New Campus Opens Fall 2011

After almost three decades of planning and hoping, Georgian College has broken ground to begin construction on a new Collingwood campus.

College President and CEO Brian Tamblyn was the first to drive his shovel into the ground at the Poplar Sideroad/Raglan Street location. "This is a seminal day for Georgian College. After 26 years, we have finally found our permanent home in Collingwood. This campus will expand access to full and part-time academic studies, opening up new opportunities and new horizons to local students."

The new Collingwood Campus will be situated on 10 acres of land generously donated by developer John Di Poce. In addition, a $4-million contribution was received from the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

The new campus will be a custom-made home, allowing the College to offer a wide range of educational opportunities for area residents and businesses.

Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier said having the campus situated adjacent to the town's new industrial park highlights Collingwood's willingness to educate students to offer highly trained employees to the new businesses the park will attract and to existing business in the community. Carrier also thanked developer John Di Poce for his contribution to help make the groundbreaking ceremony possible.

Barbara Weider was recognized for her 26 year involvement with Georgian College in the community. Weider reminded everyone present that the very first Georgian College classroom was situated at Blue Mountain Resort. Weider had participated in many moves to various locations in Collingwood over the years and was clearly overwhelmed that the day had finally arrived for the groundbreaking of a new, permanent Collingwood campus.

Georgian College President and CEO Brian Tamblyn, Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier and Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson all thanked Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis for her tireless efforts in working to bring much needed funding to the table to enable the construction project to finally move forward. "We all worked hard to prepare the package and then we gave it to Helena to do something with it" said Barb Weider, who also took time to thank Guergis for her contribution to the realization of the community dream to have its own Georgian College campus.

Guergis was on hand to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. Other platform party members were Maryann Fifield - Dean, School of Community and Government Programs and School of Aboriginal Studies, Sharon Bate - Chair, Georgian College Board of Governors, Brian Tamblyn - President and CEO, Georgian College, Tony Miele - Di Poce Management Limited, Jim Wilson - MPP, Simcoe-Grey, Alicia Savage - Councillor, County of Simcoe, Chris Carrier - Mayor of Collingwood, George Vadeboncoeur - CAO, Town of Wasaga Beach, Ken Ferguson - Mayor, Township of Clearview, John McGee - Councillor, The Blue Mountains, Marie Miller - Student and Barb Weider - Former member, Board of Governors.

The new campus will contain nine classrooms plus a student lounge. Among the classrooms will be two computer labs, one "e-lab", one multi-function health sciences lab, and one community room/small classroom. Administration offices and "innovation space" for small business incubtion activities will also be included. The new building will accommodate 250 full-time students and more tahn 3,000 part-time students each year.

The new Collingwood Campus of Georgian College will open in the Fall of 2011.