Media Releases

(Halifax, NS) – Dalhousie engineering students will have access to “The Michelin Creation Lab,” a new state-of-the-art engineering machine shop thanks to the generosity of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. The “Michelin Creation Lab” will enable larger projects, greater precision and program expansion. The announcement was made today as Dr. Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University welcomed Jeff MacLean, President, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., Kelsey Baker, a Dalhousie Engineering alum and a new Michelin employee, and Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, to campus. Mr. MacLean committed $500,000 to support the project on behalf of Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. The machine shop will be part of the university’s IDEA Project, a $64M investment to Dalhousie’s Engineering and Architecture Sexton campus, located in downtown Halifax.
 
“I’d like to thank Michelin Canada for their generous contribution,” says Dr. Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University. “Michelin continues to be a dedicated partner in engineering education and innovation, providing co-op, research and employment opportunities to our students and graduates for almost four decades. With this gift to the IDEA Project, Michelin is making a significant investment in the future of the Faculty of Engineering and in the continued growth of our region.”
 
The new student machine shop will reflect Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.’s commitment to innovation and will be outfitted with modern new equipment.
 
“Supporting the study of engineering in Atlantic Canada and at Dalhousie University has been a key factor to our nearly 50 years of manufacturing success here in Nova Scotia,” says Jeff MacLean, President, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. “Every day, Dalhousie engineering graduates bring their skills and leadership to our business. As an alumni and a previous co-op student, I benefitted from Dalhousie’s and Michelin’s partnership and work experience as I completed my engineering studies. It’s important for us to have this high level of university in our own backyard. I am confident that this donation will enrich the engineering experience for students at Dalhousie who will benefit from this new lab and through this very exciting IDEA Project.”
 
Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. is the largest private employer in Nova Scotia with more than 60 Dalhousie Engineering alumni holding key management positions with the company. Since the early 1980s, Michelin has been offering co-op experiences to Dalhousie engineering students. Recent research collaborations with Michelin have given graduate students experience working on complex, real-world problems while providing Michelin with access to unique skill sets that help to develop innovative solutions. Following today’s announcement, the company will be hosting a recruitment event on campus for Dalhousie engineering students.
 
“Our Faculty of Engineering has a strong focus on developing world-class engineers through experiential, hands-on learning,” says Dr. Florizone. “It’s the support of companies like Michelin Canada that gives our students the tools and opportunities they need to develop their skills and drive innovation and economic growth in Halifax and beyond.”
 
The IDEA Project (Innovation and Design in Engineering and Architecture Project) is made possible through the generous support of the Government of Canada, the matching support of private donors such as Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., students and industry. The IDEA Project will add advanced technology and design labs, state-of-the-art engineering facilities, and modern teaching and learning spaces to Dalhousie’s Sexton campus, and introduce cutting-edge incubation space to better link students and faculty to industry and entrepreneurs. Construction is underway with a targeted completion date of spring 2018.
 
For more information on the project, visit Dalhousie University’s IDEA Project page.
 
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Media Contacts:
Janet Bryson
Dalhousie University
Janet.bryson@dal.ca
902-494-1269
902-222-9370 (cell)
 
Deborah Carty
Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
deborah.carty@michelin.com
902-670-1837