Durham College says Ontario will provide $5.47M for facility renewal and program equipment

Durham College says it will receive $5,472,600 from the Province of Ontario for campus renewal projects and instructional equipment, with the announcement made Feb. 19 at the college’s Whitby campus.

The funding is split between building work and new program equipment, which could affect the condition of college facilities and the tools used in hands-on training.

Most of the funding—$4,407,800—comes through Ontario’s Facilities Renewal Program. Planned work includes roof replacement, boiler replacement and HVAC improvements, according to the college’s announcement.

The remaining $1,064,800 is through the province’s College Equipment Renewal Fund. Durham College said planned purchases include updated welding technologies, new tools and equipment for carpentry and construction programs, and an autoclave for biotechnology and environmental technology programs.

The college also said the equipment funding includes upgrades connected to health care and paramedic training, but it did not specify what items would be purchased.

According to Durham College, the announcement at the Whitby campus was made by Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham and Ontario’s Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks and Acting Minister of Infrastructure.

The college said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, also took part in the announcement. Coe is parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Durham College said.

Neither the province nor the college provided a timeline in the announcement for when the facility work or equipment purchases would be completed.