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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

U of M completes $80-M upgrade

Politicians join president in celebrating 7 projects

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 11/10/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS U of M president Dr. David Barnard, Winnipeg South MP Rod Bruinooge and Public Safety Minister Vic Toews (from left) celebrate completion of university projects both governments helped finance.

Federal and provincial politicians joined officials from the University of Manitoba on Wednesday to celebrate the conclusion of seven major building and renovation projects.

About $80 million was poured into the U of M's Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses over the past two years, the bulk of that money coming from the federal and provincial governments.

"It's short-term stimulus producing long-term benefits," U of M president David Barnard said at a morning ceremony at the renovated Neil John Maclean Library on McDermot Avenue. "We're really proud of what we accomplished."

The Harper government contributed $32 million, or 40 per cent, of the $80-million cost of the related projects, with the provincial NDP providing $24 million (30 per cent) and the remaining $24 million coming from private donors.

The federal share came from its Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP), a $2-billion stimulus package spent on 67 campuses across the country -- part of Ottawa's strategy to spend the country out of the 2008-09 recession.

"The KIP program was one of our most successful economic stimulus programs," Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said at the ceremony.

The University of Manitoba received the largest amount of KIP funding allocated to universities and colleges, allowing the U of M to complete or initiate a variety of construction and renovation projects to improve the learning and research environment on its campuses.

Erin Selby, Manitoba's minister of advanced education, said the projects will establish the U of M as a premier destination for post-secondary education.

Also completed this year, but not included among the projects announced Wednesday, was the $41-million Pembina Hall, a 360-unit student residence.

Among the dignitaries at he Wednesday event were former president Dr. Arnold Naimark and Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Where the money went

$80 million worth of construction and renovation projects have been completed at the University of Manitoba with the help of federal and provincial financial contributions.

ARTlab, a $30-million multidisciplinary art and technology centre in the school of art, with a common lecture theatre for the school of art and the faculty of music.

Biological Sciences, a $13.26-million renovated and upgraded facility housing modern, state-of-the-art advanced research and teaching laboratories.

Buller Building Science Laboratory, a $4.75-million project that houses renovated and upgraded research and teaching laboratories in the departments of microbiology and biological sciences.

Neil John Maclean Library, a $2.74-million expansion to allow for new space to house the aboriginal health collection, the rare-book collection and new student study spaces.

Regenerative Medicine, a $5-million new research space within the faculty of medicine, that focuses on stem-cell research and the development of new medical procedures for the regeneration of muscles, heart tissue, nerve tissue and brain tissue.

Eureka Project, a $3.2-million expansion of Smartpark's incubating facility to support more high-tech companies in their early stages of development and construction of a new meeting centre.

Smartpark Lake 2 Infrastructure, a $20-million retention pond that will allow for surface drainage around Smartpark, leading to future expansion possibilities.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 10, 2011 A10

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