Nearly $25 million in joint funding was announced Tuesday to expand the University of New Brunswick’s kinesiology department.
Dr. Wayne Albert, dean of the Faculty Kinesiology, says the goal is to expand research done in the school and create job opportunities for students entering the program.
“It is huge. It is a great investment into our research and productivity,” Albert said.
“We have passionate individuals here who are doing great work in terms of health and health programs and best education opportunities to promote health and get people healthy.”
The money will be put toward a new “Centre for Healthy Living,” which will be built on campus. Albert says the centre will make a big difference to the kinesiology program’s research and teaching space.
He says research done at the new state-of-the-art facility will focus on managing and improving the health of Canadians.
It’s location is fitting, Albert says, given that New Brunswick has one of the unhealthiest populations in the country.
“Obesity, unhealthy living and diabetes is going to be a major health concern as we move forward in this next 10 years.”
The province has invested more than $8.29 million in the project with hopes will promote innovation and job growth.
READ MORE: New Brunswick government releases its vision plan for economic growth
The federal government has invested $16.59 million from its Post-Secondary Strategic Investment Fund, according to Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic Leblanc, who was at the announcement.
“At the end of the day, one of the most important by-products of this will be the creation of well paying middle class jobs here in New Brunswick and the spin offs potential across the country and around the globe,” LeBlanc said.
Construction on the Centre for Healthy living should be complete by the spring of 2018.
Comments