McGuinty, accompanied by Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors, announced a total of $40 million in province-wide funding for colleges. The event was held in the Barrie Campus Nursing Simulation Lab.

Georgian President and CEO Brian Tamblyn said the province’s generous contribution will help ensure that students obtain the best education possible and will be well prepared to enter the workforce.

“Thanks to the support and confidence of Premier McGuinty and Minister Carroll, Georgian will continue to offer the best equipment to support the best education for our students,” Tamblyn said.

The additional funding comes as Georgian moves into a new phase of growth and impact on the community. This year, enrolment will reach 10,000 full-time students across Georgian’s seven campuses, including 2,200 students earning degrees through Georgian’s unique University Partnership Centre. An additional 27,000 students are enrolled in part-time studies.

The funding announced today will provide Georgian students with access to instructional equipment and learning resources to revitalize and renew the College’s learning environments. Highlights include:

• An investment in the School of Technology and Apprenticeship and the School of Environmental Studies will include new process control trainers, Rockwell hardness testers, barometric multi-probes and DC motor generators in the new Centre for Sustainable Technologies.
• Equipment will support health sciences programs as part of phase one of the Centre for Health and Wellness. New infant bassinettes and cribs, as well as robotic “sim babies” and birthing simulators will provide nursing students with up-to-date equipment while relieving pressures on clinical placements in local health care institutions. 
• New equipment for the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation will include heavy duty ranges, triple pot sinks, and a new blast chiller to ensure that Georgian Culinary programs continue to meet industry standards in the profession.