For Release
November 08, 2007
Vancouver, British Columbia — A new Centre for
Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) will receive more than $780,000
from Western Economic Diversification Canada and the B.C. Ministry of
Advanced Education to pioneer developments in new technologies, product
innovations and services.
The Centre is quickly expected to become one of the most innovative,
high-performance facilities in North America, driving leading-edge research
into sustainable building design and systems.
“Funding for this facility will help Western Canada maintain its
place as a leader in sustainability research by speeding the development
of environmental technologies for urban communities,” said James
Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government
Services and to the Minister responsible the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler
Olympics, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s
Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister
of Western Economic Diversification. "The Centre will anchor the
sustainable building technologies and services cluster in the West by
fostering applied research and development, promoting collaboration and
partnership and demonstrating innovative technologies and services.”
"The Provincial government's funding of $390,000 for the Centre
for Interactive Research on Sustainability will help in accelerating the
adoption of sustainable practices in building and urban development,"
said Honourable Murray Coell, Minister for Advanced Education and Minister
Responsible for Research and Technology. "Our support of the centre
is consistent with British Columbia's Research and Innovation Strategy
where we know success lies in our colllective efforts to support research,
development, sustainability and commercialization, and to invest in people
and innovative ideas."
CIRS is a unique collaboration between the University of British Columbia,
Simon Fraser University the British Columbia Institute of Technology and
the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design.
The new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability will: establish
new partnerships between researchers, practitioners and end-users; identify
and nurture emerging Western Canadian environmental technologies for export;
and, test, train and certify innovative products and services in consultation
with industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada provided $391,625
and the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education provided $390,000 toward this
project.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government
of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations
and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the western
economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national
decision-making.
For additional information, contact:
Karl Yeh
Communications Advisor
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-4714
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
