Durham College president Don Lovisa offers remarks during the official announcement of a new joint learning centre for Durham and Centennial colleges in Pickering on June 20. The new centre is expected to be completed in September 2012.

August 3, 2011

In response to the anticipated growth of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and its population of future post-secondary students, Durham and Centennial colleges, along with the City of Pickering, recently announced a partnership to build a joint learning centre in Pickering, Ont. The announcement was made at an event at the centre’s future site, which is located beside the Pickering Town Centre, on June 20.

Mayor of Pickering Dave Ryan was joined by Don Lovisa, president of Durham College and Ann Buller, president of Centennial College, to unveil plans for a unique two-storey building that will feature classrooms, a computer lab, student space and offices in addition to eight programs, four from each college. In addition, the centre will offer continuing education courses in the evenings and on weekends to better serve students from both schools. The project is expected to be completed in September 2012 when approximately 300 students are anticipated to register.

“As president of Durham College I am extremely pleased to be part of the establishment and development of a joint learning centre,” said Lovisa. “This new partnership with the City of Pickering and Centennial College will provide exciting, unique and convenient educational opportunities for future students in Pickering and the GTA.”

Pickering provides an optimal location for the learning centre, capitalizing on the economic potential of both Toronto and the Durham Region with direct access to major highways, strong infrastructure and supportive governments. With a direct connection to the Pickering GO Station via a pedestrian bridge, the two colleges hope to attract students from Durham Region and the GTA.

The new centre also represents the first public post-secondary presence in Pickering’s 200-year history.

“Pickering is renowned as a great place to live, work and play,” said Ryan. “With this new centre of learning, we want to also be regarded as an easily accessible and preferred place to further or enhance one’s post-secondary education.”