanks to the generous financial contributions of four local families.

Close to 50 guests gathered at ACE on November 21 for a special reception honouring the MacDonald, McLaughlin, Mothersill and Rinaldi families, who together contributed to the more than $1 million total recently donated to UOIT.

• Glenyce MacDonald and family honoured the memory of Les MacDonald, community leader, supporter of continuous learning and former owner of MacDonald Ford, with a gift to support the design and construction of the L.S. (Les) MacDonald Materials and Modelling Laboratory.
• Dick McLaughlin and family wished to honour Dick’s career with General Motors and Automodular Inc. by supporting local students pursuing design engineering. Their gift went toward the design and construction of the Dick McLaughlin Manufacturing and Design Laboratory.
• A donation from the Mothersill family, former owners of Gen-Auto Shippers Ltd. in Oshawa, supported the design and construction of the Mothersill Family Energy Research and Thermo Fluids Laboratory.
• Jason Rinaldi and family’s donation honoured the memory of Frank Rinaldi, an avid hot-rod enthusiast. The gift supported the design and construction of the Frank Rinaldi Truck Driving Simulator Laboratory.

“We are grateful for the investment these families have made in the future of our economy, our business and our students,” said Dr. Tim McTiernan, President. “Their donations have helped create invaluable technology-enriched learning spaces that enable us to broaden the hands-on research opportunities we provide our students. These facilities will advance high-quality, leading-edge engineering research and innovation. We thank the MacDonald, McLaughlin, Mothersill and Rinaldi families for their encouragement and avid support of UOIT.”

“With their generous gifts, these families show they are committed to our students and to strengthening our community as a whole,” added Dr. Tarlochan Sidhu, Dean, FEAS. “Oshawa is becoming more research-focused. These laboratories will help our students collaborate locally and globally with international organizations and propel them ahead upon graduation.”