Investing in MacEwan and downtown revitalization
Episode Stats
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158.60074
Summary
The McEwen School of Business has been a major presence in downtown Edmonton for a good portion of its 50+ years. With an enrollment of more than 19,000 students, and a vision to grow to 30,000 by 2030, this expansion couldn t come at a better time.
Transcript
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It's always exciting to watch major projects like the McEwen School of Business move forward
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and while there is still a lot to do on the ground I want to congratulate McEwen for their
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ongoing work to move from planning and design to construction and eventual opening. For those who
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don't know and I'm sure most in this room do, McEwen has had a presence in downtown Edmonton
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since it opened its first campus in 1971 and it grew to include several more facilities in other
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areas of the city but once this wonderfully unique city centre campus arrived in the 1990s,
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McEwen's leadership made what I think is a very wise decision to make downtown Edmonton McEwen's home.
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Today McEwen brings 20,000 people downtown every day. That's a quarter of Edmonton's daytime downtown
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population. McEwen students, faculty and staff interact with the public to create a lively social
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and cultural ecosystem in the north side of downtown and of course McEwen delivers creative,
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innovative and high demand programming that is crucial to developing needed skills and talent
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in our workforce which are integral to Alberta's economic future. With enrollment at an all-time high
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of more than 19,000 students and with a vision to grow to 30,000 students by 2030 this expansion
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couldn't come at a better time. Earlier this year Alberta's government announced its investment of
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125 million dollars over four years in the new McEwen School of Business. Now as 2023 comes to a close
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the pre-construction phase is complete and as you just heard everything is on track for the new school
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of business to break ground in 2024. Downtown recovery and revitalization of Edmonton is a priority
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and we have made significant investments in safety and security, growing shelter spaces, supporting the
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Edmonton police and in their human-centered engagement and liaison partnership teams and other important
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measures. But just as important as targeted initiatives as targeted initiatives like these is
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investment in projects that bring people and vitality and energy into downtown Edmonton. It's also
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incredibly important that we support projects that address the challenges Albertans face as we strive to
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ensure prosperity for all our citizens and that's why this investment is so important. This project helps to send the
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message that Alberta isn't just open for business it is by far the best place to study and create and do business.
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This new facility will provide vital resources of talent and vision that will allow Alberta job creators to grow
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our economy and I know that through our partnership with the McEwen as well as with all of our post-secondary
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institutions we will continue building a strong future for Albertans one that includes a strong Edmonton and
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capital region. I'm looking forward to seeing the ongoing progress on the new school of business and
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how it helps to reinvigorate downtown Edmonton the city and the capital region as a whole. Thank you so
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much and you'll hear from my minister as well. As Premier Smith mentioned McEwen University has been a major
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presence in downtown Edmonton for a good portion of its 50 plus years. McEwen is not just a significant
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economic driver in Edmonton. It's a powerful symbol of the vitality and importance of our post-secondary
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education system for the whole province. Alberta's government wants to see our economy grow, diversify
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and fulfill its amazing potential for the benefit of all Albertans. That is why we are committed to
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investing in our post-secondary programs and spaces. Our government's contribution to the new school of
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business alongside the fundraising efforts of the McEwen Means Business campaign represents a critical
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investment in Alberta's talent development. We are investing in the skills our province needs to
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support economic growth and prosperity. Like McEwen, we realize that if we want to increase student
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opportunities, spark creativity and innovation and foster entrepreneurial energy, we need spaces that
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inspire more students and inspire students more. I will let the experts speak about the details of the
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building which is portrayed behind us here. But from my standpoint, I can see that the new McEwen School
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of Business will not just meet the need for more learning space, it will create a learning environment that
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truly nurtures excellence. By investing in the new School of Business, we're helping McEwen to build Alberta's
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prosperity for the next generation. Thank you, McEwen's board, administration and faculty and of course the
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students and the fundraising cabinet, donors, business leaders and community representatives for sharing
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your enthusiasm and vision with us today and for being here today. And thank you again to McEwen students,
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the lifeblood of this institution, for the inspiration you provide every day and the promise you offer to
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the future of our province. Thank you once again to everybody for being here today.