Peter Van Loan and Lawrence Toet celebrate investment to build new technology access centre for construction sector at Red River College
(L-R): Rick Marshall, Bird Construction; David Stones, CBEP Advisory Board Chair; Lawrence Toet, MP for Elmwood-Transona; David Rew, interim President of Red River College; Hon. Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Lawrence Toet, Member of Parliament for Elmwood–Transcona and the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of Government in the House of Commons, and on behalf of Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), were at Red River College on July 7, 2015 to highlight a new investment to build a construction research centre that will spark partnerships with Winnipeg’s construction industry.
Red River College is receiving a Technology Access Centres Grant of $1.75 million—allocated over five years under the College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program—to build the Building Envelope Technology Access Centre. Red River College will work with the local construction industry to support innovation in building envelope design and construction, conduct applied research, and provide specialized education and training.
The CCI Program is managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), in collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Quick facts
- On April 8, 2015, Minister of State Holder announced more than $40 million in grants to colleges across Canada to support applied R&D activities with industry. The 38 multi-year projects will focus on building local innovation capacity in key areas such as forestry, manufacturing, green building and wastewater treatment, while training the next generation of highly skilled Canadians. Colleges also received support to purchase specialized research equipment.
- Issues in Manitoba driving the need for innovation in the design, construction, maintenance and repair of building envelopes include ongoing building envelope problems and failures, increased complexity driven by an expanding number of new materials and systems, new standards and code requirements, a more aggressive provincial target to reduce building energy use, and growth in demand for building envelope commissioning. The Centre for Building Envelope Performance will bring together Red River College researchers and industry professionals to address these issues.
See related media coverage in the Winnipeg Free Press here and here
Quotes
“Our Government is committed to supporting science, technology, and research innovation in communities across the country. This important investment will support Red River College in partnering with construction industry leaders to offer specialized training and education to ensure a highly skilled workforce in Winnipeg and Manitoba.”
– Lawrence Toet, Member of Parliament for Elmwood–Transcona
“Canada continues to lead all G7 countries in research and development investment at post-secondary institutions. The CCI Program is just one of our government’s numerous successful programs that give colleges and local businesses access to state-of-the-art equipment to help them succeed and innovate.”
– Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
“Our government is providing the support necessary to push the boundaries of knowledge, create jobs and improve the quality of life of Canadians. We are committed to creating the conditions that will allow entrepreneurship to thrive in this country. The collaboration between colleges and local industrial partners generates new products and ideas, creating long-term prosperity for the benefit of all Canadians.”
– Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)
“NSERC is proud to support applied research and technology transfer work at Canada’s community colleges. Building college research capacities to help businesses innovate will create economic growth, as well as train the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs. From building specialized equipment to developing new research centres, the College and Community Innovation Program supports world-class research and innovation in communities all across the country.”
– Dr. B. Mario Pinto, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
“In today’s competitive global marketplace, businesses are benefiting from having access to the state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional research expertise available in colleges across the country. The Canada Foundation for Innovation’s College-Industry Innovation Fund helps ensure that colleges can position themselves as valuable business research and innovation partners for the benefit of all Canadians.”
– Gilles Patry, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation
“Colleges play a key role in supporting innovation and business and Red River College has been a leader in applied research for more than ten years. This grant will provide a meaningful enhancement to our ability to serve Manitoba’s construction sector with advanced graduates and professional training, as well as fostering innovation in a critical component of building design and construction.”
– David Rew, Interim President and CEO of Red River College.