SIF-funded infrastructure projects support research with focus on climate change, life and environmental sciences

SACKVILLE, NB — Mount Allison University community members expressed their appreciation and celebrated some of the newest research facilities, supported in part by the Government of Canada’s Post-Secondary Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) program and the Province of New Brunswick.

The funding, announced in 2016, helped to support two major projects on campus — the renovation of the Gairdner Building, which is now a research facility focusing on life and environmental sciences, and extensive renovations of labs and classrooms in the Barclay Building, home to the University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry department, allowing for more accessible research space for students, faculty, and staff members.

The projects were supported by both levels of government and the University with a total investment of $18.8-million. The renovated facilities allow for research partnerships and collaboration with a focus on life and environmental sciences including areas such as climate change, health, and aquatic studies.

“Our investment in Mount Allison is creating the right conditions for long-term growth, which will keep the Canadian economy globally competitive,” says the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade. “The new infrastructure will help to tackle real-world problems through research and innovation.”

“These infrastructure updates have taken dated, fixed-purpose spaces and transformed them into modern — and more importantly — flexible spaces that can be easily adapted to meet different needs and uses, even those we have yet to imagine,” says Mount Allison University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau. “They have improved accessibility in our teaching and research spaces and allowed our students more opportunities to hone their lab skills as part of their undergraduate experience. We thank the federal and provincial governments for their investments in these important projects that support the Mount Allison University community.”

Minister LeBlanc and guests visited campus for the official announcement and also completed lab tours with Mount Allison Chemistry Professor and Canada Research Chair in Boron Chemistry Dr. Stephen Westcott, Geography and Environment Professor Dr. Joshua Kurek, as well as their students. Research topics from the tours included fundamental chemistry (boron molecules and potential use as anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-fungal drugs), microplastics, and wetlands.

Photo captions:

(L-R) The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, Mount Allison honours chemistry student and event emcee Maia Murphy, and Mount Allison University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau at the completion celebration of SIF-funded projects at Mount Allison University. The funding, from the federal and provincial governments and the University, supported the renovation of the Gairdner Building, which is now a research facility focusing on life and environmental sciences, and extensive renovations of labs and classrooms in the Barclay Building, home to the University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry department, allowing for more accessible research space for students, faculty, and staff members.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, left, visits the lab of Dr. Stephen Westcott, Mount Allison chemistry professor and Canada Research Chair in Boron Chemistry, right.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade visits the lab of Dr. Joshua Kurek, Mount Allison geography and environment professor in the Gairdner Building, a research facility focusing on life and environmental sciences. Also pictured in Mount Allison honours environmental sciences student Abbie Gail Jones.