By Staff
July 31st, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Another post secondary institution is setting up camp in Burlington.
Mohawk College serves more than 32,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at four main campuses in Hamilton.
Mohawk College announced its intent to expand facilities into the City of Burlington. The college has formalized a Letter of Understanding with the City of Burlington and Burlington Economic Development to establish new Mohawk College learning hubs and campuses in Burlington.
Interestingly – there is no mention in the media release of Alinea Lands, the people developing the massive King Road property. Their long term plan for the King Road site includes educational facilities
Mohawk College has been educating and preparing highly skilled graduates since 1996.
The recent launch of Mohawk College’s School of Climate Action, the continuing shortages in Ontario’s healthcare system, and growing demand for more people and training in skilled trades and technology are all priorities for the college.
Additional classrooms, labs, shops and applied research facilities will be required to meet the demand in these growth areas. Burlington is an ideal location to achieve this growth. Many locations within the city are easy to access through public transit and it is closer to home for many Mohawk College students who commute to Hamilton campuses from other communities.
Mohawk College – Fennell Campus – Hamilton
The college already has a presence in Burlington through its partnership with Schlegel Villages, with a Living Classroom located at The Village at Tansley Woods. The site is used to deliver the Personal Support Worker (PSW), Practical Nursing (PSW to PN Bridging Stream), and the Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physiotherapy Assistant (OTA/PTA) programs.
The proposed expansion aligns with the City of Burlington’s Strategic Plan. Burlington City Council has identified the attraction of a post-secondary institution as an objective that will contribute to the overall health of the city. It supports Burlington’s goals of developing complete communities, expanding its youth population, and providing an educational environment to attract startups and grow businesses. The City is supportive of post-secondary opportunities for its residents.
Mayor Meed Ward: “We’re partnering with Mohawk College to ensure our future is as bright, innovative, and as forward-looking as our community.”
“Burlington is open for business,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. “We welcome post-secondary institutions and satellite programming as one way to boost local employment and support business. We’re partnering with Mohawk College to ensure our future is as bright, innovative, and as forward-looking as our community.”
Mohawk joins the Brock University involvement where they will occupy much of the Bateman currently under massive renovation site.
“There are promising opportunities in Burlington in healthcare, in industry, and across the regional economy,” said President Armstrong. “Students are looking for rewarding, fulfilling careers in desirable communities and employers are looking for well-educated and well-trained workers. Mohawk College is excited to create pathways to employment, preparing future-ready graduates for bright careers in Burlington and beyond.”
This planned expansion will roll out in phases over several years, with a variety of programs being offered in different locations. Mohawk will work with Burlington Economic Development to explore take shape and the requisite agreements are finalized. potential locations and uses. More specific information will be provided in the coming months as plans take shape and the requisite agreements are finalized.
Anita Cassidy, Executive Director of Burlington Economic Development
Anita Cassidy, Executive Director of Burlington Economic Development sees the Mohawk College’s plan to expand their facilities into Burlington as very exciting news. “Mohawk College has supported our local business community for a long time, through access to applied research areas, experiential learning hubs, and of course connecting employers to top talent. We look forward to working with them in the coming months to find the ideal location for their students, faculty and staff to thrive here.”
Mohawk College educates and serves more than 32,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at four main campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk, as well as at the Mohawk College Mississauga Campus in partnership with triOS College.
The college was formed in 1966. It came out of what was once the Hamilton Institute of Technology and the Provincial Institute of Textiles.
Burlington Economic Development (Burlington EcDev) is an agency of the City of Burlington that works to attract high-value companies to Burlington, support the expansion of existing businesses, and encourage the start-up and growth of new companies.
No word yet on just where the campus will be located.
IMO, If nothing else the best spot for this and other post secondary education institutions is close to a transit node and not on New St or out in the boondocks.
Having post-secondary institutions in our community is important. However, any potential agreements should not result in taking over current school property, expanding parking spaces, or removing public track and sports fields. What happened at Bateman was a disaster from a community standpoint. Any future plans by Mohawk officials must not include building more parking facilities or taking away or modifying existing green spaces for their programs. City staff, either make bus passes for their students included in tuition or axe this as a whole. We are not sacrificing any more greenspace fo or making traffic congestion worse for these projects.