News & Events

The Government of Ontario is investing $45 million in a new state-of-the-art Student Learning Centre at Ryerson University, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced today at a news conference on the Ryerson campus.

“Ontario’s highly skilled people make our province one of the best places in the world to invest,” said Premier McGuinty. “By investing in the skills and knowledge of students at Ryerson and across Ontario, we can help Ontario compete and win.”

“We deeply appreciate this outstanding investment,” said Peter Lukasiewicz, Chair, Ryerson University Board of Governors. “The provincial government is expressing tremendous confidence in Ryerson’s momentum with this generous commitment, which will benefit students for generations to come.” 

 “The dream of a new Student Learning Centre is now a reality, thanks to the government of Ontario,” said Ryerson University President Sheldon Levy.  “Our goal is to provide undergraduate and graduate students with the study space and facilities that are so needed to continue building Ryerson’s unique professionally-oriented programs.

“This is a transformative contribution,” Levy reflected. “I would like to thank Premier McGuinty and our colleagues in government. We are especially grateful for the support of our MPP, The Hon. George Smitherman, and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, The Hon. John Milloy.”

The new Student Learning Centre will be built at the corner of Yonge and Gould Streets, at the location of the former Sam the Record Man and Future Shop.  Both properties were recently acquired by Ryerson.

Added Levy: “The Student Learning Centre gives Ryerson a gateway onto Yonge Street. We believe the University should be a city builder, and this development will make a real contribution to the renewal of Toronto’s main thoroughfare and downtown core.  Given the projected demand in the GTA for postsecondary spaces, this will also help us prepare to address that growth.”

Ryerson is experiencing high levels of demand at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Over the past four years, first-choice applications from secondary school students have risen almost 50%, with the highest ratio in the province of first choice applications to number of places available. At the graduate level, Ryerson has more than 1,600 students in 33 programs, and growth will continue to meet demand.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in career-focused education, offering more than 95 PhD, master’s, and undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Arts; the Faculty of Communication & Design; the Faculty of Community Services; the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science; and the Ted Rogers School of Management.  Ryerson University has graduate and undergraduate enrolment of 25,000 students. With more than 64,000 registrations annually, The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education.

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Links:
www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/

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