About the Centre
News/Media

For Immediate Release

March 4, 2003

New Landmark Training Facility Created for Halton

Burlington, ON - The Centre for Skills Development & Training is proud to announce the creation of an exciting new landmark education and training facility for the Region of Halton; The Bay Area Learning Centre!

Located in central Burlington, this 93,000 square foot facility, which includes a combination of both office and warehouse space, is soon to become home to a wide range of corporate and community service organizations. “Our goal is to create a place where individuals and organizations can access a continuum of quality education, training and personal and career development services. We believe that together, we can do more to support the personal, social and economic development of the Halton community than any of us could ever do alone. That’s the power of partnerships!” says Dr. Dusty Papke, Director of Education of the Halton District School Board and President of The Centre for Skills Development & Training.

Driven by the need for a larger home for their Burlington activities and inspired by the success of their other three similar, though considerably smaller facilities, The Centre for Skills Development & Training has been working with Reimer Developments and Kevin McAleese of Blair, Blanchard and Stapleton, Commercial Realtors, to find and develop the right property for this bold new venture. “This kind of facility is just what business needs – a place that can pick up from where our schools leave off to help produce quality employees for today and tomorrow,” says Rudy Reimer Sr.

Since inception, the project has enjoyed strong support from both the Regional and Municipal governments. John Ayling, Director, Halton Region calls it a “…significant step forward in helping to realize the Region’s economic and workforce development goals”, while Leo DeLoyde, Director of Development and Infrastructure, City of Burlington sees it as becoming a “…key contributor to the success of our local businesses.”

It has also produced a significant amount of excitement from within industry itself. “We’ve already received a number of inquiries from a variety of organizations all wanting to be a part of this new centre,” says Kathy Mills, Executive Director with The Centre for Skills Development & Training. “Clearly, we’ve tapped into a real need here.”

The Centre for Skills Development & Training is a leading provider of quality career and workforce development programs, products and services specializing in Pre-Apprenticeship Trades and Technology, Career Planning and Development and Language Skills and Academic Upgrading.