Laurier, Conestoga to partner for new campus in Milton
Ontario government to spend $90M on post-secondary project in up-and-coming community
Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College are partnering in a new postsecondary campus in Milton.
The Ontario government announced Wednesday it is spending $90 million to launch the campus in a neighbourhood next to the Niagara Escarpment.
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development Mitzie Hunter and Halton MPP and Minister of Education Indira Naidoo-Harris made the long awaited announcement during a news conference at the Milton Education Village Innovation Centre.
Laurier has been working with the Town of Milton to bring post-secondary education to the community since 2008.
The campus will be located on about 60 hectares of land set aside by the town. A20-hectare parcel will be located in the proposed Milton Education Village site, next to the Mattamy National Cycling Centre.
The other 100 acres is located on nearby protected land, which will support hands-on learning for the campus’ future environmental science program.
Laurier said it plans to enrol its first students in leased space in 2019. It expects a new building will open for the 2021-22 school year and ultimately serve 2,000 students.
The campus will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math- ematics (STEAM) programming.
“Both Laurier and Conestoga are strong, visionary leaders when it comes to higher education,” said Hunter.
“They have a proven track record in preparing students for their futures and together they can combine classroom learning and hands-on experience in this fabulous location, training students in jobs that are in demand today and in the future.”
Hunter noted that with its investment the province will help provide up to 2,000 new undergraduate spaces at the site within five to 10 years.
She said Milton is in a unique position to host the campus.
“Milton is an up and coming powerhouse in Ontario. It is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada with a population expected to more than double in the next decade,” said Hunter.
“It’s clear Milton is poised to make the most of its location, nested in the Greenbelt and in the Niagara Escarpment and to grow Ontario’s already strong tech economy, but to do that you need to develop talent close to home. We know that.”
Hunter said a range of programs will be offered at the new site, including a variety of experiential learning opportunities, co-op placements and unique access to a “living laboratory” on the Greenbelt and Niagara Escarpment.
She noted Laurier will also develop partnerships with the Milton Chamber of Commerce and its more than 700 members to offer students meaningful experiences within the local community.