Mississauga Campus Groundbreaking Celebration December 15

Representatives from the Federal, Provincial and Mississauga governments gathered today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Sheridan Campus in Mississauga

For Immediate Release: December 15, 2009
Mississauga, ON

Bob Dechert, MP for Mississauga, Peter Fonseca, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion and Sheridan College President and CEO Dr. Robert W. Turner, today celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Mississauga Campus. The project received federal and provincial funding totalling over $31 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario’s 2009 Budget. Other investments will include an addition $15 million from Sheridan College and other sources.

The first phase of the new Mississauga Campus will include the construction of a 150,000 square foot facility, located in Mississauga’s city centre. When this phase opens in fall 2011, the campus will accommodate 1,200 business students and 560 spaces dedicated to the training and re-training of new Canadians, foreign-trained professionals and unemployed workers.

In total, the governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $1.5 billion in 49 projects at Ontario’s colleges and universities, through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and the Ontario 2009 Budget. Mississauga Groundbreaking

"By providing funding for this important new Mississauga campus of Sheridan College through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our Conservative Government are creating jobs today and providing skills training for the jobs of tomorrow," said Bob Dechert, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale. "This unprecedented investment is important for Mississauga as this Sheridan college campus will provide highly skilled training for new Canadians, young people and older workers upgrading their skills. It will add a new vibrancy to the core of our city and help ensure the long term success of our community and its residents. " 

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year, $2 billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions is part of the $12 billion in new infrastructure investment allocated under Canada’s Economic Action Plan. 

The program is providing real economic stimulus and employment by creating local jobs for engineers, architects, trades people and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s research and educational facilities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

"I am excited to be a part of the ground-breaking today. Having the Sheridan business school in downtown Mississauga will not only create jobs in the short term but will make our city more competitive. The addition of a business school in our own backyard will attract businesses and students alike," said Peter Fonseca, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville.

The Government of Ontario, in its 2009 budget –

Confronting the Challenge: Building Ontario’s Economic Future , committed to investing in infrastructure and designated $780 million to colleges and universities to modernize facilities and boost long-term research and skills training capacity over the next two years.

"By providing in-demand business education and programs to accelerate the movement of newcomers in to the workforce, Sheridan will fill a big need for students and businesses in Mississauga," said Dr. Robert Turner, President and CEO of Sheridan. "We are grateful to the Canada-Ontario Knowledge Infrastructure Program for its vital contribution to our new campus, and also thank the City of Mississauga for its ongoing support of this project."

"Mississauga is delighted to participate with Sheridan in the development of a state-of-the-art postsecondary institution and integrated park in this ideal location in our City Centre," said Mayor Hazel McCallion. "This unique partnership will accomplish a number of the city’s Stategic Plan goals, and will be a catalyst to transform our downtown into a vibrant and connected community."

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria, application instructions and a list of the approved projects to date, please visit

www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure

For information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit

www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/infrastructure