Published: September 21, 2010

(in photo)From L to R Doug Sharpe, representative for MP Stockwell Day, B.C. Aboriginal Minister George Abbot with Elders Jimmy Fountain and May Voght, cut the ribbon on the new lecture facility. Photo by Jade Swartzberg

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology celebrated the grand opening of their new lecture theatre and daycare centre with music, drumming and thousands of free hamburgers.

Students, faculty and members of the community all gathered for the official ribbon cutting ceremony last Wednesday, Sept. 15, where Ken Tourand, NVIT president invited the public to “make our NVIT your NVIT.”

First, dignitaries such as B.C. Aboriginal Relations Minster George Abbot and Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali addressed the public and applauded the measures that had been taken to improve education for First Nations students.

“I’m so proud of what universities and colleges have done all across the province in the way of aboriginal learning,” said Abbot.

Following their addresses First Nations Elder Jimmy Fountain cut the ribbon.

With the theatre and daycare centre officially open, guests were able to tour the facility.

NVIT students from the Burnaby campus were bussed up to Merritt so they could also participate in the festivities. Cheryl Stewart, a Burnaby student and mother of three said, a daycare facility like this would be wonderful. “I think it [the new theatre and daycare] will affect students positively.”

Others in the community, also felt the addition to NVIT was a positive thing. “I think it’s great,” said Dell Lawrence, a resident of Merritt for 20 years. “We definitely needed some place like this in the community.” Lawrence added that she wished there had been a place like this when her own son when to school.