One-time funding of $2.1 million will go toward startup and program-delivery costs of the Emily Carr Centre for Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre (WIDC).

“It is critical that the programs offered by Emily Carr meet the needs of our region and the wood industry,” said Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, on behalf of Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “The $2.1 million will support phase 2 of the consultation process including public engagement and online forums and will also include funding for start-up and program delivery costs.”

The Emily Carr Centre for Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship was announced on Jan. 23, 2015, and will reside on two half floors of WIDC.

New programming, identified through consultation with the community and wood industry, is expected to commence in the fall of 2016. Emily Carr University has completed the first phase of their community consultation. During these initial meetings, Emily Carr University met and collaborated with several potential partners including the City of Prince George, Lheidli T’enneh, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), College of New Caledonia and Two Rivers Gallery. In the autumn of 2015, the university will begin the second phase of community consultations and will engage the public through community events and online forums to gather input ensuring the programming being developed correlates with community needs.

In July 2015, Emily Carr University of Art + Design offered the Summer Institute for Teens in partnership with UNBC. Through the studio course, students from around Prince George had the opportunity to work with university faculty to bring their artistic vision of the region to life. The studio introduced sketching, drawing and illustration techniques that students used to investigate and respond to their immediate environment.

On Sept. 18 and 19, Emily Carr University will host an open-house at WIDC and exhibit at the Mini Maker Faire in partnership with the Two Rivers Gallery.

“WIDC is an iconic building that will also be an educational centre in Prince George,” said Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris. “Funding the start-up and program delivery costs will support the new Emily Carr Centre for Design Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”

The one-time funding of $2.1 million will support art and design-based educational training needs identified by the wood industry, community and other stakeholders. This includes programs related to design innovation and secondary manufacturing with wood and wood-based products.

“The startup funding for our new design centre in Prince George is welcome news,” said Emily Carr University of Art + Design president Ron Burnett. “We look forward to bringing a unique, sustainable partnership to the Emily Carr Centre for Design and contributing to the creative and economic growth of Northern B.C.”

WIDC is one of the tallest contemporary wood buildings in North America. The six-storey, 29.5-metre structure is a catalyst for future wood construction around the globe. It features a variety of B.C. wood materials ranging from Douglas-fir to engineered wood products.

WIDC is home to academic programming under development by UNBC that includes a master of engineering in Integrated Wood Design to be offered in January 2016. In addition to the two universities, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations will be a long-term tenant in the building. Another important mandate of WIDC is to showcase wood products and processes in B.C. and expand the international market share of the province.

WIDC will be fully occupied once Emily Carr University of Art + Design moves in.

(flickr.com)