A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on July 28 to mark the official opening of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Centre at Niagara College’s Welland Campus. Pictured (from left): Andrew McCuaig (grad, research associate, Research & Innovation); Marc Nantel (associate VP, Research & Innovation); Dan Patterson (NC president); John Scott (NC Board of Governors); Charles Sousa (Ontario minister of Finance); Geordie Walker; Norris Walker; Jim Bradley St. Catharines MPP); Jackie Phelan (Walker Industries); Mike Watt (Walker Industries); Daniela Cortes Aristizabal (student, research associate, Research & Innovation).

View time lapse video of Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (construction) here.

Ontario is supporting the development of a highly-skilled workforce and helping businesses in Niagara region access the technology and expertise they need to grow, create jobs and compete in the global marketplace.

On July 28, Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, joined local companies, Niagara College students and industry leaders at the grand opening of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre in Welland.

The new Niagara College-affiliated centre provides students with more than 15,000 square feet of lab space for hands-on applied learning, innovation space for companies to work onsite and office space for Niagara students and industry staff.

The centre will also help Ontario’s small and medium-sized manufacturers save on production costs and reduce production time by providing them access to leading-edge equipment and state-of-the-art research facilities as well as the expertise and business services of faculty and students.

Fostering innovation and growth, and increasing opportunities for the province’s workers, is part of Ontario’s plan to create jobs, grow its economy and help people in their everyday lives.

“By supporting the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, students in the Niagara Region will have access to modern learning spaces and equipment that will help them develop the skills they’ll need for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said  Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

“Ontario’s dynamic manufacturing sector is a key component of our diverse economy. The Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre is a shining example of a company that has taken advantage of home grown talent to drive success, while providing custom work for businesses throughout the region,” said Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance. “These investments are among the many significant measures we’ve taken to help the sector grow and compete as we build and nurture the workforce of tomorrow.”

The Walker family and Walker Industries donated $1.2 million to support Niagara College’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre.  The gift from the Walker family is the largest private corporate donation ever made to Niagara College.

The fifth generation Walker family members are the owners of Walker Industries, a Niagara-based company that owns and operates limestone quarries; road construction and paving businesses; an emulsions plant; an integrated waste management system which includes collection, transfer, recycling, composting, biosolids management, landfill gas utilization and waste disposal; and a residential and commercial development division.

“As a family and a business that has had strong roots in the region for 130 years, we are proud to invest in Niagara College’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre,” said Geordie Walker, company shareholder, Walker Industries. “The ability to innovate is key to future economic prosperity. We see our gift as a way to support other local industries to innovate, prosper, and contribute to the continued growth of the Niagara economy, while providing students with work experiences that will make them the innovators of the future.”

“It’s an exciting day for Niagara College as we formally recognize how the province of Ontario’s investment and the donation from the Walker family has made it possible to provide manufacturers with increased access to leading-edge facilities, equipment, technical expertise, training and services, while increasing training and employment opportunities for our students,” said NC president Dan Patterson.

QUICK FACTS (Ontario Ministry of Finance)

*  Ontario invested $4.2 million for Niagara College’s new Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

*  Manufacturing real GDP in Ontario has risen for three consecutive years, while employment in the sector increased by more than 6,000 in 2016 and continues to advance in 2017.

*  Over the past three years, Ontario’s economy has grown faster than Canada’s and that of all G7 countries, supported by the government’s strategic investments. Manufacturing, exports and business investments are increasing and the unemployment rate continues to decline.

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Construction Begins on New Manufacturing Innovation Centre

Craft brewery Beau’s All Natural brewing celebrated of 10 years of brewing craft beer in Eastern Ontario, with a special gift to Niagara College.

At a ceremony held July 2 as part of Beau’s 10^th birthday celebrations, Tim and Steve Beauchesne announced that beginning with the 2016/2017 academic year, the brewery will be awarding three $1,000 awards and one $2,000 scholarship annually to students enrolled in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program at Niagara College.

The $1,000 awards will be given to level two students who have shown promise in brewing innovation, be that in style, technique, or approach. The $2,000 scholarship, intended to promote diversity and equal representation, will be awarded to a student who is working with cultural, gender or health obstacles or opportunities that may affect his or her academic and career success in craft brewing.

“These legacy gifts are designed to inspire and help direct the promising future of craft brewing in Ontario and in Canada,” said  Beau’s co-founder and CEO Steve Beauchesne. “They reflect the values that our fans and fellow brewers have come to know and expect from Beau’s over the last decade.”

