April 23, 2008

Education

Hamilton construction association reaches half-way mark in fundraising drive

Goal of $1 million for McMaster University chair within reach

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

The Hamilton & District Heavy Construction Association has passed the midway mark in its drive to raise $1 million to help fund establishment of a chair in heavy construction at McMaster University.

“Reaching this point has truly recharged us,” said association president Jon Brown, a branch manager at Battlefield Equipment Rentals.

The fundraising campaign recently received a shot in the arm with pledges of $125,000 from the John Deere Foundation and $62,500 from the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association (OCPA).

Thought to be a first of its kind in Canada, the chair would be part of McMaster’s department of civil engineering. The incumbent would act as a champion for the heavy construction industry in terms of attracting students into civil engineering, producing a highly qualified cohort of job-ready graduates, conducting strategic research and building partnerships with industry.

The chair also would have teaching responsibilities in the applied bachelor of technology program, a venture between McMaster and the school of engineering technology at Mohawk College.

Industry participation as a funding partner is considered important in ensuring graduates are well-equipped to find careers in the heavy construction industry.

OCPA executive director Gerrard Mulhern said his association is proud to be associated with creation of the chair.

“Among other things, we believe this program will create a large talent pool for the heavy construction companies that are installing our members’ concrete pipe and precast products every day.”

Brown said his association is optimistic that the remaining funds will be raised by the end of this year.

“We still have a few irons in the fire in terms of potential donors,” he said.

The Hamilton association kicked off the campaign with a pledge of $125,000. The Ontario Road Builders’ Association and the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association subsequently followed suit.

A total of $2 million is required to create the endowed chair. McMaster has agreed to provide $1 million in matching funding. A target date has not been set for the chair’s establishment.

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