News Release

May 10, 2010

NorQuest College unveils consolidated Downtown Campus vision
North Learning Centre will transform Edmonton’s community college into a vibrant downtown campus

EDMONTON – President and CEO Dr. Wayne Shillington presented NorQuest College’s Downtown Campus vision to a full crowd at Monday’s Downtown Rotary Club luncheon. Plans call for a new building, the North Learning Centre, to be built directly north of the existing Downtown Campus Main Building at 10215-108 Street.

“Once built, the North Learning Centre will meet our growth needs for a decade,” said Shillington.  “To meet the needs of the community means NorQuest must transform into a leading comprehensive community college. Our vision is to create a vibrant downtown campus that consolidates our existing Edmonton locations, improving access to services, teaching technology and supportive learning space for all learners.”

A sustainable and efficient building that will more than double NorQuest’s existing on-site capacity, the North Learning Centre will face Capital Boulevard (108 Street), bounded by 103 Avenue and 107 Street. The 27,500 square metre, five-storey building will provide state-of-the-art smart classrooms, a daycare centre, a new library, food services and student activity space. The North Learning Centre will be connected at all levels with the existing Main Building. The vision is to modernize the Downtown Campus, incorporate green park space and serve as an anchor to the north leg of Capital Boulevard. Plans also call for refurbishing and retrofitting of the existing Main Building once programs and services are redistributed between the two buildings.

In recent years, the Government of Alberta has committed $5 million toward updating the business case and planning activities for the new building. These will be submitted to government in July 2010. Construction is not approved by government at this time. The College plans to develop to a stage where it is tender ready if and when government has the funds to support the project.

Existing Edmonton locations include:

• Westmount Campus (11140 - 131 St.), a leased facility
• Business and Industry Education Centre (Capital Centre, 10135 - 109 St.), a leased facility
• Health Education Centre – 106 Street (10232 – 106 Street), a leased facility
• Health Education Centre – 102 Avenue (10704 – 102 Avenue), owned by NorQuest
• Intercultural Centre (10230 - 108 Street), owned by NorQuest
• Main Building (10215 – 108 Street), owned by NorQuest

Click here to view and download video Building Edmonton Region’s Community College.

About NorQuest College

NorQuest College is Edmonton’s community college with campuses in Edmonton, Wetaskiwin and Stony Plain, community learning centres in seven other Alberta communities and online distance learning available in more than 200 communities in Canada. NorQuest delivers post-secondary diplomas and certificates in a variety of health, human services, business and industry career programs, and has expertise in adult literacy, academic upgrading, English as a Second Language (ESL), Aboriginal education, and learner supports for students with disabilities. As the largest community college in Alberta, NorQuest serves about 10,000 full- and part-time students each year. NorQuest is designated by the Alberta government as the regional steward responsible for the Edmonton region, a community of 1.3 million people spanning from Camrose to Jasper. For more information, visit www.norquest.ca.

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For more information on this release please contact

Martin Schuldhaus Communications Manager NorQuest College Office: 780-644-5924      Mobile: 780-722-9919 martin.schuldhaus@norquest.ca