The school of thought around the table at Barrie council's general committee meeting on Wednesday evening to support Lakehead University's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Hub downtown was it would be a win-win for the city.
"I think what we're going to be able to achieve together for the young people in the City of Barrie and around the city is something that will last generations," noted Mayor Alex Nuttall.
City councillors agreed to commit $9.9 million toward the satellite campus to be located on the lower level of the current Barrie Bus Terminal at 24 Maple Avenue.
The five-year lease deal with Lakehead includes $1 rent for the location and the use of 7,000 square feet with an option to renew. There would also be a 15,000 square-foot outdoor courtyard.
Lakehead plans to begin programs in September 2026 and will have access to the building when the Allandale Transit Terminal, currently under construction at Essa Road and Gowan Street at the existing GO Transit stop, opens in late 2025.
The Barrie Police Service has an office at the current transit terminal and the plan is to relocate to another location that is acceptable to police.
Landing Lakehead means the original plan for a marketplace in the area of the current terminal is cancelled.
The cash flow from the city to Lakehead will come from various reserves rather than property taxes.
Coun. Gary Harvey sought an amendment to the motion to ensure property tax revenues would not be used to support the satellite campus.
"I've heard from some residents and they weren't too happy with that," he noted.
Harvey's amended motion also asks city staff to seek other funding sources and that the federal government be approached for money.
Last week, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said the province would provide a one-time fund of $1 million to assist Barrie with housing needs created by students attending the Lakehead hub.
Lakehead officials were at the meeting on Wednesday night and told councillors they expected an enrolment of between 750 and 800 students at the end of the five-year period.
"I'm pleased that it's ramping up over a period of time because these students need a place to live, and that'll be mostly in the downtown area," said Coun. Clare Riepma. "I think we want to also turn our mind to how do we have good accomodation for them when they start arriving."
Lakehead officials said housing was not part of the space at the STEM Hub but it was on their radar.
Both Coun. Amy Courser and Sergio Morales also raised the matter of student housing.
"I know there is a capacity issue now," Courser said.
When Lakehead opens the STEM Hub, the Sandbox Centre for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Centre will remain on the second floor, and the Mexican House restaurant will continue to operate on the ground floor in another section of the building.
Lakehead established a partnership with Georgian College in 2016, and since then, according to the Georgian College website, has expanded direct pathways from diplomas to degrees in academic areas such as computer science, criminology, applied life sciences, kinesiology, and outdoor recreation, parks and tourism.
Lakehead's main base of operations is in Thunder Bay, but has had a campus in Orillia since 2016.
In their presentation, Lakehead officials noted that as a fast-growing municipality, Barrie is among the few urban growth centres in the Greater Golden Horseshoe without a university campus.
City council is expected to consider final approval of the motion at its meeting on Dec. 4.
