Justice Learning Centre Launched

Justice personnel now have a new centre for learning. Justice Minister Michael Baker and Nova Scotia Community College president Ray Ivany today opened the Justice Learning Centre, a joint venture between the two organizations.

The Justice Learning Centre is designed to provide responsive educational programs and services for justice personnel on topics ranging from domestic violence to the new federal Youth Criminal Justice Act. Programs will be offered at the college's campuses across the province and through a comprehensive online learning system, which will be co-ordinated through the Truro Campus.

"This partnership offers a range of exciting possibilities," said Mr. Baker. "We hope to develop a centre for excellence, innovation and professional development. We can draw on the physical infrastructure of the community college's network and their professional expertise to train personnel across the province."

"Our infrastructure and faculty expertise allow us, as an institution, to tangibly support the Justice Learning Centre," said Mr. Ivany. "Based on its purpose, the centre matches NSCC's philosophical view of furthering the quality of life and well- being of Nova Scotians, and that is why we're so supportive of this partnership."

In November 2001, the government announced that the Justice Learning Centre would be created in response to a report prepared by Dalhousie Law School's dean Dawn Russell and professor Diana Ginn. Their report reviewed the relevance and effectiveness of the Framework for Action Against Family Violence. One of the key recommendations in the report was the need for ongoing training for justice personnel, and this centre will help to fulfil that recommendation.

"This approach is cost-effective and will provide the most current internal training programs for our personnel, which will ultimately enhance the safety and security of Nova Scotians," said Mr. Baker.

With a mission to build Nova Scotia's economy and quality of life through education and innovation, Nova Scotia Community College is a dynamic college, committed to the lifelong, high-quality and accessible learning of all Nova Scotians. The college provides applied education options that are aligned with growth sectors of the economy and needs of the community. The college has more than 7,500 full-time, 12,000 part-time and 5,000 customized-training students every year.