For immediate release
REGINA, Saskatchewan, December 22, 2008 – The Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Honourable Christian Paradis and the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Peter Van Loan announced today that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Friesen Tokar Architects & Landscaping & Interior Designers of Winnipeg, Manitoba to design up to three cadet dormitories at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Academy at “Depot” Division, Regina.
A national design competition was held to find the best possible design solution that meets the operational needs of Depot while respecting its historical nature.
“The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our national police force has the necessary facilities to maintain its reputation as one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world,” said Minister Paradis. “The design and construction of new dormitories at the Academy is a significant development for the RCMP, whose members have a deep, and abiding emotional connection to “Depot” Division,” he added.
Each new dormitory will eventually house up to seven troops of 32 cadets, during their 24-week training program at the Academy. Design work will begin immediately with construction starting in 2010. The first dormitory will be located on Bonner Drive near the Dewdney Avenue entrance to the RCMP Academy.
In addition to the cadet accommodation facilities, the dormitory building will house the Academy’s Security and Access Control Centre and will serve as the main reception area for all visitors to “Depot” Division.
“The work of the RCMP is of paramount importance in keeping our communities safe,” said Minister Van Loan. “Our government is committed to providing the RCMP with the tools and resources needed to fulfill these important duties.”
“We are very pleased with the conceptual design for the new RCMP Academy dormitory building, proposed by Friesen Tokar Architects. It is contemporary yet respectful of the existing heritage buildings of the Academy,” said Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown, Commanding Officer, RCMP “Depot” Division. “We are confident that the facility will meet the needs of the RCMP Cadet Training Program for many years to come,” he added.
This contract is worth $1.7 million for the design of the first dormitory with an option to design the second and third dormitories for a combined total of $4.17 million.
The construction contract is expected to be awarded in 2010. This project is part of the $150 million announced for the rejuvenation and modernization of the RCMP Academy.
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For more information about the procurement process, please contact:
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
Media Relations
RCMP
613-993-2999
Media Liaison Office
RCMP “Depot” Division
306-780-5522
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.
BACKGROUNDER
The RCMP Academy Dormitories
at “Depot” Division
Regina, Saskatchewan
The existing accommodation facilities at the RCMP Academy (“Depot” Division), Regina, are beyond their useful lifespan. The current dormitories are physically, functionally, and technologically obsolete–notwithstanding the improvements, innovative modifications, and extremely rigorous maintenance plans that are in place to meet the present needs of the cadet-training program.
Ten modular, temporary, dormitory units (housing 320 cadets) have been in use at the Academy since 2006.
The RCMP’s demographics and growth projections have combined to create a situation in which an increased number of new cadets are required annually to allow the Force to fulfill its policing mandate.
A permanent and sustainable solution is the construction of three new dormitory buildings containing 640 beds, accommodating 20 troops of 32 cadets each at the Academy at any one time. The new dormitories, each accommodating six to seven troops, are to be constructed in a phased approach, beginning in 2010.
The first dormitory will be built on a vacant site on Bonner Drive, near the Dewdney Avenue entrance to the RCMP Academy. In addition to accommodations, the building will contain the Academy’s Security and Access Control Centre and will serve as the main reception area for all visitors to “Depot” Division.
