Government of Ontario invests $15 million in uOttawa medicine and health sciences project
Ottawa, March 3, 2008 — The Government of Ontario is investing $15 million to expand the Roger Guindon Hall on the University’s Alta Vista Campus, to enhance the training experience of more health professionals and bring research, teaching and learning under one roof.
“Investing in our future nurses, doctors and researchers will help fuel new discoveries, treatments and cures, which will benefit all Ontario families,” said Premier Dalton McGuinty at an event held at the University of Ottawa to mark the investment.
Thanks to this funding, uOttawa medicine and health science students will gain access to a new training clinic on the Alta Vista Campus. Larger classrooms, learning labs and student spaces will be built for students in medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, audiology and speech therapy.
The University of Ottawa campus is expanding to meet the growing need for health care professionals in the province. The Roger Guindon addition will add more than 50,000 square feet of student learning space, necessary since enrolment in the university’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences has more than doubled since 2000, with over 6,500 students today.
This project is part of the Government of Ontario’s five-point plan to strengthen the economy, including major investments in infrastructure. Today’s announcement also serves to support the University’s Vision 2010 Strategic Plan and its Five-Year Facilities Renewal and Expansion Plan. The overall estimated cost for the Roger Guindon expansion is $32 million.
“The University of Ottawa is pleased the Government of Ontario has put its support behind our institution as a major player in improving the province’s health care system. We are excited about the opportunity to improve and expand medicine and health sciences training in Ottawa as well as the potential outcomes of this project and for the future of medicine and health services in our region and across the province.” said Gilles Patry, University of Ottawa President.