Ottawa (August 28, 2008) – Continuing a trend of new growth and development underway in Ottawa’s east end, Council has thrown its support behind La Cité collégiale’s proposed Centre for Innovation. The City has agreed to donate a 7.3-hectare parcel of land, valued at $1 million, at the northwest corner of Highway 174 and Trim Road for the construction of the college’s new skills training facility. Once completed in the fall of 2010, the $18-million, 63,000-square-foot campus will provide capacity for about 1,400 students, and initially create 40 full- and part-time jobs. In its first five years, the Centre for Innovation is expected to inject more than $13 million into the local economy, and eventually employ as many as 90 people.

“Council recognizes the importance of bringing new jobs and growth to the east end of our community, and our partnerships in La Cité collégiale’s Centre for Innovation, the Orléans Town Centre development and the Shenkman Arts Centre demonstrate this commitment,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “We are also steadfast in ensuring a healthy and robust local economy. Donating this property for a skills training facility represents a solid contribution to the future of Ottawa’s labour force.”

The Construction Sector Council has estimated that more than 7,000 newly skilled construction workers will be needed in Eastern Ontario over the next eight years. The Centre for Innovation will be dedicated to skills training, innovation and excellence in the construction trades. It will increase the number of construction-industry programs currently offered by La Cité collégiale from seven to 18, and double the number of apprenticeships from 358 to 718 by 2012.

Council’s decision comes on the heels of several recent announcements that have breathed more life into Orléans’ local economy, including the development of the $255-million Town Centre, the construction of the new Days Inn on Tenth Line Road and Montfort Hospital’s decision to proceed with the $80-million Orléans Family Health Centre.

“There is a new sense of confidence and optimism in the east end,” stated Orléans ward Councillor Bob Monette. “We are seeing unprecedented growth in jobs and economic development. The addition of La Cité collégiale’s new campus is one more step towards establishing a more diversified local economy, and a better balance of commercial and residential development in our community.”

The provision of land for the Centre for Innovation is the second major investment the City has made in post-secondary education in the last year. In November 2007, City Council voted to support Algonquin College’s Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and Health Sciences Education Facility with a donation of 1.6 hectares of land, worth $3.2 million.

The City’s support for La Cité collégiale’s Centre for Innovation has several conditions attached to it, including requirements for the college to obtain partnership funding from the federal and provincial governments, and to begin construction by December 31, 2010. On August 26, 2008, the Province announced that it would provide $6.75 million in partnership funding for the centre at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa.

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