**COLLEGE BOREAL NEWS RELEASE**

Collège Boréal is very pleased to announce the beginning of the construction of its future campus in Toronto’s Distillery District.

The honourable Caroline Mulroney, attorney general and minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, took part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the future campus on Monday, October 29, 2018, to congratulate Collège Boréal for this new project and to highlight its role in expanding the offer of programs and services for francophone students in the Toronto area.

A permanent site for a rapidly expanding campus

Collège Boréal’s move to a permanent location in Toronto is a sign of the college’s ongoing success since 2002, bolstered by recent advances in French language secondary education in central-southwestern Ontario.

Collège Boréal will increase its capacity by becoming the core tenant of a linear “Ribbon Building” providing 100,000 sq. ft. spread over four flours, thus doubling the floor space of its current location at 1 Yonge Street. The college has to vacate its present premises upon expiry of the lease to allow redevelopment of the building.

The government of Ontario is investing $15 M to convert the future space into a campus, while Collège Boréal’s contribution amounts to $6.7 M.

A culture of innovation in a dynamic learning environment

The construction of the future campus in a bright and modern space will support Collège Boréal’s commitment to providing innovative experience-based learning and to developing a pool of highly qualified bilingual graduates.

Collège Boréal’s commitment to developing a unique learning environment is supported by a cluster of synergies including:

? Strengthened program offerings articulated around four themes that reflect growing trends in the local labour market: health, community services, business and computer sciences. Each of these themes will benefit from articulation agreements with universities which allow for ever-increasing specialization of training.

? New applied research laboratories with each of the four schools to support teaching strategies and develop the college’s participation in scientific debate.

? A business incubator to promote the culture of entrepreneurship, accompany young talents in their innovative projects and promote Boréal’s know-how in the private sector.

Boréal and the Francophone community inhabit Toronto’s landscape

By choosing to build its new campus in a prestigious area renowned for its cultural, culinary and artistic offerings, Collège Boréal aims to provide its students with an outstanding campus experience.

For the first time in its history, Boréal’s Toronto campus will be permanently housed and its location will ensure close contact with the city. The lobby will open onto the street for easy public access, thus positioning the college as an integral and dynamic contributor to the neighbourhood.

The campus space will engage the community and provide exceptional opportunities to showcase Toronto’s local Francophone cultures. As an exceptional cultural destination, Collège Boréal in Toronto will contribute to the cultural and economic development of its community.

A flagship institution in the Central-Southwest

As the Francophone community continues to grow in central-southwestern Ontario, Collège Boréal’s future Toronto campus will serve as a second nerve centre in closer proximity with local realities and community partners.

The new campus also furthers Boréal’s continuing efforts to attract international students from all over the world, thus supporting efforts to increase Francophone immigration as a key factor of a strong and vibrant Francophone community.

The official opening of the new campus is expected to take place in 2020 or early 2021.

Quotes

“The new campus will allow Collège Boréal to increase its contribution to the excellence of our educational system and to the vitality of Toronto’s Francophone community. The highly qualified bilingual professionals and workers who will receive their training here will go on to bolster the economy of our communities in an Ontario that is open for business.”
The Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs and Attorney General, Government of Ontario

“Moving Collège Boréal’s Toronto headquarters to a new and innovative campus in the heart of Toronto’s famed Distillery District is a major turning point in the history of our Francophone institution. This campus will ensure the ongoing provision of French language professional training in Toronto, contribute greatly to the community’s Francophone continuum and energize the Francophone presence in a dynamic and inspiring urban space.”
Daniel Giroux, president, Collège Boréal

“Welcoming Collège Boréal to The Distillery District is the beginning of a great adventure. Boreal’s energy and vitality will be a wonderful and synergistic addition to our community,which will deepen our cultural fabric while enhancing the neighbourhood’s vibrancy.”
Mathew Rosenblatt, The Distillery District

Quick facts

Established in 1995, Collège Boréal is a French language post-secondary training and learning institution dedicated to the development and growth of communities throughout Ontario.

Collège Boréal offers comprehensive programs and services in 7 campuses and 38 access centres in 27 communities throughout the province. Since 1995, approximately 120,000 clients across Ontario have benefited from Collège Boréal’s expertise relating to post-secondary education, training programs, immigration and settlement services, and employment services. Collège Boréal has established over 70 articulation agreements with other post-secondary institutions.

According to the Key Performance Indicators recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Collège Boréal now holds the top rank in three of the five areas surveyed! Among all Ontario colleges, Boréal has the highest student satisfaction rate, graduation rate and graduate satisfaction rate in the province. Moreover, at 96%, Boréal ranks 3rd in the province for employer satisfaction!

Learn more

To find out more about Collège Boréal’s programs and services, please visit our website at www.collegeboreal.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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