Impressive initiatives highlight Minister of Colleges and Universities’ tour of Ontario Tech

Exciting opportunities and growth lie ahead for Ontario Tech University. Strategically located in the heart of one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions, the university plays a key role in advancing the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. Ontario Tech’s unique approach to flexible and dynamic learning, and its focus on the ethical application of technology, positive social change and partnerships with industry, community, government and academic organizations, prepares students to become future leaders and change-makers.

On July 12, the Honourable Jill Dunlop, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities, visited Ontario Tech as one of her initial stops on her first tour of Ontario post-secondary educational institutions since her appointment to the ministerial portfolio in June. Joined by Lorne Coe, MPP (Whitby) and Lindsey Park, MPP (Durham), Minister Dunlop explored some of the university’s key facilities, and learned about current and future opportunities for Ontario Tech to contribute to the province’s economic prosperity.

Tour stops included:

• Shawenjigewining Hall: The name of Ontario Tech’s newest building means ’The Kind Place’ in the Anishinaabe language. The four-storey, 7,432-square-metre building is scheduled to open in Fall 2021 and it will be home to Ontario Tech's Faculty of Health Sciences, Office of Student Life, Continuous Learning, and the Ontario Tech Student Union. Encompassing the latest in learning technologies and environmental sustainability features, Shawenjigewining Hall will play a central role in the development and maturation of the whole student, and the support of student mental health. It will also reinforce the university’s commitment to a ‘sticky campus’ (a place to learn, work and make lasting connections), and support an accessible, equitable, diverse and inclusive university experience.
• ACE: A world-class research and development facility that can deliver solutions to product development or testing problems. ACE’s Climatic Wind Tunnel can recreate any weather condition a test object will experience—from the blistering heat in Death Valley to the frigid conditions in the Arctic as well as crosswinds and wind speeds up to 280 km/h. ACE is currently installing a Moving Ground Plane: a giant belt that acts as a road moving under a vehicle, simulating the aerodynamic forces against moving vehicles, and measuring physical characteristics in real-world conditions.
• Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre (ERC): A 9,290-square-metre facility that houses Ontario Tech’s unique-in-Canada education programs and research in geothermal, hydraulic, hydrogen, natural gas, nuclear solar and wind energy technologies.
• Windfields Farm lands: Home of the university’s sustainability initiatives, including the Pollinator Project, campus Community Garden plots, tree nursery, greenhouse and solar panels.

Ontario Tech is grateful to have received funding from the Ontario government for the following projects:

• $4.8 million from the Post-secondary Education Support Fund to address the financial impact of COVID-19.
• Mental health support: Between Fall 2020 and Winter 2021, the provincial government announced $26.25 million in mental-health-related funding for post-secondary institutions, including $7 million in shared funding to help increase access to mental-health and addiction services for post-secondary students during COVID-19.

Quote:

“Ontario Tech University was pleased to welcome Minister Jill Dunlop to campus during her inaugural tour of Ontario post-secondary institutions. We’re deeply grateful to the Government of Ontario for their past investments in our university, including mental-health services and COVID-19 supports that have helped our students remain healthy, pursue their degrees and acquire the skills they need to succeed in the evolving workplace. We are excited to partner with the Minister and the provincial government on the many opportunities for growth, innovation and student success that lie ahead for Ontario Tech.”
-Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ontario Tech University

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