Okanagan College Media Release

The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is contributing $30,000 to the development of Okanagan College’s new Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation.

Jim Henderson, Jason Cox & Donna Lomas

The announcement was made today at an Okanagan College Foundation donor recognition event held at the Penticton Campus, where the new $28-million Centre will be built.

“This is a very important project for the community, and it will have a lasting impact for many of our members,” said Chamber President Jason Cox. “We see our support as a signal of the business community’s commitment to the future of higher education in the region.”

Jim Henderson, who is spearheading the $5-million fundraising campaign on behalf of the Okanagan College Foundation for the $28-million Centre, was elated with the donation.

“The Chamber is known for carefully choosing its targets for support. This is an endorsement of the project that should resonate through the entire South Okanagan and among the business and community leaders who will help us achieve our goals.”

When it is complete in early 2011, the Centre of Excellence will accommodate about 500 additional students on campus, and will be a significant expansion of the existing Penticton campus, almost tripling the building space for students, staff and programs.

The Centre will house a variety of programs that are focused on sustainable (green) building technologies and processes as well as the use of alternative and renewable energy sources. The 8,500-square-metre structure will include shops, labs, office space, a new cafeteria, incubation space for business, and a recreational facility.