Educational opportunities for local students will be enhanced and expanded, after ground was broken May 29 on the first permanent home for a Collingwood Campus of Georgian College.

The new 20,000-square-foot campus at the corner of Poplar Sideroad and Raglan Street is intended to strongly support the future economic growth of Collingwood and region.

This investment will specifically address regional labour market gaps by providing employers with a skilled workforce.

“This is a seminal day for Georgian College. After 26 years, we have finally found our permanent home in Collingwood,” said Georgian President and CEO Brian Tamblyn. “This campus will expand access to full and part-time academic studies, opening up new opportunities and new horizons to local students.”

The new Collingwood Campus is located on 10 acres of land generously donated by developer John Di Poce. It is also made possible by a $4-million contribution from the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Since first offering part-time courses in Collingwood 26 years ago, Georgian has moved through 10 different leased locations as demand for post-secondary education has grown.

The new campus will be a custom-made home, allowing the College to offer a wide range of educational opportunities for area residents and businesses.

NEW CAMPUS OPENS FALL 2011

When the doors open for classes in the fall of 2011, Georgian will be able to provide greater access to full-time and part-time studies and expand corporate training, skills simulation, and small business services.

The new campus will contain nine classrooms plus a student lounge.

Among the classrooms will be two computer labs, one “e-lab”, one multi-function health sciences lab, and one community room/small classroom.

The balance will be traditional classrooms, all equipped with full multimedia services. These are also multi-function rooms, fitted with movable walls for maximum flexibility in terms of space.

Administrative offices and “innovation space” for small business incubation activities are also included.

The new building will accommodate 250 full-time students and more than 3,000 part-time students annually.

PHOTO (l-r): Barb Weider, former member, Board of Governors; Tony Miele, Di Poce Management Limited; Chris Carrier, Mayor, Town of Collingwood; The Honourable Helena Guergis, Member of Parliament, Simcoe-Grey; and Brian Tamblyn, President and CEO, Georgian College.