Brock University’s arrival in Burlington will be great for students and local businesses

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Published September 12, 2022 at 12:06 pm

The budding love affair between Brock University and the City of Burlington took another step forward last week at a public meeting.

The event, hosted by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Burlington Economic Development, brought together university interim president and vice-chancellor Lynn Wells and Burlington mayor Marianne Meed Ward to discuss what the relocation to the city will mean for area businesses and the local community.

“This new campus will allow Brock University to serve our students and the wider Halton community in a meaningful and lasting way,” Wells said.

“With the new location comes exciting opportunities to grow existing and establish new programming that aligns with local needs.”

A prime example of this, she said, is the still-developing engineering program.

The program will focus heavily on educating market-ready graduates who can work in a range of engineering fields and have the technical and essential skills to succeed in the workforce. It will also provide experiential education opportunities for students to work with companies, including those in Halton region, as part of their studies.

In addition to bringing new students and skills to the area, the relocation will provide new professional and continuing studies opportunities to support the changing needs of businesses and the labour force, as well as research and development support for local industries.

“We see ourselves as a future partner in the social and economic vitality of Burlington, alongside other key stakeholders,” Wells said.

Meed Ward said Brock’s relocation will be a “future-oriented win-win for the entire community.”

“I have always been passionate about increasing post-secondary opportunities in Burlington,” she said.

“Having another post-secondary institution in the city will provide local businesses access to trained graduates. With more students staying in Burlington to complete their post-secondary studies, it allows a wide variety of local businesses and service providers access to a younger target market.”

Welcoming Brock to the city represents a significant milestone for Burlington Economic Development, said the organization’s executive director Anita Cassidy.

“Not only have we attracted a post-secondary institution significantly ahead of our target, but we are especially proud to welcome a university known internationally for its excellent academic programming, student culture and strategic partnerships,” Cassidy said.

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