Peninsula Co-op's $120,000 donation kicks off Camosun College's Love Your Learning Library Campaign
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| (l to r) Mel Hernblad, Peninsula Co-op Board Member; Ron Gaudet, President of Peninsula Co-op’s Board; Liz Ashton, Camosun College President and Sybil Harrison, Chief Librarian |
March 31, 2009
Thanks to the generous donation of $120,000 from Peninsula Co-op, a project to revitalize Camosun College’s Lansdowne and Interurban campus libraries is well underway.
“On behalf of the Camosun College Foundation, we are thrilled to recognize Peninsula Co-op as our first corporate partner in our Love Your Learning Library community fundraising campaign,” said Camosun President Dr. Liz Ashton. “In recognition of their outstanding donation, the new Lansdowne library electronic classroom will be named the ‘Peninsula Co-op Learning Lab.’”
Peninsula Co-op is a locally owned co-operative of gas and food service centres in Greater Victoria and lower Vancouver Island. Opened in 1977, Peninsula Co-op today employs over 270 people with a co-op membership of more than 43,000.
“As a co-operative we have seen the incredible things which happen when like-minded people join together in support of a worthy cause,” said Ron Gaudet, President of the Board of Directors for Peninsula Co-op.
“Sharing our profits through a partnership with Camosun College to create a vital learning space, which is a legacy of community support for students now and for the future, is exciting for us at Peninsula Co-op,” added Pat Fafard, General Manager of Peninsula Co-op.
“Revitalizing our campus libraries is about improving the student experience at Camosun,” said Ashton.
Record numbers of students are accessing Camosun’s Lansdowne and Interurban libraries. In November 2008 alone, Camosun experienced more than 37,000 visits to the Lansdowne campus library and more than 13,500 at the Interurban library. Computer access is insufficient, group and quiet study space is at a premium, collections are aging, and the demand for electronic research tools is escalating.
Library renovations begin October 2009. The total reconstruction cost for both libraries is $4 million. Camosun College will commit partial funds through its Provincial Government capital allowance and infrastructure funding from the Federal Government is being sought. The Love Your Learning Library private sector fundraising campaign is planned to raise $500,000 for collections, equipment and resources.
Funds are coming in from individuals, businesses and events, since the College began its campaign last month. 1st Team Consulting, led by President Stewart Parkinson, past Chair of the Camosun Foundation Board, contributed $20,000 to the campaign. Proceeds from Camosun’s 15th annual fundraising dinner on March 27 also generated net proceeds of over $30,000 for the cause. The campaign has already reached more than one third of its goal.
“This project is imperative to the future of Camosun, our students and our programs,” added Ashton. “Having a respected local partner like Peninsula Co-op on board will help us create a true commons where state-of-the-art technology, expert help, a rich array of learning resources, and quiet places to study will assist our students in succeeding and realizing their educational goals.”
More information on the Camosun College Learning Library revitalization project.
Contact
Michelle Tinis
Marketing/Communications
Camosun College Foundation
250–370–4626
tinis@camosun.bc.ca
Last updated: March 31, 2009 11:20 am
