Federal funding helps Canadore College expand its programing to support students, businesses, municipalities and Indigenous communities, creating more than 95 jobs
August 16, 2022 - North Bay, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor
A key part of Canada's economic recovery is supporting businesses as they rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. To do so, businesses and entrepreneurs need a strong foundation, built on innovation, inclusivity and clean growth to create the workforce of the future.
Today, the Honourable Anthony Rota, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, announced a Government of Canada investment of $2,875,920 through FedNor and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to support four initiatives at Canadore College. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, and the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors.
Of the total, Canadore College will receive FedNor funding of $1.1 million to establish a Concept Development Lab (CDL) at its Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping (ICAMP) facility. This targeted investment will enhance the regional innovation ecosystem by supporting businesses and start-ups throughout the commercialization process including scale-up and product development. Over the next three years, the CDL will complete technology audits and help businesses develop and commercialize new or modified products, processes, services or technologies. This project is expected to create 44 jobs and maintain 60 more.
As part of the announcement, Canadore College will also receive FedNor funding of $750,000 to establish an Indigenous Clean Water Learning Lodge. Specifically, the investment will be used to create a comprehensive platform of technologies, services and educational programs tailored to fit First Nations needs and values, while addressing the challenges of delivering reliable and sustainable clean drinking water to remote Indigenous communities. Once fully operational, the Lodge will feature a fully operational water treatment facility and demonstration lab to showcase innovative water treatment technologies and services. This project is expected to create 25 jobs.
The announcement also includes FedNor funding of $1,000,920 to help ThinkOn establish a Digital Public Safety Centre at Canadore College. As Canada's first and only exclusive provider of storage, computer and networking resources, ThinkOn's North Bay facility will feature a Secret Cleared Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Digital Evidence Management (DEM) Archive. The SOC will be a highly secure facility that identifies and resolves all security events and incidents. The archive will provide secure hosting of vendor neutral digital evidence content management and archiving evidence for public safety agencies and groups in Ontario and Canada. This targeted investment will also allow ThinkOn to host a major cyber-security event to showcase North Bay as a prime location for digital technology. This priority project is expected to create 28 full-time jobs over the next two years.
Finally, ESDC through its New Horizons for Seniors Program is providing $25,000 for a community-based project to help Canadore College host information sessions on financial literacy and promote the awareness of elder abuse among seniors.
