The City of Yellowknife has issued its response to the GNWT's findings of the Aurora College Foundational Review issued last month.
“Yellowknife is an optimal headquarters location, in part given the size of the city's population, our amenities, housing, part-time employment and recreational opportunities,” stated a news release issued by the city last week.
During the legislative assembly's October sitting, Education Minister Caroline Cochrane stated that Aurora College would be turned into a polytechnic university. She made the comments in response to a foundational review of the college conducted by a Calgary consulting firm that made 66 different recommendations including moving the post-secondary institution's headquarters to the capital. Cochrane did not announce where the new university's headquarters would be located.
“While the GNWT's response doesn't declare a location for a new university headquarters, the City has a clear vision to support NWT students to a new level of academic achievement here at home,” stated councillor Julian Morse through a news release.
The city submitted their vision to the GNWT's Standing Committee on Social Development on Oct. 25. In their submission, the city makes a number of recommendations including amending legislation to distance the proposed university from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as well planning for related infrastructure such as student housing and social supports.
“The city is prepared to proactively work with developers and other partners to create affordable housing as student population increases, as well as with the community to identify and establish student supports,” states the city's report.
The city's report states its support for keeping community campuses in Fort Smith and Inuvik for 'specialized programming'.