The University of British Columbia welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement today to extend the deadline for completion of federally funded infrastructure projects until October 31, 2011.
“While UBC is on target to complete our infrastructure projects, the government’s extension of the deadline in meeting completion targets is very welcome” said UBC President Professor Stephen Toope. “Today’s announcement is yet another indication of the progress that government and the postsecondary education sector has made in simultaneously improving the economy of today while advancing an internationally competitive science and technology strategy that will support the economy of tomorrow.”
UBC has benefitted from two of the government’s infrastructure initiatives, the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RiNC).
The largest KIP project in British Columbia is the renewal of the BioSciences building on the Vancouver campus. Near completion and incorporating the latest in sustainable construction techniques, the renewed building will help UBC to attract and retain scholars from around the world and serve more than 14,000 students a year.
Two projects at the Okanagan campus are now complete, a state of the art geothermal heating system and an upgraded soccer pitch for student and community teams. At UBC’s Vancouver campus, RiNC funding will dramatically improve the tennis facilities for students and campus residents.