Kitchener - Friday's announcement of Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) project funding will result in a major step forward in the breadth, depth and diversity of health sciences education at Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

Conestoga will receive more than $13 million in KIP funding -- $5.858 million from the federal government and $7.158 million from Ontario - to proceed with expansion of its School of Health and Life Sciences at the Doon campus in Kitchener.

Earlier this spring, the Region of Waterloo expressed support for the Conestoga proposal by granting more than $8 million towards the project.

Making the announcement at the June 12 event at the Doon campus were Cambridge MP Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Leeanna Pendergast. Also addressing the assembly was Ken Seiling, Chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.

The announced funds will go towards an expansion of 75,000 sq. ft. and renovation of an additional 25,000 sq. ft. to increase enrolment in the School from the current 1,400 to a total of 2,800 by academic year 2014-2015.

The focus will be on applied learning and research associated with informatics (the application of information technology to health services and operations); nursing and health sciences; new programming in fields such as restorative, alternative and complementary health care; and life science education.

Among the new facilities will be a Centre for Health Informatics, a Health and Wellness Centre (to be developed in co-operation with Conestoga’s student association), four additional simulation labs to enhance experiential and applied learning, and upgraded smart classrooms that feature multimedia and interactive learning capabilities.

Conestoga will also develop new and collaborative programming, some in co-operation with the University of Waterloo’s downtown Kitchener health education centre. Conestoga also expects to develop new pathways leading to success for internationally educated medical and health care professionals.

Also planned at Doon is establishment of a Waterloo Region Emergency Medical Services (WREMS) station - a self-contained facility allowing for excellent training opportunities for Conestoga’s paramedic and firefighter programs.

“For the community, this funding marks an important and extremely valuable investment,” says Conestoga President John Tibbits. “Conestoga has a long record of achievement and excellence in health care education. As we develop in this area, as we move into new programming and new technologies, we will create not only more and better educated health care professionals, but also add value to the region in terms of the overall health and well-being of citizens, workplaces, and our own students and employees.”

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a two-year, $2 billion investment to enhance infrastructure at post-secondary institutions across Canada.