Ottawa — Algonquin College marked one of its most important announcements today with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship — a state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open in 2018. President Cheryl Jensen was joined by Anita Vandenbeld, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli for the ceremony. Jensen gave special thanks to Vandenbeld and Chiarelli for “their stalwart support.”

The new $44.9 million Algonquin College Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship was made possible in large part thanks to a $21.9 million grant from the Federal Government through the Strategic Investment Fund for Post-secondary Education Institutions and $2.9 million from the Province of Ontario. Jensen said that the College has always been a champion of innovation, and today’s announcement made that clear. “We have enjoyed so many ‘firsts’ here at Algonquin, but today is arguably the most important ‘first’ of all,” she said. “It is the day when we are claiming our future and sending the strongest signal possible about our identity as a college. Is a day when we proudly say, ‘This is who we are.’ ”

The project, which will take approximately two years to complete, will feature facilities for testing and development, simulations, competitions, collaborative project development, as well as entrepreneurial support in the growing field of cyber security. The Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship will be the first of its kind on a college campus in Ontario and will be designed in consultation with indigenous communities and be based on indigenous business principles. “When indigenous learners arrive at Algonquin College, they will find a place that echoes their heritage, providing the kind of foundation they need to succeed,” said Jensen. “And these learners will take that success, and the confidence that comes with it, to their homes and communities.” “I have experienced firsthand Algonquin College’s impact in our community as an educator and bridge builder. With this investment we are ensuring Algonquin College will continue to provide a world-class education,” said Vandenbeld, who made the joint federal-provincial announcement to a capacity crowd in the College’s library, the site of the renovation. “Transforming the library into this modern, collaborative learning facility will provide access to the tools and technologies our students and community need to experiment, to create, and to innovate.”

Minister Chiarelli said the provincial government was “proud to support” the project. “We know that providing access to high-quality education and training facilities is critical to building the highly-skilled workforce we need to support good jobs and economic growth,” said Chiarelli.

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For more information: Ruth Dunley, Communications Officer Public Relations and Communications, Algonquin College Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452 Mobile: 613-406-0970 dunleyr@algonquincollege.comAbout Algonquin College: www.algonquincollege.comThe mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.

Algonquin College will add two new electrical labs in 2017 with space for 120 apprentices, and a new welding lab in 2018 supporting multiple apprenticeship programs, thanks to $4.6 million in Apprenticeship Enhancement Funding (AEF) from the Ontario government.

In addition, the College will launch a Cook pre-apprenticeship program for 20 Aboriginal learners this May after receiving $238,053 in pre-apprenticeship funding. This program will provide them with level one apprenticeship training and an eight-week placement in the Ottawa food service industry.

Ontario Energy Minister and Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Bob Chiarelli announced the funding this morning at an event held in Minto Hall at Algonquin College’s Centre for Construction Excellence. Apprenticeship funds were also announced for Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre, YMCA, Ontario Industrial and Finishing Skills Centre, and LiUNA Local 527.

“Ottawa has many exciting construction projects underway in the coming years, including light rail, and this investment will help ensure Ontario’s future workforce has the skills and training for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Chiarelli. “This investment will help support the almost one in five new jobs in the province that is expected to be created in the trades in the coming decade.”

“Our government always talks about the importance of Building Ontario Up, and our talented skilled tradespeople are literally doing that in every corner of our province, including in Ottawa,” added Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “Ontario’s apprenticeship training system, supported by employers, colleges and unions, is a crucial part of our plan to build the highly-skilled workforce we need to compete, and I’m proud that we are supporting so many projects that will bring new equipment and high demand training programs to the local markets that need it.”

“I am very proud of the students at Algonquin College, and I know I speak for the entire College community when I say we are very grateful for the province’s investment in our students. And, I would add, this is really an investment in the future of our community,” said Cheryl Jensen, the College’s President. “We are forging a new path in the training of the workers of tomorrow, workers who will keep our city and province at the forefront of innovation.”

The new labs will include the latest state-of-the art equipment, while supporting growth in apprenticeship enrolment and completion at Algonquin College. The electrical labs will be added onto the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, while the welding lab will be an addition to the College’s automotive building. Construction on the new labs will begin this summer.

See photos from the announcement

Ontario Partnering with Local Universities and Colleges to Create Innovative Programs

Ontario is helping student entrepreneurs in Ottawa learn business skills, access mentorship opportunities and gain hands-on experience to start and grow a business.

