February 15, 2010 - 5:26am
A traditional First Nations feast at Vancouver Island
University (VIU) honoured TD Bank Financial Group for its contribution of
$50,000 toward The Gathering Place, a new Aboriginal centre on the Nanaimo
campus.
VIU
President and Vice-Chancellor Ralph Nilson praised TD Bank Financial Group and
other community partners for playing a key role in the creation of Shq’apthut –
The Gathering Place. Phase one of the $3.6-million, 5,000-square-foot structure
will be completed this summer.
“The Gathering
Place offers a cultural home away from home for
students with diverse academic, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds,” Nilson
said. “The centre will foster understanding, appreciation and respect for First
Nations heritage not only among Aboriginal students but throughout the
university community and beyond.”
The
Gathering Place
is designed and being built to meet the rigorous gold standard for LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
“Protecting our environment is critical to our success,”
Nilson said. “As leaders in teaching, learning and research, all of us at VIU
have a responsibility to lead by example.”
Nilson also
expressed pride that students in VIU’s first Aboriginal Construction Program
gained important hands-on experience as they helped lay the foundation and
install the support beams for the distinctive building.
“We’re delighted to be a part of
VIU’s new Aboriginal centre, working
to ensure that the best educational opportunities exist to help develop
tomorrow’s leaders from the Aboriginal community,”
said Tara-Lynn Hughes, District Vice President South Vancouver Island,
TD Canada Trust. “The Aboriginal community
represents one of the youngest and fastest growing segments of our population,
and will increasingly make up a larger portion of the total workforce in the
years ahead. As such, TD is committed to supporting
Aboriginal communities in Canada
through programs geared to promote economic development, self-sufficiency and
job opportunities.”
In
recognition of TD’s support of the Aboriginal centre, TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation (TD FEF) will receive recognition via the centre’s new
rainwater retention pond.
Now
celebrating its 20th anniversary year, the local TD FEF
Nanaimo/Parksville Chapter has provided more than $500,000 to over 500 local,
grassroots environmental and wildlife projects since 1990. Across the country,
TD FEF has distributed more than $50 million to support over 18,400 grassroots
environmental and wildlife projects in its 20 year history.
The
first phase of the The Gathering Place, at a cost of $2.2-million, includes a
student lounge, an elders lounge, and office space for VIU’s Aboriginal Student
Services department.
The
building was designed by Aboriginal architect Alfred Waugh to resemble a
traditional Coast Salish longhouse in the era before European contact.
Waugh
describes The Gathering Place as a holistic integration of sustainable
strategies. The green roof reduces storm water runoff and reduces energy
demands for cooling and heating. Rainwater collected from the roof in a retention
pond is part of a filtration system that permits reuse of grey water to flush
toilets and irrigate landscaping.
Julie
Keenan, development manager for VIU, said generous donors have contributed $400,000
toward The Gathering Place, and more than $26,000 has been raised by internal
fundraising efforts at VIU, such as soup and bannock sales by the First Nations
Student Services department and a gala reception dinner and auction held last
May.
A
donation of $25,000 from the VIU Student Union is helping to ensure
construction of a green roof on the new centre.
Meanwhile,
fundraising for phase two is continuing. “There is still an outstanding need of
$1.6-million to complete additional office space, landscaping and a ceremonial
hall,” said Keenan. “We’re confident that other organizations and individuals
will see the value of investing in this innovative project.”
For
more information on The Gathering Place project, to see the plans or to make a
donation, please visit viu.ca/gatheringplace
or contact Vancouver Island University Foundation, 250-740-6212, foundation@viu.ca.
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Tags: In the Community
