For immediate release

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November 19, 2009

Kwantlen receives over $1-million to expand Richmond Campus library

(METRO VANCOUVER, B.C.) Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Richmond Campus will receive $1.215-million of federal and provincial funding to expand its library through the Government's Knowledge Infrastructure Program, announced Alice Wong, MP for Richmond and Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East.

"Kwantlen Polytechnic University needs to expand its library resources to correspond with its designated status as Richmond's only university," said Wong. "The Knowledge Infrastructure Program will provide funding to realize this objective. The result will be highly positive for all stakeholders and demonstrates a good use of taxpayer money as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan."

"The expansion of this library will allow Kwantlen to provide the resources for research that its new university mandate requires," said Reid. "We're also providing jobs at a time when every job counts."

This project is also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province to create jobs and vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

"The existing Richmond library is 20,400 sq. ft. that includes administrative and non-student function space. Of that total we will convert approx. 3,139 sq. ft. of vacant tech services and archives space and optimize existing checkout, vestibule and library support spaces, and thereby add to the existing complement of library resources such as collections, computers, study rooms, learning centre and study commons," said Barbara Duggan, dean of Kwantlen's Centre for Design and Communications. "Our plan also includes space planning that will eventually allow us to double the size of the collection available to students and the community."

The renovation and expansion of the library at the Richmond Campus will allow Kwantlen to meet the increased requirements that come with being granted university status. Improvements to the building will allow an increase in the number of reading and research materials that can be housed on campus and will improve the learning environment for students.

This federal investment is part of the Government's two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. In B.C., the federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of the cost of selected projects on a cost-share basis with the Province.

These timely federal and provincial grants will allow the university to introduce more comprehensive service and support systems for a growing and more diverse student population as important new degree programs are introduced.

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For more information about this story, contact:
Barbara Duggan
Dean, Centre for Design and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2525
barbara.duggan@kwantlen.ca

OR

Alice Wong, MP for Richmond
Richmond Office
Tel: 604.775.5790
WongA1@parl.gc.ca

OR

Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East
Richmond Constituency Office
Tel: 604.775.0891
linda.reid.mla@leg.bc.ca

OR

For more information about Kwantlen, contact:
Peter Chevrier
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2286
peter.chevrier@kwantlen.ca