By Diana Scheddin
Canadore College is providing students and the surrounding community new opportunities through its new $12.5-million aviation centre slated for completion this fall.
“North Bay stands to gain a tremendous amount from this project,” says Victor Fedeli, chair of the fundraising initiative named Flightpath. “The look and feel of this building is a showplace for North Bay. It is a sign that we have arrived, in terms of the aerospace centre.”
Hundreds of short-term jobs have been created, and new teaching jobs have become available, as a result of the enrolment of 240 new students who will begin studies in September. In addition, most employees in the aerospace industry moved to the area from out of town.
“(Construction of the centre) had a huge, positive impact on the community, adding at least 300 families to North Bay,” says Fedeli.
Canadore has always had an aviation centre, and in order to keep up with local and international market demands, a new facility was needed.
The new campus will consist of an 82,000-square-foot building, housing an 80-seat amphitheatre, and will be fully wired for all technological uses. A 27-square-foot hanger is also being built.
The facility will sit on 10 acres of land, close to Lima Taxiway and Jack Garland Airport’s 10,000-foot runway.
The project has received funding from the SuperBuild Fund, and the remaining $3.9 million is being sought through other sources, including Canadore’s partners and suppliers.
Fedeli also notes that the aerospace sector on a worldwide basis will be contacted in an effort to reduce the cost of purchasing equipment for the facility.
The facility will have its grand opening on Sept. 27, 2002.
