NEWS RELEASE
GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
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In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Ontario's College System, the province is declaring April 3 to 9, 2017 as Colleges Week and is making a new investment in each of Ontario's 24 publicly assisted colleges to enhance the student experience.
Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, was at George Brown College in Toronto today to announce the $50-million investment in honour of the college system's 50th anniversary, and mark the historic milestone.
The investment will support colleges in undertaking major initiatives that enhance student learning, such as the purchase of specialized software for teaching, new lab and shop equipment and technology to modernize existing classrooms and labs, facility retrofits, and other projects.
Part of the investment will also support the Northern Colleges Collaboration, a partnership between northern Ontario's six public colleges--Boreal, Cambrian, Canadore, Confederation, Northern and Sault--to improve student access to education in the North.
Investing in postsecondary infrastructure is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
QUOTES
"Today’s funding announcement means that students will continue to access the high-quality, innovative and experiential education they receive from Ontario’s colleges. As our economy evolves, this funding allows colleges to stay in front of education trends and ensures Ontarians are trained for the jobs of the next 50 years and beyond."
— Fred Gibbons, Chair of Colleges Ontario and president of Northern College
"As Ontario’s college system celebrates 50 years of postsecondary success, this funding is an important and needed way to commemorate this milestone. As we look towards the future, we are excited to build upon the system’s legacy of success and develop new ways to help Ontarians attain successful and rewarding careers."
— Don Lovisa, President of Durham College and chair of the college sector’s 50th anniversary task force
"This contribution from the province not only recognizes the achievements of Ontario Colleges over the past five decades, it lets us each find high-impact ways to improve the student experience. It’s exciting to reflect on just how much our system has evolved and imagine how we will continue to progress in the years ahead. Ontario is in the midst of a major change in the nature of work and colleges are adapting to continue to be a source of top talent for the province’s employers."
— Ann Sado, President of George Brown College
"College Student Alliance (CSA) commends the Government of Ontario for ensuring college investments focus on student success. For 50 years, Ontario's colleges have paved the road to prosperity for countless individuals and CSA is proud to be an integral part of the sector's history. Students thrive when we break barriers to access, make data-driven decisions, and create student-focused spaces on campus. Today's announced funding is integral to the continued success of Ontario's college students. We look forward to seeing student associations meaningfully involved in the process of determining how campuses spend the investment."
— Gurpal Singh Bhatia, President, College Student Alliance
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario is investing $48 million in capital funding for new equipment and learning resources and $2 million in the Northern Colleges Collaboration—a total of $50 million to mark the 50th anniversary.
- In September 2016, Colleges Ontario launched the Start of Something Amazing, a 15-month celebration of the college system’s 50th anniversary.
- In 2015-16, about 84 per cent of Ontario college graduates found work within six months of graduating.
- About 220,000 students are enrolled full time at Ontario’s 24 publicly assisted colleges.
- Ontario is making college and university tuition free for more than 210,000 students next year through the new Ontario Student Assistance Program. Applications are now open—visit Ontario.ca/OSAP to start your application today.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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