Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) and the Honda Canada Foundation has announced a $1,843,500 donation in cash and in-kind to Georgian College, as part of a multi-faceted partnership benefitting students, faculty and industry. The five-year agreement includes funding for leading-edge equipment, innovative research and development, collaborative program support and newly-established scholarships for Georgian College students. The equipment will be purchased over the next two years and will benefit 30 program areas at Georgian campuses in Barrie and Owen Sound. Annually, up to 3,000 diploma and degree students will be able to access the new, state-of-the-art equipment.

Honda and Georgian College will also work together to recruit students and provide additional co-op placement opportunities, preparing students to meet the specialized needs of employers. Industry-relevant, future-ready equipment, combined with Georgian’s quality education and reputation for work-integrated learning experiences, will prepare the future workforce to sustain Honda, their supply chain and many other manufacturers located across central Ontario.

Tom Lake, Executive Vice President, Honda of Canada Mfg. and Vice Chair, Honda Canada Foundation, and MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College, announced the investment inside the Honda exhibit at the Georgian College Auto Show on the Barrie Campus.

"Honda is an advanced manufacturing leader and employer of choice with a significant presence right here in Simcoe County,” said MaryLynn West-Moynes, President and CEO, Georgian College. “Ensuring we have state-of-the-art equipment and exceptional learning opportunities in place for our students will help prepare them for the jobs of the future and today. We’ve also made a strong commitment to advance the research agenda at Georgian and across the regions we serve, and are thrilled to have Honda partner with us.”

“The Honda Canada Foundation is pleased to support the innovation and creativity of students. This investment in leading-edge equipment will support a variety of programs allowing students industry-relevant learning experiences,” said Tom Lake, Executive Vice President, Honda of Canada Mfg. and Vice Chair, Honda Canada Foundation. “In addition, HCM is proud to be part of a vibrant manufacturing industry in Simcoe County. It is our hope that our support will illustrate the opportunities and future that exist in our community, ultimately attracting and maintaining local intellectual capital.”

The Honda Canada Foundation was established with the goal of enhancing the lives and social well-being of Canadians. Honda Canada and the Honda Canada Foundation are committed to giving back to communities where its customers and associates live, work and play.

source: media release, Georgian College