Georgian College’s newest building received a huge helping hand from Alectra, ensuring that innovation and technology will be a college campus mainstay for generations.
The new Advanced Technology, Innovation and Research Centre got a $750,000 investment from the power giant as announced at a press conference earlier today. The five-year deal will see the naming of an 8,000 square foot focal point of the new building, which will be ready for fall semester, become known as the Alectra Centre for Research Innovation and Commercialization. Georgian College president and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes announced the investment and explained the importance of Alectra to the college in more ways than just the new sponsorship.
“Alectra has made significant investments in our college and in our students,” said Moynes. “From supporting our centre for sustainable technologies and electrical vehicle charging stations, from which I hear we will need more, to participating in applied research projects and contributing to awards and scholarships that have meaningful impact for our students. Maybe most importantly is that Alectra is a significant co-op, employer and hires our graduates; what could be better than that.”
Alectra President and CEO Brian Bentz was just as excited to be able to further the relationship between the two entities and he himself as a very personal connection the college.
“Alectra was built on the power of partnerships and we believe that coming together we are stronger and better positioned for the future,” said Bentz. “The culture and community is growing rapidly and reaching out all over and that’s a fantastic thing. When educators and companies like ours can work together in terms of learning and sharing and resourcing, because we’re very proud of our Georgian graduates of which I am one and proudly say that, we can accomplish amazing things.”
The partnership between Georgian College and Alectra began in 2009 when the power company funded the Centre for Sustainable Technology building. The relationship means many things to the college and company, but Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman is ecstatic that Alectra and his city’s post-secondary school have formed a tight bond that benefits the local economy, students and residents alike.
“I have a lot of pride in Alectra because it shows what cities can do together and the six medium sized cities that own the company are fast growing communities who shared a vision to be leaders in the electricity sector,” said Lehman, who is also a director of the Alectra board. “But it was the skill of an incredible management team and board of directors that we’ve been able to create this new company and their ongoing commitment to the communities that we serve; which is something we are committed to never ever losing. As big as Alectra is, it is owned by the cities that it serves and it serves with an eye to the development of community.”
