Press Release
Alongside project partners and supporters, Confederation College celebrated an important milestone Friday.
Its Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Hub, currently under construction, is now fully enclosed, signalling significant progress on the project, with the building on track for its scheduled completion in the spring.
Programming in the new facility will begin in the fall.
As part of the celebration, project funders were treated to an inside look at the construction progress with a tour of the building.
The TEC Hub will contribute to the development of a skilled, employment-ready technology and trades workforce for Northwestern Ontario.
It also will host vibrant research, incubation, and technology transfer services to support the region’s advanced manufacturing, technology, and resource sectors.
“Reaching this milestone in our TEC Hub construction is a beautiful gift just in time for the holiday season,” said Confederation College president Jim Madder.
“I applaud our project partners for their hard work and professionalism, which has led us to this moment and positions us well for completion in the spring as scheduled.
“I also extend my deepest gratitude to our project funders for their generous support of our vision to create this multi-purpose space for the benefit of our students, community, and regional economy through opportunities for post-secondary education, skills training, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he added.
“The Technology, Education and Collaboration Hub will be a wonderful asset to our region as we continue to diversify our economy and our workforce,” said Employment, Workforce Development and Labour minister Patty Hajdu, who also is the MP for Thunder Bay-Superior.
“It truly is a strategic investment as the TEC Hub ensures today’s students will have great jobs in in-demand industries tomorrow,” she noted.
“It is exciting to see the progress that’s been made on Confederation College’s Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Hub, and I look forward to seeing the wonderful things this project will bring to Northwestern Ontario upon completion,” echoed Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak.
“This hub will be an excellent addition to the school, as well as the innovation, entrepreneurship, and trades sectors of Northwestern Ontario,” he added.
“Our government’s vision is to make Canada as a global centre for innovation, and it is innovative projects like this that will make this vision a reality.”
“I am proud of our government’s investment in the Technology, Education and Collaboration Hub construction,” said Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle, who also is the MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
“We are one significant step closer to building an improved learning environment that will increase the skilled and developed workforce for all of Northwestern Ontario.”
“The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission would like to congratulate Confederation College on the new Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Hub that will host vibrant research, incubation, and technology transfer services in support of the region’s manufacturing, technology, and resource sectors,” said Doug Murray, CEO of Thunder Bay CEDC.
An extension of the existing McIntyre Building at Confederation’s Thunder Bay campus, the $19-million project is creating a 45,000 sq. ft. space, which includes three main clusters: industry skills and sustainability instruction, advanced manufacturing technology, and innovation and incubation.
The new facility will support the college’s engineering technology programs, welcome the Aerospace Manufacturing program, currently located within the school’s Aviation Centre of Excellence, and provide pathways for skilled trades programming, specifically for indigenous learners.
All of this will lead to the ability to support more students through learning, and will open the door for new programming to be developed as industry needs continue to evolve.
The TEC Hub also will create important opportunities for collaboration, inviting community partners to participate in research and development, and offering space for regional groups and individuals to pursue their own projects.
Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship will be a cornerstone of the new facility.
The project has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Strategic Investment Fund, the Province of Ontario, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., the Thunder Bay CEDC, and Confederation College.
For more information, visit www.confederationcollege.ca/TEC-Hub
