February 20, 2008
Victoria, British Columbia
The University of Victoria will receive an investment of $1,036,400 from the Government of Canada to increase research capacity and support services for the advanced technology sector on south Vancouver Island. The Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, made the announcement today at the university's campus in Victoria.
"The federal government is providing this funding to strengthen the University of Victoria's world-class research capacity," said Minister Ambrose. "It will encourage the growth of knowledge-based research and development, and foster technology commercialization in British Columbia."
The federal contributions will go towards three important science and technology investments:
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) will provide $570,000 in funding to help the university acquire and upgrade important research equipment, including a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer ($150,000), an Electron Beam Lithography system ($290,000) and a Raman microscope ($130,000).
WD, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Environment Canada will also provide $353,700 to allow the university's School of Earth and Ocean Sciences to purchase three new pieces of research equipment to study the Fraser River Delta. The equipment, Seismic Liquefaction In-Situ Penetrometers, will be used to better understand the behaviour of sedimentary deltas and will be the first array of its type in the world.
WD will provide $112,700 in funding to assist the Vancouver Island Technology Park, owned by the university, to upgrade its existing business centre in order to enhance its services to the advanced technology sector on south Vancouver Island.
"We are delighted that Western Economic Diversification Canada has invested in these five projects," says UVic President David Turpin. "The equipment and facilities being funded are supporting world-class research that will be of direct benefit to Canadians in fields as diverse as coastal management, drug development, alternative energy and information processing."
In addition to these technological and operational investments, NRCan is contributing expertise to help the university build and deploy an 8-km extension of the VENUS observatory in the Strait of Georgia. VENUS is one of the world's most advanced cabled seafloor observatories, providing live data from the ocean floor.
"Generating new scientific data will enhance the capacity to make sound decisions about ocean management and help ensure the safety and security of Canadians living in the coastal areas of the Strait of Georgia." said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources Canada.
The funding for the University of Victoria supports the implementation of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy by investing in knowledge infrastructure, promoting skills development and supporting knowledge transfer and commercialization.
Western Economic Diversification Canada is the department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to encourage diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision making.For additional information, contact:
Donna HowesCommunications ManagerWestern Economic Diversification CanadaTel: 604-666-1318Cell: 604-505-6616
Cindy L. PaquetteExecutive Director of Government RelationsUniversity of VictoriaTel: 250-472-5475Cell: 250-920-8356
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
