JUSTICE INSTITUTE DEDICATES BUILDING TO PHILANTHROPIST

NEW WESTMINSTER – The public safety simulation building at the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s New Westminster campus has been renamed the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

The dedication was made to celebrate a $1-million donation to the Justice Institute of British Columbia from B.C. philanthropist, entrepreneur and medical professional Dr. Donald Rix.

“Dr. Donald Rix has made numerous contributions to education, the arts and the medical community in B.C.,” said Premier Campbell. “This dedication is a fitting tribute to the role Dr. Rix has played and continues to play in building our province.”

Rix’s donation will boost simulation training for justice and public safety professionals who are often first on the scene in emergencies such as earthquakes, collapsed buildings, terrorist attacks, prison riots, chemical spills and other crises. The Province provided $2.4 million and the Justice Institute contributed $850,000 for the building, which opened in May 2007.

“Dr. Rix’s generous donation to the Justice Institute will benefit not only B.C. residents and communities, but will enhance emergency response across Canada and internationally,” said Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “The world-class education and training that takes place at the Justice Institute is critical to protecting people both at home and abroad.”

The Justice Institute of British Columbia provides public safety education and training, and has grown from 2,000 students in 1978 to more than 30,000 today. The institute offers training for police, firefighters, paramedics, emergency management providers, emergency social services providers, and search and rescue organizations, among others. The Province is providing $8.4 million in operating funds to the Justice Institute this year, for a total of $54.9 million since 2001.

“We use technologically sophisticated simulations to immerse justice and public safety professionals such as police, firefighters, paramedics and psycho-social and health support workers in the drama of a disaster so they learn how to make real-time life and death decisions,” said Justice Institute of British Columbia president Jack McGee. “Knowing how to respond when first on scene is critical to public safety. Dr. Rix’s generous donation helps us provide a better, more technologically advanced, learning environment for our students.”

Rix is active in provincial and national medical associations, is a member of several B.C. research foundations, and supports the arts in B.C., in addition to contributing to the public post-secondary education system. He has served in various capacities at the B.C. Institute of Technology, Simon Fraser University, the University of B.C. and the University of Northern B.C., where he currently chairs the board of governors. Rix has made donations to all four institutions, as well as to the Justice Institute of British Columbia.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Linda O'Connor Communications Manager Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 952-6400 250 812-4418 cell

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