ST. FX to House Millennium Centre
Northeastern Nova Scotia will soon be home to a major new economic development and information technology centre.
The Millennium Centre, to be housed at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, will have an IT training centre, tourism development facilities, a multimedia theatre, convention capability as well as multipurpose recreational facilities.
"Nova Scotia universities are key players in the economic and social futures of the province," said St. FX president Sean Riley. "St. FX, through this initiative, is strengthening its role as a dynamic economic force in the northeastern region of Nova Scotia."
"As Fathers Moses Coady and Jimmy Tompkins taught us many years ago, community economic development is about working together," said Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "The government of Canada is pleased to be a partner with the community of Antigonish and the province to support this key economic asset for northeastern Nova Scotia."
The 110,000-square-metre centre is receiving $3.2 million in funding through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed by ACOA and Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism.
"This is a strategic investment in business development in Nova Scotia," said Premier Russell MacLellan. "The centre, with its advanced IT training facilities and meeting and convention space, will be a great resource for new and growing companies in this part of the province. It will also attract companies from all over Atlantic Canada and beyond that are looking for an excellent place to come and learn. The more of those leading companies we attract, the better for our economy and our reputation as great place to live and do business."
The centre's sophisticated IT training facility, able to accommodate 200 people, will target major corporate and institutional clients requiring upgrading and advanced training. Developed with private partners, this facility will include a world-class technology centre with high-speed Internet connections.
Convention and event facilities at the centre will accommodate up to 2,500 people for trade shows, cultural events, concerts, and sport and recreational activities. The centre will also include a cultural and ecotourism exhibit hall, a regional visitor information and exhibit hub, and a cultural products and gallery store.
Other funding partners include the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission, which is contributing $1.5 million. St. FX is providing more than $4 million, including the land, for the centre, and together with community partners will work to secure the additional funding required to complete the $12.9-million project. The university will be responsible for the construction and operation of the centre.