Ontario government approves anticipated Laurier Milton Campus

Early this morning, the government of Ontario announced the approval of Wilfrid Laurier University’s long-awaited campus in the Town of Milton.

The province has committed $90 million in funding in order to develop a satellite campus in Milton in partnership with Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, offering programs in science, mathematics, technology and arts.

The new campus on the west side of the Greater Toronto Area will offer enrolment to 2000 students. September 2019 is set to be the first date of enrolment using leased space, with a new building aimed to be completed for the 2021-22 academic school year.

“We are thrilled by today’s news and grateful for the Ontario government’s ongoing investment in post-secondary education,” Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor, said in a Laurier press-release.

“Laurier and the Town of Milton have been working towards this goal for more than a decade. I want to thank our municipal colleagues, area residents and our many partners who have worked so hard to bring post-secondary education to this vibrant community.”

Laurier has been discussing the possibility of developing a Milton campus since 2008. The Town of Milton donated 60 hectares of land to Laurier in correspondence to their bids to the Provincial government; however, the gift would be finalized upon receiving government funding.

As per The Cord reporting, in May 2015 the Milton Campus proposal was denied by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. However, later in November, the university put forth another bid for the satellite campus in Milton which was ultimately supported by the Provincial government.

Ever since, Laurier and the Town of Milton have been making minor developments leading up to today’s anticipated announcement.

Laurier and Conestoga have plans to create a space for students incorporating an integrated educational, research, residential and commercial neighbourhood which will be known as the Milton Educational Village.

Once completed, the village will be a 400-acre neighbourhood near the Niagara Escarpment. 150 acres will be dedicated to higher education, innovations and research. 100 acres consists of protected Greenbelt land, which came as part of Milton’s donated gift to Laurier back in the early bidding stages.

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