Markham District Energy Welcomes York University

MARKHAM, ON – May 28, 2015 – Markham District Energy (MDE) congratulates York University on the announcement of its new campus in Markham. The result of a competitive call for proposals by the Government of Ontario to post-secondary institutions for new projects, York U’s Markham campus will be located in Markham Centre and will become a significant energy customer for MDE.

“We couldn’t be more excited by York University’s announcement of its new campus in Markham Centre,” said MDE president & CEO, Bruce Ander. “The campus not only represents an energy win-win for the university and MDE, but also a chance to work with the university to develop academic programming and practical learning opportunities for students.”

Providing students workplace-based learning opportunities while they study and excellent job prospects when they graduate is a focus of York U’s new campus. The university plans to work with significant economic clusters already present in York Region including information and communication technology, life sciences and healthcare technologies, financial and insurance services, and clean technology.

The chance to develop district energy programming and hands-on learning experiences for students with the university is not just exciting for MDE, but also for the International District Energy Association (IDEA). “The opportunity presented by York U’s Markham Centre campus could not be a better complement to our theme this year of encouraging the next generation,” said Rob Thornton, IDEA president & CEO. “The future of our industry hinges on the next generation having ready access to community energy programming.”

The new campus will serve an area of the province with a high-level demand for post-secondary education, but where a gap in access exists, which meets the objective of the province’s call for proposals. A wide range of degree programs, as well as joint programs with Seneca College will be offered. It is expected 4,000 students will be accommodated in the initial phase with the potential for more students over time.

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About Markham District Energy

MDE, an energy company owned by the City of Markham, is committed to continuing as a leading developer of municipally owned district energy systems providing strategic foundations for Markham’s Greenprint Sustainability Plan and economic development objectives. MDE owns and operates award-winning community energy systems serving buildings in the developing urban centres of Markham Centre and Cornell Centre.

Media Contact: Emily Turney 905-752-3368 eturney@mdei.ca