Pictured: Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope, M.P.P. Pat Hoy, TSI President Kaitlyn Nantais, Dr. John Strasser, M.P. Dave Van Kesteren, Board of Governors Chair Ron Shaw

Chatham - Under a grey sky and a brisk fall autumn wind, surprising for an April day, M.P. Dave Vankesteren and M.P.P. Pat Hoy helped with the ground-breaking of the new Technology and Trades Centre at our Thames Campus. About 75 faculty, staff and students joined Dr. Strasser and Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope for another positive step in the investment of both our provincial and federal governments in our Thames Campus.

“This is the investments we celebrate today, to help us take the next steps towards our Thames Campus enrolment reaching our goal of 1,500 students,” Dr. Strasser said.

This new building will be constructed beside the existing campus with the $4.4 million in federal and provincial stimulus funding. The federal and provincial each contributed $2.2 million to St. Clair College for a new Technology and Trades addition. The college is investing $730,000 for a total project cost of $5,130,000.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope looks to this project as another example of the growth of the need for trades and the creation of jobs in the region. Mayor Hope has been proud to be part of the college’s growth to increase the capacity of learning space for students which increases the capacity of students attending college Chatham-Kent.

The building will be approximately 18,000 square feet and will be the home of existing and brand new programs which are waiting for ministry approval.

Based on ministry approval, we will provide the following programs: Power line Technician, Renewable Energy Technician, Electrical Technician, Electro Mechanical Technician and Powerline Electrician Apprentice. Existing programs which will be moved to the centre are Construction Electrician Apprenticeship, Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship and Electrical Techniques.

The new centre should be ready for classes for the fall of 2011.

These joint investments are to help provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating construction jobs as well as employment for engineers, architects other trades people and technicians.

Both governments are also helping to improve teaching facilities and generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Ontario’s colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement