Georgian College

GREY COUNTY INVESTS $2 MILLION IN MED CENTRE PARTNERS COMING ON BOARD TO BUILD A NEW MARINE TRAINING FACILITY As part of Georgian's goal to deliver comprehensive marine training, the college will build a Marine Emergency Duties Training and Research Centre at its Owen Sound Campus. Marine Emergency Duties (MED) training is mandatory basic safety and survival training for anyone who works on a ship. Courses include firefighting, survival craft, life raft and immersion suit training and first aid. Students from Georgian's two marine diploma programs require this training, often within the first six months of their program so they can begin their co-op placements. For the past two decades, the college partnered with Transport Canada to deliver MED training at its facility in Port Colborne. However, Transport Canada divested the site in 2013. Currently, the closest English- language institution that offers MED training is located in Prince Edward Island. Once built, the centre will offer training to students as well as the marine industry through corporate training. "There is an urgent need to establish a training site in Ontario to serve the Great Lakes marine industry," said MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO. "The majority of mariners working on the Great Lakes live in Ontario and we risk losing many of those, new to the industry, to saltwater fleets on the east and west coasts where they now must travel for this mandatory training." The cost to build the 6,500-square- foot centre is $7 million. Georgian is also seeking provincial and federal government funding support. The college plans to fundraise with private and industry donors as well. As the first step in building the MED Centre at Georgian, Grey County council agreed in August to invest $2 million in the project. It is the council's largest commitment ever made toward economic development. "Funding for the Marine Emergency Duties Training and Research Centre should be seen as an investment in economic development for Grey County," said Brian Milne, Grey County Warden. "The financial return to the community will be significant and widespread." The MED Centre will complement Georgian's Great Lakes International Marine Training and Research Centre and position the college and Grey County as Central Canada's Marine Centre of Excellence. Councillor Arlene Wright agreed the new centre will positively impact the region. "The college is an important piece of our economic health and people come from near and far to participate in the courses offered." Grey County Warden Brian Milne, right, tours the marine bridge simulator at the Owen Sound Campus with Professor Colin MacNeil upon announcing his council will invest $2 million in the new Marine Emergency Duties Training and Research Centre. GEORGIANVIEW 2014 36 GRADitude

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