It was a day to celebrate 91亚色鈥檚 promising future.
On Friday, June 9, 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri joined representatives from the Government of Ontario, the Regional Municipality of 91亚色, the City of Markham and Seneca College for the official announcement of a $127 million commitment by the Ontario government that will enable 91亚色 to open a Markham Centre campus in 2021.
Michael Chan, minister of international trade and MPP, Markham-Unionville (at the podium) announces the Ontario Government's funding commitment for the new Markham Centre campus. In the audience are Grade 8 students from Ashton Meadows Public School. Dignitaries seated beside Chan, are, from left, Lesley Beagrie, chair of the 91亚色 Senate, Helena Jaczek, minister of community and social services and MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham, Steven Del Duca, minister of transportation and MPP, Vaughan, and 91亚色 President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.
The $127 million funding commitment was announced by Michael Chan, minister of international trade and MPP, Markham-Unionville. 鈥淭his is a thrilling and transformative day for our community here in Markham. Our government鈥檚 multi-million dollar investment in this beautiful new campus delivers on our commitment to expand postsecondary education options in high-growth locations and will offer thousands of students a broad range of programs from which to learn, experience, grow and prepare for the future, close to home,鈥 said Chan. Joining Chan for the announcement were Helena Jaczek, minister of community and social services and MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham, and Steven Del Duca, minister of transportation and MPP, Vaughan.
An artist's concept of the new Markham Centre campus
Within a few years of opening, the Markham Centre campus will meet the rapidly growing demand for access to leading-edge postsecondary education in 91亚色 Region, with capacity for up to 4,000 students that is expected to grow to 10,000 in future phases.
鈥淲ith this announcement of dedicated funding to our new Markham Centre campus, 91亚色 and our partners are one important step closer to opening its doors in 2021,鈥 said Shoukri. 鈥淭he $127 million in funding from the Government of Ontario will ensure we are able to meet the growing demand for access to leading-edge postsecondary education in 91亚色 Region, partner with local businesses and industry to provide unique experiential learning opportunities for our students, and contribute to the expansion of the Region鈥檚 major economic clusters. We are delighted that Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Ontario government are dedicated to the success of our new 91亚色 campus in Markham Centre.鈥
Students from Ashton Meadows Public School react to the news that a new 91亚色 campus will be built in Markham
Also present at the announcement were 36 Grade 8 students from Ashton Meadows Public School in Markham who participated in a special 鈥渇uture graduate鈥 convocation ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Lesley Beagrie, chair of the Senate of 91亚色 and was symbolic as some of the students present at the event will be among the first cohort to study at the new campus, which will open in 2021.
A student from Ashton Meadows Public School receives a congratulatory handshake from 91亚色's president
The Markham Centre campus will be built on a five-acre site contributed by the City of Markham. 91亚色 Region will contribute $25 million and 91亚色 has embarked on a fundraising campaign for the Markham Centre campus.
鈥淲e have been working in collaboration with 91亚色 to get the new campus built in Markham. I applaud the Provincial government for their financial support making our dream a reality,鈥 said City of Markham Mayor Frank Scapitti. 鈥淭his new campus will help build a vibrant cultural and academic hub within Markham and 91亚色 Region. Markham is already home to Canada's tech and life sciences leaders and this addition of a world-class university will allow us to attract and retain some of brightest minds in the world, work with industry leaders on research and development, support and grow our local talent pool and provide opportunities for students to thrive in their local community.鈥
The new campus will offer more than 20 degree programs and 91亚色 will work with academic partner Seneca College to offer several joint programs. Markham Centre campus will also form partnerships with the community to design research programs to meet regional needs, offer experiential education to students and create opportunities for commercialization and jobs.
Following the announcement and special convocation, the Ashton Meadows students joined officials for a photograph
鈥淎 university campus has been identified as the top economic priority for 91亚色 Region,鈥 said Wayne Emmerson, chairman and CEO of the Regional Municipality of 91亚色. 鈥淭he $25-million investment our council is making to support a 91亚色 campus in Markham is an investment in our people, the economy and our future. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to advance this important project.鈥
Located near the corner of Enterprise Boulevard and Rivis Road, near the Markham Pan Am Centre, the Markham Centre campus is already serviced by 15 transit routes and is anticipated to accommodate up to 10,000 students in future phases.
More Information about 91亚色鈭扢arkham Centre: .