UNIVERSITÉ SAINTE-ANNE
The Government of Canada Invests in Improving the Church Point Campus' Infrastructure and Learning Spaces

MP René Arsenault, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Official Languages) announced a contribution of $579,000 to support the modernization of learning spaces and technological infrastructure related to Université Sainte-Anne's Church Point campus. Université Sainte-Anne is matching this contribution in the amount of $616,000, for a total investment of $1.2 million in the project. The province of Nova Scotia also provides an important ongoing support that allows for the development of quality programs and innovative projects.

For over thirty years, Université Sainte-Anne has leveraged the use of videoconferencing and related technologies to simultaneously offer high-quality education across all its campuses. However, the existing equipment needs modernization to continue to offer high-quality education equally to all campuses.

With this investment, the Government of Canada is joining forces with Université Sainte-Anne to modernize existing classrooms, increase their capacity and add a "makerspace", i.e. a space for ideation, experimentation, and interdisciplinary creation. What is more, Université Sainte-Anne is setting up a multi functional, web-connected amphitheatre that would host, webcast, and record presentations and workshops by keynote speakers.

"Over the last few months, we have seen that schools and universities need to have the right technological tools to support young people in their learning," said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. "This is the first step in ensuring a promising future for them in their own language, in French."

"A modernization of our learning spaces was necessary even before the current health crisis. But this financing came at the right time because we are now equipped with cutting-edge spaces, tools, and software, which will allow us to be flexible," explains Allister Surette, Université Sainte-Anne's President and Vice-Chancellor.

"We are simultaneously able to offer face-to-face and distance learning this fall, and our model allows us to quickly switch to exclusively remote course delivery if changing public health guidelines require it," said Mr. Surette.

The acquisition of new technological equipment (e.g. interactive screens, microphones, cameras, etc.) for these spaces will ensure that professors will have access to the full range of technological educational tools and that their set-up will be flexible and accessible for classes.

Despite the current crisis, Université Sainte-Anne will be able to continue the delivering high-quality programs to which its student population is accustomed.