MPP Oosterhoff Joins Minister Fedeli for Tour of Niagara College

Welland – Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, joined Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, at the Welland Campus of Niagara College, Wednesday, for a campus tour focused on collaboration and innovation.

Niagara College hosted a tour of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre at the Welland Campus showcasing a number of local strategic partnerships and projects facilitated by the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation. The provincial network, which collaborates with small and medium-sized companies to tackle manufacturing-related challenges, is led by Niagara College.

“It was a privilege to join Minister Fedeli at the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Niagara College to learn more about the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.

“This network is a great example of how institutions of applied arts and technology can partner with local businesses to boost economic growth and development. I was especially impressed to hear about Niagara College’s strategic partnerships with Paremtech in Wainfleet and Hamill Machine in Niagara Falls in promoting industry-leading innovation and supporting skills training.”

The college network currently includes eleven Ontario postsecondary institutions.

Sean Kennedy, President of Niagara College; Dr. Marc Nantel, Vice-President of Research, Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, and Mishka Balsom Board of Governors Chair, were on campus to lead the tour, along with Kithio Mwanzia, Manager of the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation, and Neil Wilkinson, Research Program Manager of the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre. Several staff and students from the Research and Innovation Division of Niagara College, along with local industry partners, Paremtech and Hamill Machine, also participated.

The Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation has faciliated 460 projects and contributed to the commercialization of 149 new products or processes, resulting in $12.5 million in sales and creating and supporting 282 jobs.