October 30, 1996
(Executive Council)

Construction on new Forest Centre in Corner Brook kicks off with cornerstone unveiling

Forest research and education in Newfoundland and Labrador took a giant step forward today with the unveiling of the cornerstone for the new Forest Centre at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, the Corner Brook campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Participating in the ceremony were Brian Tobin, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador; Gerry Byrne, MP, representing Lawrence MacAuley, Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Veteran's Affairs); Dr. Arthur May, president of Memorial University; Dr. Katy Bindon, principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College; and Dereck Brown, chairman of the board, Western Newfoundland Model Forest Inc.

The Forest Centre, which is being constructed through a $5.7 million investment from the Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal, will bring together under one roof three current initiatives: the two-year forestry program of Memorial University, the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada, and the offices of Western Newfoundland Model Forest Inc.

The $100-million Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal focuses on generating long-term benefits for the province, primarily in the growth areas of tourism, aquaculture and advanced technology.

Premier Tobin said: "The construction of the Forest Centre marks a new era of integrated resource management in the province. We now have on the west coast a merging of the scientific community, academia and non-governmental partners working together to ensure that all forest values are addressed. Through the Forest Centre, new strides will be made to ensure that our forests provide economic benefits in concert with recreational, educational and social values."

Representing the federal government, Gerry Byrne, MP, pointed out the benefits of the collective approach. "The Forest Centre symbolizes the cooperative approach the federal and provincial governments have adopted in ensuring the long-term sustainability of our forest resources. Sound ecosystem management dictates that partnerships are key to maintaining effective management of our natural resources for current and future generations."

Dr. May said the university welcomed the initiative. "Forestry is an area to which we have not given enough attention, historically," he said. "When the Forest Centre is completed it will offer the university an opportunity to enhance our contribution to education and research in matters relating to our forests."

For Memorial University, the Forest Centre means that the first two years of its forestry program have been moved from the St. John's campus to the campus at Grenfell College. Students in the program will complete the first two years at Grenfell College and the final three years at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), through a cooperative agreement between Memorial and UNB.

The Canadian Forest Service, a division of the federal Department of Natural Resources, will locate approximately 30 professional, technical, and postgraduate staff in Corner Brook to pursue research on forest ecosystems and strategies for advancing sustainable development.

The Western Newfoundland Model Forest Inc. will move its operations to the new Forest Centre. Already located in Corner Brook and funded by the federal government, the Model Forest is a joint effort of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, Abitibi-Price, the City of Corner Book, Humber Environment Action Group, the Centre for Forestry and Environmental Technology of Westviking College, the province's Wildlife Division, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Service. The initiative is directed at developing the forest management planning process, integrating wildlife and water quality objectives with timber management plans, and creating greater public awareness of forest resource management.

The new Forest Centre is expected to be occupied by January 1998.

• Contact:

  Cathy Dornan
  Premier's Office
  (709) 729-3960

  Ellen Alcock
  Canada/Newfoundland Agreement
  on Economic Renewal
  (709) 772-5116

  Victoria Collins
  Memorial University of Newfoundland
  (709) 737-8662

BACKGROUNDER
Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal
Forest Centre
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College
Corner Brook, Newfoundland

The Centre will:

• Provide government, the forest sector, and the university with the opportunity to integrate and enhance their research and planning activities.
• Bring together a critical mass of forest management expertise, strengthening the research capability within the province. It demonstrates partnerships among both levels of government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations. This will make research and education more cost-effective.
• Demonstrate the commitment of both levels of government to sound management of our forest ecosystems. The facility will contain offices and laboratories which will enhance Newfoundland's participation in the national forest science networks.
• Be the first application of alternative energy utilization in a major building in the province. The centre will use ground-source heat-pump technology to extract its heating and cooling requirements from deep within the earth. Ground-source heat is a totally renewable resource. This will save $25,000 per year in energy costs.

The Centre will bring together three programs.

• The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) of the federal Department of Natural Resources.
• The Western Newfoundland Model Forest Inc., which is currently located in Corner Brook.
• The 2-Year Forest Program of Memorial University at St. John's will now be offered at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

The Centre will have approximately 28,000 square feet of floor space.

Canadian Forest Service which is part of the Federal Department of Natural Resources, has been active on the forest scene of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1950.

During the past 46 years, the scientific staff of the CFS have forged strong partnerships with their colleagues in the provincial forest service, the forest industry, and the academic world to find solutions to the problems facing the forests of this province.

The relocation of CFS offices from St. John's to shared facilities in Corner Brook will bring the CFS closer to its partners, both new and old, and as a result will strengthen the quality of research conducted in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For the first time in its history in this province, the CFS which has been housed in temporary facilities in St. John's will have a permanent home.

The Canada/Newfoundland Agreement on Economic Renewal is providing investment and development in the province's growth areas to establish sustainable jobs. It is building a framework to encourage private sector and investment and improve the province's competitiveness by investing in growth industries such as tourism, aquaculture and advanced technology.