It is the 'Harris Learning Library'

Months of rumor and speculation were put to rest Monday as Canadore College and Nipissing University announced who the Learning Library is named for. Indeed the rumor was true the building is named for former Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

Philanthropist Seymour Schulich decided to make the $1.5 million donation to the Learning Library campaign with the express direction that it be named in honour of his friend.

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Nipissing University and Canadore College
Joint News Release


Today, Nipissing University and Canadore College celebrated a $1.5 million gift from renowned philanthropist Seymour Schulich. This donation to the Learning Library campaign will see the facility named the Harris Learning Library.

"This is a very exciting day for our shared campus and our region," said Lesley Lovett-Doust and George Burton, presidents of Nipissing University and Canadore College, in a joint statement. "Mr. Schulich's generous gift brought the campaign to its goal, allowing us to start the building last August. The Learning Library, due to be completed next summer, will provide our students, staff, faculty and community members with a state-of-the-art library that fosters knowledge, discourse and life-long learning opportunities. We are very grateful for Mr. Schulich's support and are pleased to name the building the Harris Learning Library."

The opportunity to name the Learning Library was built into the fundraising campaign that the two institutions officially launched in 2008. The contribution for the naming opportunity was set at $1.5 million dollars.

"I want to invest in projects that directly benefit students, and the Harris Learning Library will provide an excellent resource for learners across the university," said Schulich. "This is a fitting honour for Premier Harris and I am proud to help recognize him in this way."

The library, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in summer 2011. The $25 million facility will be more than twice the size of the existing library, and will include collaborative space for student projects and the Centre for Flexible Learning. This will better accommodate the continued growth of Canadore and Nipissing. The facility will also provide unprecedented connectivity with regional campuses and the world of digital resources we have available today.

There will be immediate benefits to the entire region as well. Through the PALS (Public and Academic Libraries Sharing) initiative, surrounding community libraries will be able to access resources and services in the Learning Library, and Canadore and Nipissing students will in turn have access to the holdings of nine regional public libraries.

"This is a great honour for me and my family," said Premier Harris. "Nipissing University and Canadore College enjoy a relationship that is truly unique in the post-secondary sector; I very much believe in these institutions and their ability to attract and graduate future leaders. To be recognized in this fashion, and for my family to join me today, is a truly humbling experience."

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