Evolving education on waterfront campus

In the post-secondary education sector, Ontario’s colleges are distinguished primarily by their mandate to support the development of employees for key employment sectors. As one of Canada’s largest educators in health sciences, George Brown College is committed to producing graduates that possess not only the skills that meet current employers’ needs, but also the practical experience to advance the overall state of the sector. To help reach this goal, the college will be providing students in its Centre for Health Sciences with one of the most advanced learning environments available at its new campus on Toronto’s East Waterfront, which is scheduled to open its doors in September 2012. Prior to acquiring the waterfront site for a new campus, the College had one goal: to create a new model of healthcare education within its existing separate facilities, based on a more collaborative learning approach – known as interprofessional education – where students from different programmes learn and practice together. As 100-yearold converted factories, the two main health sciences buildings were not particularly well-suited for the type of collaborative interactions and technologically advanced learning environments that were envisioned. Shortcomings included obstructed views, limited ventilation and electrical accommodations, and technology. In addition, there was the ever-present need to accommodate a growing number of students across multiple campuses.

New ‘from the ground up’

When the opportunity became available to build a new campus from the ground up, many of the previous limitations were lifted. More importantly, the location of the new campus was an ideal fit for the college, both physically and symbolically. The stated commitment of Waterfront Toronto is to create vital and inclusive waterfront neighbourhoods that include a complementary mix of residences, commercial space, and public spaces, for all to enjoy. These concepts align with George Brown College’s own commitments to encouraging access to education, building communities, and promoting health and wellness throughout the Centre for Health Sciences. The complementary nature between a new campus and one of Toronto’s key development areas was readily apparent to stakeholders on both sides. This was demonstrated by the provision of funding from both provincial and federal levels of government, which are providing C$61.5 million and C$30 m respectively. The balance of the C$175 m total required will be provided through the College’s reserves, and a future George Brown College capital fundraising campaign. I