Today (March 10), York University and the Town of Stouffville are formalizing years of collaboration and shared interests in building strong, healthy and vibrant communities by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Town of Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt and York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton
The five-year MOU outlines areas where Stouffville and York can work together to benefit the community, as well as the university, its faculty and students through cooperation in various research, initiatives and projects which align with mutual goals.
"We are pleased to deepen our partnership with the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville to further our shared objective of building more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous communities," says York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, "Collaboration is the cornerstone of driving positive impact, and together, we will continue to foster knowledge mobilization and innovation while creating new opportunities for talented individuals to succeed."
Some of the priority fields for cooperation include transportation and traffic; equity, diversity and inclusion; environmental and sustainable goals; urban planning; and municipal law.
"Partnering with York University marks a significant milestone for Stouffville," says Mayor Iain Lovatt. "This agreement will open up new avenues for our residents to participate in groundbreaking projects. As the first post-secondary institution to have a partnership with Stouffville, York University will bring transformative educational opportunities to our town. Through this collaboration, we aim to create lasting benefits and opportunities for all our community members."
The MOU could enhance student experiential learning opportunities in everything from planning and engineering to policy and more, as well as professional development and training opportunities. It could also enhance support for local economic development initiatives including for entrepreneurs through YSpace, York's pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub located near the university's recently opened Markham Campus in the heart York Region, one of the most diverse and dynamic urban communities in the province.
