WATERLOO - The University of Waterloo is officially opening Canada's newest school of pharmacy today. It's the first to open in more than two decades and the only one that lets students gather significant work experience under UW's world-leading co-operative education program.

The Hon. David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, The Hon. John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr were among the dignitaries who joined UW officials and supporters for the opening. So were several private and corporate donors, whose support was recognized for the first time.

"This is a remarkable day for the university, the local community and the pharmacy sector across Canada," said David Johnston, president of the University of Waterloo. "All parties involved in this community investment can be proud of the parts they are playing in creating a healthier Canada and more properous Waterloo Region."

"The school of pharmacy, as the anchor to the Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus, demonstrates how effective collaboration among key partners can result in success for our entire community," said Mayor Zehr. "I believe that many years from now we will look back on this day and see how pivotal this development has been for our community."

UW launched Canada's first pharmacy school in more than 20 years -- one of only two co-op programs in North America -- in January 2008 with 92 students. They completed the first of four four-month work terms last fall and moved into their newly completed building this past January.

UW consistently ranks as Canada's most innovative university and the pharmacy curriculum reflects that approach to learning. It features a strong emphasis on patient care, but also includes such important and/or emerging areas as patient safety, business and health informatics.

"The program is already proving of interest to the industry. Experts in a range of fields not only guest lecture, but also provided input at the earliest stages of curriculum development and continue to offer insights on new trends," said Dr. Jake Thiessen, Hallman Director of the school of pharmacy. "The inaugural class starts its second work term in May and there were 173 positions available for a class of 90 students."

The school's new home is a 120,000-square-foot building in downtown Kitchener, with a seven-storey tower rising above a four-storey mainsection. Designed by Toronto firms Hariri Pontarini Architects and Robbie/Young + Wright Architects, the $53-million building is already a landmark. The exterior is covered in glass panels depicting medicinal plants.

"The herbal theme reflects the fact that some 60 per cent of medicines originated in the natural world," said Thiessen. "The plants tell the story of the building -- a story about bringing health and healing to campus and the surrounding community."

The building anchors UW's new health sciences campus in downtown Kitchener. A second building now under construction will house a family medicine centre, an eye-care clinic run by UW's school of optometry, and a Waterloo Region campus of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Several organizations rallied to help develop the new school and campus. The City of Kitchener provided $30 million and eight acres in the downtown. The Region of Waterloo invested $15 million and $8 million came from Ontario's Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. A half-dozen private and corporate donors provided $1.6 million.