| November 11, 2009 Justice Institute Opens New Doors in Chilliwack CHILLIWACK - A new academic building at the Justice Institute of B.C. at the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack will build on the school's paramedic and emergency management programs. Barry Penner, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope, John Les, MLA for Chilliwack, and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, joined Jack McGee, president of the Justice Institute of B.C., to officially open the building. "By renewing the facilities at the Justice Institute of B.C. our community will have a facility that will train world-class first responders," said Strahl. "It is one way that our government is working to strengthen our capacity to train individuals for the demanding jobs of tomorrow." "This is a great addition to our community and the growing Canada Education Centre in Chilliwack," said Penner. "This facility will allow for more programs, for more students, including increased First Nations representation in the justice and public safety fields." The new space will allow JIBC to offer a special career preparatory certificate for Aboriginal students who want to pursue careers in justice and public safety fields such as policing, corrections and security. "The expanded offerings at JIBC in Chilliwack will give students in the growing communities of the Fraser Valley more access to more programs closer to home," said Les. "This partnership with the federal government and JIBC demonstrates what can be achieved when we all work together." With the renovations to the 892 sq. meter building, part of a former Department of National Defence base, the space is now functional as a teaching facility. The JIBC offers paramedic programs at its Chilliwack campus as well as programs in emergency management, corrections and conflict resolution. The institute will use the renovated site for two to four years, until a larger facility can be built that meets JIBC's long-term requirements. The renovations will extend the useful life of the building and will be of future value to the University of the Fraser Valley when the JIBC relocates to its permanent site in Canada Education Park. Total funding for the academic building is $373,000. This project is part of a $1.63-million joint federal-provincial investment in JIBC that also includes a support building and a new rescue tower at the Maple Ridge campus, as well as the replacement of aging heating and cooling equipment and machinery at the New Westminster campus. Last year, the Province invested $5.1 million last year to help JIBC acquire a 2.3-hectare parcel of land and a building to be used as a residence. On the remaining land, JIBC is constructing a new permanent building to host their growing programs. "We continue to experience growth in the demand for justice and public safety education" said McGee. "This new academic space will help ensure that we can continue producing graduates who will keep Chilliwack, and communities across the province, healthy and safe." The building is also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C. Canada's Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program. For more information on the provincial government's three-year job creation plan, visit www.gov.bc.ca/infrastructure. For more information about the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program, visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure. -30- | |
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