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MiNews
M00022 November 2016
Brampton
Following Provincial Funding, Brampton Elaboretes On Post-Secondary Education Plan the EDC have found a “core team of highly qualified staff” that can and will focus on finding the right university partner for Brampton. Mr Schlange added that establishing a university is Brampton is a “foundational priority” of the City’s Strategic Plan. He also mentioned that Brampton is one of the youngest, most diverse and fastest growing cities in Canada. He ended his intervention by saying that the ECD along with Brampton Council and all local institutions will work to transform the City into an innovative player on the global stage. Brampton’s work plan in regards to implanting post-secondary education has a number of essential components:
Local leadership is working to plan the next steps in implementing post-secondary education in the City of Brampton.
By Bruce Wright The move comes after this November, Minister of Finance Charles Souse announced that provincial funding will be provided for the project. Mayor Linda Jeffrey declared that Brampton Council “re-affirmed their gratitude” for the
efforts made by the Blue Ribbon Panel. She also said that Council and City staff are working on the next steps needed to ensure a university partner that meets “the needs of our residents and the business community” while also meeting all specified criteria of the call for proposals. City staff presented the basic framework for the City’s plans during the November 16th session of the Economic Development Committee. City Chief Administrative Office Harry Schlange said that
Connecting Business With a New University One of the City staff’s most important jobs will be to connect with the local business community and start a relationship with the future university. The aim is both to allow access to the future talented work force while also collaborating on research, innovation and commercialization. Another key aspect will be to work on the already strong partnership with other post-secondary institutions that are already in Brampton such as Sheridan College or Algoma University. City Staff will be working with these institutions in order to create the plan for a new university in Brampton. Establishing a Clear Set of Goals and Expectations an All Levels of Government A number of meetings have already been set with leadership
from all levels of government in order to best understand the expectations and goals for the City’s new university. The full details of Province expectations for the new project will only be communicated after the call for proposals is set in place. In the meantime, city staff have met or will be meeting with Sean Conway, Chair of the Province’s Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel. The Panel’s report, which was released in June, 2016, was a key document in the City ‘s university plans. City staff will reach out to Sean Conway and his the Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel to get an even better understanding of what direction the federal government will take the project in and what roles the Regional and Municipality leadership will take. Finding a University Partner The City’s Blue Ribbon Panel has already established contact with several universities in an effort to secure a suitable University partner. The City now anticipated a more detailed conversation with Provincial and Federal representatives that will indicate the preferential program focus as well as a clear commitment to invest in Brampton’s higher education sector. For the time being, no further decisions such as location or financial support can be taken while the university partner is not secured. All detailed options will be analysed once the successful university partner has been identified and its needs as well as the details forthcoming in the Province’s call for propos-
als have been studied. The Provincial Government will launch a call for proposals in January 2017. All Ontario Universities will be encouraged to participate and partner up with local communities, businesses and other institutions to create proposals for the new Brampton facility. The current plan, as stated by the Province’s government is to create new post-secondary facilities that will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as art. The popular set of skills is often referred to as STEAM and is designed to be important for all future employees in Brampton. In 2015, Brampton had over 4,000 residents enrolled in universities 63 per cent of which were enrolled in STEAM programs. Currently, the City of Brampton is the 9th largest municipality in Canada and the only one in the Top 10 without a major university campus. Even more so, the City’s projected increase in population age 18 to 24 between 2011 and 2021 will be of 35,400 people. More demographic data projects that Brampton will have over 5,000 students accepted in universities each year from 2021 through 2041, making an even stronger case for a better educational offer in the City. The economic repercussions of a new post-secondary facility in Brampton are also optimistic, with an impact study suggesting that the construction process would add 1800 jobs to the local market while on-going operations would add a further 1500 jobs.
Brampton to Change Culture, Arts and Recreation Approach This November, Brampton leaders in Community Services and Economic Development announced a change in the way the City delivers recreation, culture and arts.
By Julia Spencers The change aims to position these service areas as contributors to the local economy by improving and repositioning them as community oriented and customer focused. The City’s Arts and Culture, including the Rose Theatre are now part of the newly named Economic Development and Culture team. The team also includes tourism, festivals and special events as well as sponsorship. The change aims to
align investments and resources for these areas and to create a number of strategic and sustainable arts and culture programs. The Change Marks a Trend In The Greater Toronto Area The change in the City’s approach has been spurred by a growing trend within the Greater Toronto Area, where municipalities seem to no longer view art and culture as mere quality of live aspects but view them as investment and economic drivers with a strong community impact. Bob Darling, the newly appointed Director of Economic Development and Culture declared that “adding a cultural lens to economic development will contribute to Brampton’s economy” while also strength-
ening community ties and increase the vibrancy and appeal of the city. Mr Darling added that both he and his office is committed to building partnerships throughout the community that will help both business and culture thrive. The Recreation Division Also Underwent Major Changes The change in the City’s service structure resulted in a new approach for the Recreation division as well. By moving arts and culture programs the now standalone Recreation division is much better suited to focus on its principle function, that of offering exceptional recreational services for Brampton’s growing number of residents. The Recreation division has
changed its structure too in order to streamline decision making and improve customer service. The structural changes led to a permanent reduction of 13 positions. Al Menses, Commissioner of Community Services declared that his office has “clarified roles and reduced duplication.” Mr Menses’ approach aims to replace confusion in the division with “a laser focused approach” that allows staff to deliver the very best recreational services in the community. Mr Menses added that he and his office have listened and will continue to listen to feedback and the community in general, understanding thus that recreation plays an important role in the health and wellness of Brampton’s residents.
Canada 150 Anniversary Brampton’s change in terms of arts, culture and recreation plays right into the busy calendar for the Canada 150 Anniversary that will mark Canada’s 150 years of Confederacy. The year-long celebration will ensure that Brampton has sufficient chances to try out its new approach with these areas and determine how it can grow economically while also creating a vibrant, well connected community. Numerous events have already been planned for 2017 with all new updates or changes being presented on the City of Brampton’s official website at www.brampton.ca. Residents can also stay in touch with the cultural and artistic life by following the City’s numerous social media channels.