Trent University welcomed Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, to the Peterborough campus where Trent leaders shared details about career-ready skills development, world-class water quality research and a new university-integrated seniors’ village.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Dunlop back to Trent,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “During the visit, we were able to showcase research and student learning opportunities that are quintessentially Trent – highlighting interdisciplinary thought, leadership in aging, work-integrated learning and environmental research.”
Before embarking on a campus tour, several members of Trent’s senior administration, including President Groarke, Provost Michael Khan and Julie Davis, Trent’s vice-president of External Relations and Development, met with Minister Dunlop, who was accompanied by Peterborough MPP and Trent alumnus Dave Smith ’91.
Dr. Cathy Bruce, vice-president of Research & Innovation at Trent, guided Minister Dunlop and MPP Smith on a tour of the campus, highlighting Careerspace, the University's career services centre, the Trent Centre for Aging and Society (TCAS) and the Water Quality Centre.
While at Careerspace, staff spoke about ways Trent continues to innovate to deliver guaranteed career-ready skills development opportunities for students. Representatives from Careerspace shared news about 23 new paid co-op streams for Trent students, virtual learning strategies and the Community Concierge program, which has created partnerships with more than 70 local employers to talent needs in City and County of Peterborough and City of Kawartha Lakes.
“It was such a pleasure to be back at Trent University’s Peterborough campus to see the vibrant student community in action and to learn about how the University is prioritizing student success, research and innovation,” said Dunlop. “From delivering career-ready skills development opportunities through its Careerspace, to the community impact of projects under its Centre for Aging and Society – and everything in between – Trent is doing incredible work preparing students for the workforce. Thank you, President Groarke, for showcasing the talent and work happening all over campus.”
At TCAS, Drs. Mark Skinner and Elizabeth Russell highlighted Trent’s reputation for outstanding thought-leadership on the study and celebration of aging. They also highlighted the international impact of TCAS’s interdisciplinary aging research, the new Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Aging Studies, the community impact of projects including the long-term care home being developed in collaboration with peopleCare communities and Seniors’ Village project to be located on Trent lands.
The tour concluded at Trent’s world-class Water Quality Centre (WQC), the most comprehensive mass spectrometry facility in Canada, where Canada Research Chair in Environmental Archaeology Dr. Paul Szpak showcased key equipment and research. In the WQC, students in Trent Master’s programs also shared with Minister Dunlop opportunities they have had to build specialized skills and experience working with state-of-the-art equipment.
