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NEWS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Ministry of Advanced
Education and Labour Market Development
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JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF B.C.'S RESCUE TOWER READY FOR TRAINING
MAPLE RIDGE – Current and future firefighters and rescue workers in British Columbia will have access to better training with a new four-storey, rope-rescue tower located at the Maple Ridge campus of the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC).
Ed Fast, MP for Abbotsford and Marc Dalton, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission joined JIBC representatives today to officially mark the completion of the rope-rescue tower and classroom expansion projects at the Maple Ridge campus.
“Our government’s investment in post-secondary infrastructure has given our students and researchers the tools they need to be global leaders in their fields and pursue world-class excellence,” said Fast. “Our government’s investments in the knowledge economy strengthen Canada’s position as a world leader in science and technology.”
“JIBC is a nationally recognized leader in training public safety professionals, and the people of Maple Ridge and British Columbia are fortunate to have this quality of training available so close to home,” said Dalton. “These projects enhance the training and learning environment offered at JIBC, while at the same time providing much-needed stimulus for the local economy.”
The $748,000 rope-rescue tower gives JIBC the ability to train up to 300 people annually for rescues in multi-storey buildings and high-angle environments. As the number and height of multi-storey buildings increases across British Columbia, this type of training is important for public safety and the safety of fire and rescue personnel. In addition to high-angle rescue, the tower will support confined-space rescue, ladder rescue and firehose-handling training. JIBC’s fire and safety division will also benefit from the $457,000 classroom addition that will accommodate the growing demand for training in the fire and safety field.
“Having this training structure centrally located will allow us to practise realistic confined-space and high-angle operations in a safe and controlled environment, and ensure that we are well-prepared to respond in times of crisis,” said Dane Spence, fire chief and director of community fire safety, Maple Ridge Fire Rescue Department.
“Partnering with the federal government allows us to invest in campuses all over B.C. to give students the best-possible learning opportunities,” said Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. “These projects help JIBC maintain its stature as the nationally recognized leader in training public safety professionals.”
The tower and classroom addition are part of a $1.93-million investment by the provincial and federal governments and JIBC to improve the learning environment and offer the best training possible to people who often place themselves at risk to protect the safety of others. With this expansion, JIBC will also be able to offer training to workers in construction, pulp and paper mills, correctional facilities and granaries, as well as industrial and marine workers engaged in emergency response.
“The demand for justice and public safety professionals to meet the safety and security needs of businesses and communities continues to grow across the province, Canada and the world,” said Jack McGee, president of JIBC. “This investment in our knowledge infrastructure enhances the comprehensive mix of programming that the JIBC fire & safety division can provide to its clients and students.”
In addition to the investments at the Maple Ridge campus, government contributed $342,000 to upgrade to the HVAC system on JIBC’s New Westminster campus and a $381,000 building renovation on the Chilliwack campus to improve the institute’s energy efficiency and their students’ learning environment.
These are part of 40 projects at post-secondary institutions across the province funded through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a joint federal-provincial investment of $497 million. The total investment in these projects is $519 million, including contributions from institutions.
This project is also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
For more information on the provincial government’s three-year job creation plan, visit www.gov.bc.ca/infrastructure.
For more information about the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program, visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.
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Media Contact: |
Corinna Filion Communications Director Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 952-6508 250 812-7977 (cell) |
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
