Wilfrid Laurier University - Facilities Planning Update - Town of Milton

Discussion
The Corporation of the
TOWN OF MILTON
Council Report No.COMS-044-08
Page No. 2
In late August, upon a meeting invitation from the University, staff (Director of
Community Services and Senior Manager Recreation Services) as well as the Chief
Librarian, attended a meeting with Mr. Blouw, which was also attended by the Vice-
President, Finance and Administration, the Manager of Special Projects, the Dean of
Music and the Dean of Students. This exploratory meeting was held to see if there is
any possible convergence worth exploring in the development of the University
Campus, municipal services, and the library. The potential for successful partnering is
great, since the infrastructure time-lines for the Town and for the University are much in
line. A subsequent meeting was held on September 15 th , 2008.
President Blouw began the meeting by noting his interest in working with the Town and
the Library in the development of any joint infrastructure partnerships in which interests
are aligned – specifically the library, the theatre, and recreation and sports facilities. He
advised that he had worked on joint partnerships with the University of Northern British
Columbia. He is eager to work jointly, noting that by working together, we could all end
up with something bigger and better than if we work separately.
He would like to see partnership in the area of the arts, the library and athletics to
encourage community engagement.
It is important to note that to date, no partnership exploration can be identified as
anything more than exploratory, since the University has not yet received a funding goahead.
Beyond that, more planning and investigation must take place before any
partnering can be considered as anything more than an expression of interest.
If the Campus is able to move ahead, it is difficult to predict what impact it may have on
current planning profiles related to the Central Library, the planned Arts and
Entertainment Centre and sport and recreation facilities. However, staff believes it is in
the Town’s and in Milton’s best interest to explore partnership opportunities related to
Wilfrid Laurier University. Even if the project(s) end up suggesting a divergence from
previously accepted decisions, it is prudent to fully explore this opportunity. Certainly it
fits with the goals expressed by Destiny Milton 2 and the Community Services and
Library Master Plan.
Pending approval, staff will engage our community partners that have previously been
involved in the development of current approved plans related to facilities (Arts Milton,
community sport and recreation organizations), and to discuss opportunities for future
partnership development with Wilfrid Laurier.