The province is investing $2 million in the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College to support their commitment to entrepreneurship through the $20 million Campus-Linked Accelerators (CLA) program. The CLA program builds on world-class innovation and entrepreneurial programs at campuses across the province.

The academic institutions have partnered to create the Capital Entrepreneurs Project, a venture to encourage and cultivate youth entrepreneurship. The program will work to make Ottawa the best place to start and grow a business through the development of a common brand, educational standards, enhanced outreach and continued support of youth-led companies.

It will support job creation and economic development opportunities by encouraging on-campus entrepreneurship and innovation, with strong ties to entrepreneurial mentors.

The CLA program is part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy and is being launched at universities and colleges across the province.

Supporting entrepreneurship — at any age — is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

QUOTES

“Helping young entrepreneurs is another example of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy at work in Ottawa and across the province. These programs will help harness their ideas, their vision and their enthusiasm and turn them into jobs for today and for tomorrow. Their innovative spirit will build Ontario’s future.”

— Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation

“We want to build the most entrepreneurial postsecondary system in North America. That’s why we’re pleased that academic institutions, like Algonquin College, University of Ottawa and Carlton University are working to make that happen through the Campus-Linked Accelerator program. They are helping nurture our business visionaries and igniting their entrepreneurial spirit, helping them to succeed and to expand our economy.”

— Bob Chiarelli, MPP, Ottawa West-Nepean

“Thanks to the partnership and collaboration of Carleton University, Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa, we are proudly making a $2 million investment in youth entrepreneurialism. Ottawa’s Campus Link Accelerator is an investment in the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and will help build a stronger local economy and work force.”

— Yasir Naqvi, MPP, Ottawa Centre

“Ontario has some of the best-educated, hardest-working and most creative young people anywhere. Increasing campus-linked entrepreneurship activities will help student transfer skills and knowledge from school to the marketplace. Helping these young people launch companies and find jobs is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan.”

— Madeleine Meilleur, MPP, Ottawa-Vanier

“Ontario Centres of Excellence is pleased to be able to deliver these projects as a trusted partner of the Government of Ontario. I look forward to putting our years of experience in connecting academia and industry, and our on-going support of young entrepreneurs in Ontario to good use in making these initiatives a tremendous success.”

— Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence

“Through the Capital Entrepreneurs program, we can engage more students and youth in hands-on entrepreneurial opportunities. Algonquin is proud of the way we open our doors to the Ottawa community, and we thank the government for supporting our efforts. We look forward to working with Carleton University and the University of Ottawa to grow the innovative spirit and mindset within our community.”

— Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College

“This collaborative program puts students first, said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. It will provide support to launch and grow youth-led businesses, strengthen Ontario’s ecosystem for young entrepreneurs, and enhance the educational and training experiences of our students. We expect the main outcomes to be more jobs for youth and a more competitive Ontario.”

— Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President, Carleton University

“The support of the CLA program to the Capital Entrepreneurs program enhances the uOttawa investment in our Entrepreneurship Hub programs. This regional partnership complements the entrepreneurship strengths of three postsecondary institutions. Together with Invest Ottawa, we are committed to driving creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement for our youth, our students and our region,”

— Allan Rock, President, Ottawa University

QUICK FACTS

• Almost all postsecondary institutions across Ontario have on-campus entrepreneurship programs (42 out of 44 institutions).
• Ontario is also providing more than $5 million over two years through the On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities program.
• OCEA and CLA programs are managed by Ontario Centres of Excellence.
• Invest Ottawa is the partnering Regional Innovation Centre for the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College program. As a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), it will act as the conduit between the university and the region’s business community.
• Ontario is investing $295 million over two years in the Youth Jobs Strategy to help 30,000 more young people from across the province connect with the tools, experiences and entrepreneurial support they need to find employment or start their own businesses.
• More than 26,000 job opportunities have already been created under the Youth Jobs Strategy.

LEARN MORE

• Employment programs for people under 30: Ready.Set.Work.
• Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy

In the News:

• Algonquin College named Top Ottawa Postsecondary by Faces Magazine at its annual awards on Saturday, January 30.
• Ontario public sector colleges, including Algonquin, will have a sexual assault policy in place by March 31.
• The College’s Construction Research Centre is open for business following last Friday’s unveiling.

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