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"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, October 10, 2001 - 13 Dignitaries gathered at Durham College on Oct. 2 Province officially announces Ontario Institute of Technology By Dianne Bowman Special to The Star The Ontario Institute of Technology (OIT), a dream that has been in the works for 30 years, was officially announced last Thursday at Durham College. The OIT, which will be located in Oshawa at the Durham Collegg#campus, will be the first University to be built in Ontario in 40 years. Students' will have the option of getting a degree, a diploma, or both. When the OIT opens in September 2003, Gary Polonsky, president of both Durham College and OIT, sees about 8,000 full- time students being enrolled in college and university courses. "lI envision 15,000 stu- dents by 2010, and 20,000 midway through the fol- lowing decade. In addi- tion, I see our part-time student enrollment grow- ing from 40,000, where it's at today, to 60,000 by 2010 and 80,000 in the next decade," said Mr Polonsky during the Oct. 4 announcement. The event attracted a variety of dignitaries, including representatives rom the different areas throughout Durham Region, other universities and colleges, community members and teachers and students of Durham College. Earlier this year, Durham area MPP Jim Flaherty, the Premier and Minister of Finance, announced that the government would grant $60 million to help build OIT. "This is an exciting milestone, this is a land- mark decision for the province of Ontario that is going to change the future not only for Durham Region but the province of Ontario," said Mr. Flaherty. Many people have spent countless hours making this dream a reali- ty and there is still a large amount of planning and building that must take place before the opening. The Ontario Institute of Technology is expected to have a huge impact on Deputy' Durham Region. As well as many new students mov- ing to town it will also pro- vide hundreds of new jobs, a brand new research capacity, and substantial purchasing and construction invest- ments. Mr. Polonsky has said the economic impact will be about $1.7 billion per year. The OIT will provide many new possibilities for Durham Region and Northumberland County. "When | think of OIT | think of changes we would like, 1 see university and college students working together, learning togeth- er, fighting together and still overall being able to get the best education," said Darla Price, presi- dent of the Durham College Student Association. The OIT will be con- nected with Durham College, and the students who attend will be given three choices. They will be able to get a degree, a diploma or a combination of the two. The Ontario Institute of Technology will be locat- ed on thé Durham College® campus and on land acquired from Windfields Farm to the north of the current campus. "There will be a lot of trees, walkways, prome- nades and places for peo- ple to gather," says Mr. Polonsky. More residences are going to be built, starting this month. One will be attached to the already existing residence. New residences will be built on the north side of Conlin Road and will be complet- ed as early as 2004. There will be eight areas in which a student will be able to get a degree: Arts, Science, Health, Manufacturing, Nuclear, Education, Business/IT, and Justice and Community Safety. Nursing will be the only health degree at first, although the hope is to have additional programs in the future. The future plan is also for Manufacturing and Nuclear Science to join Railroad Club show Oct. 13-14 The Soper Valley Model Railroad Club has announced its 15th Annual Model Railroad Show. Be sure to visit the Soper Valley Model Railroad Club's model railroad show at the Bowmanville High School. The show will be open from Il am. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. and become a School of Engineering. Degrees will become important, as "degrees will be needed to get an entry into prac- tice," said Mr. Polonsky. The official announce- ment ceremony opened with the national anthem, played by the Cartwright High School senior con- cert band, conducted by John Beirness. Guest speakers for the event included: Doug Wilson, chair, Durham College board of gover- nors; Roger Anderson, chair, Region of. Durham; Nancy Diamond, mayor of Oshawa; Dianne Cunningham; Darla Price; James M. Flaherty; and Gary Polonsky. The them = for the cere- mony was based on links LL tats concept Kingfisher B, 2320 sq.1t Luxu ury.& Privacy i in Port Pe TY 1 Most Desirable a Q This Community R13 1 [HA Compdon Communications Cabls TV. and High Speed iMemet On Cable WORRY FREE TV and we're not stopping there! RB Lu REE ai Ritosin & och ste bud Le and how they fit together. Many of the guests were given a piece of chain, which symbolized the powerful link between government, business industry, community and Durham College. Each of the speakers had a link, which they attached to the previous links, there- by forming the new OIT chain. The chain was sus- EX PRR SE FA pended from the oY for the day as a symbol of OIT and its new begin- ning. Six-year-old Brianna Colling, daughter of Durham College professor Ginny Colling of Seagrave, represented the future of OIT. She helped unveil a sculpture titled the Circle of Knowledge , created by Edward Faulkenberg.