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UNB receives 24 87-million investment towards new kinesiology facility

Author: Communications

Posted on Sep 6, 2016

Category: UNB Fredericton

Pictured from left: Dr. Eddy Campbell, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of New Brunswick; Matt DeCourcey, Member of Parliament, Fredericton; Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard; Hon. Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick; Dr. Wayne Albert, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick; Hon. Stephen Horsman, Deputy Premier, Minister responsible for Families and Children, Minister responsible for Military Affairs

The University of New Brunswick has received a $24.87-million investment towards the Centre for Healthy Living from the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

This investment will support a green facility providing research and teaching space for the Faculty of Kinesiology, a recognized leader in research and knowledge mobilization in healthy living and health promotion strategies. The Centre for Healthy Living will be adjacent to the Richard J. CURRIE CENTER with a connection that will provide a direct link to the Andrew and Marjorie McCain Human Performance Lab. This will create a nationally significant and innovative research cluster focused on health, wellness, physical fitness and health promotion that will establish New Brunswick as a leader in preventative healthcare.

“The proposed Centre for Healthy Living has been a project that’s been on UNB’s priority list for almost a decade," says UNB President Dr. Eddy Campbell. "Thanks to the generous support of our federal and provincial governments through the SIF program, UNB will use this new space to grow our nationally significant research cluster focused on health, wellness, physical fitness and health promotion that will help establish New Brunswick as a leader in preventative health care.”

The funding was announced by the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick, and Dr. Eddy Campbell, UNB President and Vice-Chancellor.

“Your government understands what matters most to New Brunswickers: the economy, education and health care,” said NB Premier Brian Gallant. “We are proud to partner with the Trudeau government to get things done in these priority areas.”

Of the $24.87 million in funding being invested, $16.59 million is federal and $8.2 million is provincial. The university is responsible for the remaining $11.1 million.

Federal funding for the Centre for Healthy Living will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, a program which will provide up to $2 billion over the next three years to enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

This 60,000-square-foot facility has been a long-standing priority at the University of New Brunswick and matches the Strategic Investment Fund’s focus on research and innovation. As a result of the investment, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities that advance the country’s best research, work in specially designed spaces that support lifelong learning and skills training, and work collaboratively with partners to foster creativity and innovation.

Media contact: Sonya Gilks