Students in the Bulkley Valley have a reason to celebrate as more post-secondary education and training options become accessible closer to home.

Northwest Community College will celebrate the grand opening of its state-of-the-art Smithers campus today. The LEED Gold designed facilities now have better video-conferencing and educational programming capabilities, additional classroom space, wet and dry science labs, a multi-purpose shop for trades programs and an expanded library and computer lab.

Margaret MacDiarmid, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview, will be joined by Elders and representatives of the local Aboriginal communities, the Town of Smithers, NWCC executive, faculty, staff and students to officially open NWCC's newest facility at the Smithers campus.

As part of the celebration, an 8.5-metre (28-foot) red cedar pole will be raised in partnership with the Wet'suwet'en Nation. The pole was carved by local artists Ron Austin Sr., James Madam and Ron Austin Jr.

The renewal and expansion of the NWCC Smithers campus was completed in two phases. Phase one expanded the campus building and was completed in the summer 2010. Phase two included the renovation of the existing campus building and was completed earlier this year. The campus opened to classes for this year's spring/summer semesters.

NWCC received $16.8 million for building improvements and expansions to the Smithers campus through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. This includes $8.5 million from the provincial government and $8.287 million from the federal government.

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a joint federal-provincial investment designed to renew infrastructure at post-secondary institutions across B.C. while also providing local jobs for communities. This is one of 39 projects at post-secondary institutions throughout the province with a total investment of more than $520 million including contributions from institutions.

Quotes:

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) -

"Our government's investments in college and university infrastructure have created and maintained jobs across Canada."

"This project will allow Northwest Community College to strengthen its reputation as an innovative leader in Smithers and across Canada."

Denise Henning, president of Northwest Community College -

"The community's educational dream has been realized today through partnership with government. We are so proud of our new Smithers campus and excited by the expanded partnership opportunities it will support."

"This new facility enables us to meet our community, business and industry needs and respond to the economic, social and community development opportunities presented by the many projects currently underway and planned for the region."

Darlene Glaim, Gyologit, Hereditary Chief of the Wet'suwet'en Nation -

"The NWCC expansion in Smithers means viable post-secondary education and training that meets the needs of First Nations living within the area. Our community members can embrace the educational opportunities and provide a guiding voice for future training needs."

"We are part of the social and economic future of Smithers and the surrounding area and this is a stepping stone for many of our people."

Learn More:

Knowledge Infrastructure Program: www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure

Northwest Community College: www.nwcc.bc.ca

Northwest Community College, Smithers campus: http://www.nwcc.bc.ca/Campuses/Locations.cfm?Campus=Smithers

To learn more about the carvers, visit: http://nwcc.typepad.com/connections/2011/06/meet-the-carvers.html

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Marc Black
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6508

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613 943-7599

BACKGROUNDER

Knowledge Infrastructure Program

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. In B.C. the federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of the cost of selected projects on a cost-share basis with the Province.

The projects are also part of British Columbia's overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province to create jobs and vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Canada's Economic Action Plan set out to stimulate the Canadian economy and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program.

Contacts:

Marc Black
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6508

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613 943-7599