UWSA President Jason Syvixay (left), Treasury Board President Vic Toews, UWinnipeg President & Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy, Great-West Lifeco Inc. Chairman of the Board Ray McFeetors, Manitoba Minister of Family Services & Housing Gord Mackintosh and University of Winnipeg Foundation Capital Campaign Chairman Bob Kosminski cut the ribbon that officially opened the McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence. Photo by Kelly Morton / uwinnipeg.ca.
WINNIPEG, MB – Marcy Redhead and her 5 year-old son Timothy are now living in a new, two bedroom townhouse while she attends classes to get her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at The University of Winnipeg. It is in a building she says “makes her feel at peace. I am at ease here, I feel one thousand pounds lighter living here because it is safe.” The 27 year-old mother is originally from Shamattawa First Nation, a remote community 365 kilometers east of Thompson. She hopes to one day work with inner-city youth or join a police force.
The Redhead family is occupying one of 25 townhouses in the new McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence which was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Dr. Raymond L. McFeetors, a Collegiate and University of Winnipeg graduate and Chairman of the Board of Great-West Lifeco Inc., the Honourable Gord Mackintosh, Manitoba Minister of Family Services and Housing, and Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Winnipeg today.
The two and three bedroom townhouses recognizes that many students are also parents with unique housing needs. On the upper floors of McFeetors Hall, 172 dorm-style beds accommodate students in single and double bedroom suites. Two lounge areas with 29 foot high windows offer spectacular urban views and wireless internet access.
“This is an historic day for The University of Winnipeg and for downtown renewal, as collectively we launch our western Furby-Langside campus with two new critically important facilities for students and the community – attractive and affordable housing, and a new day care centre,” said Axworthy. “We are removing barriers so that more recent immigrants, Aboriginal people, rural students and adult learners can choose to follow their dreams and obtain a University education.”
Ray McFeetors embraced the University’s vision of a greater downtown campus for the community, making a personal gift of $1.67 million to launch the project. Great-West Life committed a further $1million for a combined gift of $2.67 million to help make the student residence come alive.
“The residence is an innovative addition to Winnipeg’s downtown,” McFeetors said. “It provides students with affordable, quality housing that will help them prepare for the opportunities and challenges life sends their way, and enable them to benefit, as I have, from everything The University of Winnipeg has to offer.”
The Government of Manitoba, through Manitoba Housing, provided a $1.95 million dollar grant to help realize McFeetors Hall and will continue to support low-income students by providing rent subsidies to those who are eligible.
“The construction of McFeetors Hall has given us an exciting opportunity to create something new and unique in Canada,” Mackintosh said. “Not only is the complex built to the highest environmental standards, it is designed to house single students and students with families from a range of economic backgrounds. It will even be home to non-student families, include a child-care centre and we are providing rent subsidies for low-income households.”
“The completion of McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence is a highlight of The University of Winnipeg’s `A World of Opportunity’ Capital Campaign. I am proud to say, to date over $65 million has been raised towards our $70 million goal,” said Bob Kozminski, Capital Campaign Chair. Successful completion of projects like the new student residence is dependent upon the generosity of our donors and volunteers. We are truly grateful for the support they have shown towards the University of Winnipeg’s Capital Campaign. We continue to look forward to future contributions from friends within our community.”
Meal plans for students-in-residence are provided by Diversity Food Services, devoted to nutritious, affordable and ethnically diverse food options that focus, wherever possible, on locally sourced, organic ingredients, with a commitment to fair-trade practices
Adjoining the facility is the new The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) child care centre for up to 112 children from both the University community and surrounding neighbourhood. The day care will include outdoor play areas in an enclosed green space.
The Science Complex and Richardson College for the Environment is also currently under construction on the Furby-Langside campus, with completion slated for 2011.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
