Campus proposed in Brampton’s new Centre for Innovation
By: Surjit Singh Flora
BRAMPTON, ON (June 16, 2021) – On Wed, June 16, 2021 Brampton City Council unanimously supported a motion to work with the University of Guelph and Humber College to bring the University of Guelph-Humber (UofGH) to Brampton’s new Centre for Innovation (CFI). City staff and the institutions will now begin work on identifying required supports and business terms for the potential relocation of the campus as an anchor tenant in the CFI.
“It’s a natural fit for U of GH to be a key partner in the Brampton Centre for Innovation and support current and future students with a unique and proven model that allows them to earn both a degree and a diploma within four years,” said Charlotte Yates, president and vice chancellor, University of Guelph.
“Given that Brampton generates the largest number of applicants to U of GH out of all Ontario cities, we are excited by the opportunity to have Brampton as the home for an innovative new campus,” said Chris Whitaker, president and CEO, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
The University of Guelph-Humber is a unique partnership between Humber College and the University of Guelph. Through integrated academic and hands-on experiences, students earn both a Humber diploma and a University of Guelph honours bachelor’s degree in four years.
“This exciting partnership with the University of Guelph-Humber will be a pivotal building block of Brampton’s Centre for Innovation and truly help develop our city into a major education and innovation hub,” said Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton. “Our students deserve the best opportunities for success and those come with access to high quality education and skills development options — right here at home.”
While Ward 1 Councillors Rowena Santos and Paul Vicente said, “We welcome the University of Guelph Humber and their proposal to relocate their school to downtown Brampton as a major part of the Centre for Innovation (CFI). The prospect of 5,000+ students is a crucial element of our plan to revitalize the downtown area, more than streetscaping. The economic impact of an established university moving into Brampton can benefit our residents, youth, and local businesses for generations to come. We are excited about this collaboration with the University of Guelph-Humber as we continue our work to bring more post secondary opportunities to our city.
Rowena Santos and Paul Vicente are the local Regional Councillors in Ward 1 where the CFI is to be built. Councillor Santos is a board member of the local Business Improvement Area (Downtown Brampton BIA) and Councillor Vicente is Vice Chair of Economic Development. This initiative will also complement and enhance the future of critical innovation and technology infrastructure, crucial to our economic recovery strategy. We aspire to foster a nurturing environment for learning and development through high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to meet the needs of the labour market today and in the future.
“The University of Guelph-Humber is delighted to be working alongside its institutional partners and the City of Brampton to further explore this exciting opportunity,” said George Bragues, interim vice provost, University of Guelph-Humber. “We pride ourselves on supporting student success and producing well-educated, experienced graduates who are ready to make an impact on society.”
UofGH current and future programs will complement Ryerson’s planned medical school and its cybersecurity research/innovation centre as well as Algoma University and Sheridan College’s existing programs.