“Strong ties to Ontario’s craft brewers is a key ingredient in our Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, and we’re very grateful to Beau’s for their generous contribution, which will support our students’ success,” said Craig Youdale, dean of Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute. “I’m particularly pleased that the Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company Scholarship will support students who demonstrate perseverance and an innovative approach – characteristics that we work hard to instill throughout our programs.”

The $1,000 awards will be awarded by faculty to students who meet the criteria. The $2,000 scholarship can be applied for through the college, with a deadline this year of September 30, 2016. Information about the scholarships and awards, including application details, will be posted soon at http://www.niagaracollege.ca/costs-financial-aid/scholarships-and-bursaries.

The Niagara College awards and scholarship are part of a series of announcements marking Beau’s 10^th birthday. In May, Beau’s announced the start of its transition to employee ownership, and in early June its partnership as the official brewery of Ottawa 2017. More 10^th Birthday announcements will be coming over the coming months as Beau’s looks back on 10 years, as well as forward to the future.

Beau’s All Natural is an employee-owned and totally independent Canadian craft brewery.

From left: Niagara College President Dr. Dan Patterson; Elizabeth Spaan, Senior Regional Manager, TD Wealth; Coby Hawkins, Niagara District Vice President, TD Canada Trust; Peter Berridge, Relationship Manager, TD Commercial Banking; Derek Brodie, Investment Advisor and Branch Manager, TD Wealth; Tim Caughey, Portfolio Manager, TD Wealth.

TD Bank Group announced a $150,000 gift to Niagara College’s Achieving Dreams Campaign today, which will establish a new bursary to support students in Niagara College’s environmental programs.

Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, more than 80 students over four years will receive financial awards via the TD Environmental Studies Bursaries. The award will be based on both academic excellence and financial need.

“TD is proud to support Niagara College’s Achieving Dreams Campaign,” said Coby Hawkins, District Vice President, Niagara Region, TD Canada Trust. “We’re committed to building stronger communities through education and environmental stewardship. We believe that the TD Environmental Studies Bursaries will help provide valuable opportunities for students and make a meaningful difference in Niagara and beyond.”

Announced on Earth Day, the bursaries will be available to students studying in environmental programs, including Environmental Technician – Field and Laboratory (Co-op);  Ecosystem Restoration; Environmental Management and Assessment; Geographic Information Systems – Geospatial Management; and Renewable Energies Technician.

“We at Niagara College are very proud of our environmental programs as well as our strong commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “The students in these programs will go on to make our communities more sustainable, and we’re very grateful for TD Bank’s investment in their success.”

The TD Bank Group gift brings Niagara College closer to its $7 million Achieving Dreams Campaign goal, which includes $4 million for campus redevelopment, $2 million for scholarships and bursaries, and $1 million for equipment and learning resources.

Niagara College offers more than 100 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Falls; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Continuing Education courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit NiagaraCollege.ca.

About TD Community Giving

TD Bank Group invests in communities in order to effect positive change in the places where it operates and where its customers and employees live and work. In 2015, TD donated more than $92.5 million to community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, TD focuses on education and financial literacy, creating opportunities for young people and the environment. For further information, please visit www.td.com/corporate-responsibility.

PenFinancial Credit Union presented a $25,000 donation to Niagara College October 19 that will establish a scholarship to support community-minded, local students.

A total of $5,000 in PenFinancial Credit Union Scholarships will be awarded annually. The $1,000 scholarships will be presented at the start of all three annual terms (Fall, Winter, Spring) to a student from a Niagara region high school entering any Niagara College post-secondary or graduate program. The award is intended to support students who are actively volunteering their time to support a Niagara-based organization that is building strong, caring and inclusive communities.

“As a truly local financial institution, we are proud to celebrate Niagara youth who are making a difference by volunteering their time and talent to organizations across our communities,” said Bob Watson, PenFinancial Credit Union’s CEO. “Niagara is our home and we are committed to encouraging our next generation to continue to support not-for-profits that are building strong, caring and inclusive communities.

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be a graduate of a high school in the Niagara region, and hold a minimum 75 percent academic average. Applicants will also be required to submit a one-page essay that describes how the award will help them in their studies, along with their volunteer activities.

“Like PenFinancial Credit Union, we place a high-value on community service and we provide many opportunities for our students to do work that enhances the lives of others,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson. “We’re very grateful for PenFinancial’s generous support, which will help our students succeed.”

The first PenFinancial Credit Union Scholarship will be presented in January, 2016. For the next five years, two incoming students will receive the scholarships at the start of the Fall and Winter terms, and one incoming student will receive the scholarship at the start of the Spring term.