CALGARY - Premier Alison Redford, Joanne Stalinski, Chair, Bow Valley College Board of Governors, and Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College, were among many dignitaries and guests who today celebrated the grand opening of the new Bow Valley College South Campus, furthering the College's commitment to deliver any time, any place, any path, any pace learning.

"We're building Alberta for the future by investing in infrastructure like Bow Valley's South Campus project. I'm excited about the collaboration that will happen at this new site -it's going to give thousands of students a leg up as they learn new skills that will allow them to reach their full potential in Alberta's workforce," said Premier Alison Redford.

Home to a unique post-secondary collaboration, the BVC South Campus has created an educational hub for Campus Alberta South in the heart of downtown Calgary. Athabasca University, Olds College, and the University of Lethbridge have their Calgary operations headquartered in BVC's South Campus, offering a gateway to education, with laddering opportunities for even more students.

"Together with government, a network of partners, and the community, Bow Valley College has become a centrepiece of collaboration helping to provide more education solutions to Alberta's students," said Sharon Carry, President and CEO, Bow Valley College. "The new South Campus enhances the important role we play within our region, the province, and the country by offering our students more options for lifelong learning and full participation in Alberta's economy."

The $160 million South Campus project was made possible with funding from the Government of Alberta, the City of Calgary, Bow Valley College, and its post-secondary partners. The new South Campus is located in the heart of downtown Calgary and the centre of the expanding East Village neighbourhood, one of the country's most exciting urban developments.

"For almost 50 years Bow Valley College has contributed to the success of over 300,000 students, and it feels like we've only just begun." said Joanne Stalinski, Chair, and Bow Valley College Board of Governors. "This Campus will also allow the College and our partners to continue to respond to the skills training needs of students for generations to come."

BVC's South Campus is LEED silver certified and addresses the needs and expectations of today's multigenerational BVC student population, providing an additional 50 classrooms to study, a fourth-floor patio and roof-top gardens, student services, and a convenient location on the CTrain line.

Information about the programs and services offered by Campus Alberta South partner institutions is available at:

Athabasca University: http://www.athabascau.ca/

University of Lethbridge:  http://www.uleth.ca/calgary/

Olds College: http://www.oldscollege.ca/calgary/

Backgrounder:                                                                                                 

Campus Alberta South partnership

The Campus Albert South partnership is a dynamic learning community in which the University of Lethbridge, Olds College, Athabasca University, and Bow Valley College collaborate to enhance learner pathways, enrich the learner experience, and share space and resources. 

"Calgary is home to the largest proportion of Athabasca University's Alberta students, and this relocation will increase the university's capacity to serve this student market." said Dr. Frits Pannekoek, President of Athabasca University. "Through comprehensive articulation agreements, Athabasca University will provide students with opportunities to more easily "ladder" their programs and transfer credit from college programs to degree programs in both traditional classroom and distance learning environments. "

Based at Bow Valley College's downtown Calgary South Campus and with a reach extending far beyond, this partnership will facilitate learner access and mobility by utilizing a variety of delivery modalities, locations, and collaborative programming initiatives and articulation.

"Since 1996, the University of Lethbridge has served a critical role in Calgary. By meeting the needs of busy, working adult learners by offering university programming in the evenings and on weekends, U of L students can earn a degree in a manner that accommodates their busy lifestyles," says Mahon. "This niche, combined with our Campus Alberta partnership with Bow Valley College, Olds College and Athabasca University will create new, important laddering opportunities for Alberta students."

Together all four institutions are fostering a fully integrated learning experience where key services and resources are shared. Perhaps most importantly, learning pathways between institutions are both enhanced and seamless- bringing more post-secondary options within reach of more Albertans.

"Olds College's alignment with Campus Alberta's mandate of collaboration is most evident in this innovative partnership.  We have overhauled and renewed our fashion programs so that we can enter the urban market with relevant, current, and world class experience for our students at the new 'Fashion Institute'  at our Calgary Campus," says Dr. H. J. (Tom) Thompson, President of Olds College. He adds, "This new space, located on the 7th floor at Bow Valley Campus, offers students easy access in the heart of their industry - focused training in Calgary."

 Bow Valley College South Campus building features:

• LEED Silver sustainable project: Water efficiency, Energy optimization, day lighting (water-conserving plumbing fixtures, heating from ENMAX district energy plant, direct digital control on room comfort, occupancy sensors, high efficiency electrical motors, low voltage lighting control)
• State of the art information technology in teaching/learning environment
• Approximately 25,905 gross sm. (278,848 sq. ft.) of functional space
• 7 stories with underground parking (210 stalls including 12 carpooling stalls)
• Bicycle parking (120 indoor spots and 48 outdoor spots)
• Hard and soft landscaping including street furniture and trees
• 4th Floor garden terrace with populated by drought tolerant prairie perennials and shrubs, benches and picnic tables, offers a place of repose in the midst of the bustling City
• Located on the north-side City Hall LRT platform
• The Market: a 208 seat cafeteria
• Two-storey atrium
• +15/30 connecting to North Campus
• Health Services
• Aboriginal Centre
• Multi-faith Room
• Book Store
• Splash print and copy centre
• Tim Horton's
• Over 50 new Classrooms providing over 2,200 student seats

  On the 7th Floor for Olds College, you will find:

• Programs offered by Olds College through our Fashion Institute, now exclusively in Calgary. These programs will be the first fashion-related programs in the world to move to a fully integrated iPad learning environment.
• The well-known fashion marketing certificate and fashion apparel/costuming that have grown, adapted and transformed into programs that offer the level of instruction expected by industry and the experience expected by students.
• World-class facilities featuring enhanced technologies, flexible learning spaces and unique educational spaces.