University of Saskatchewan announces new Prince Albert campus

“The new campus in Prince Albert will enhance our ability to provide high-quality post-secondary education to Indigenous and northern communities and will serve as an anchor for the university’s emerging northern strategy," said President Peter Stoicheff. "Our students, faculty and staff will benefit from an investment that promotes quality educational programs and student support services."

 

The property is located in the heart of Prince Albert at 1061 Central Avenue.

 

Stoicheff said that parts of the building on the property will be renovated to meet the needs of the university and is expected to be operational by the fall of 2020. He noted the university will continue to share the building with some of the existing tenants.

 

The two-story, 110,000–square foot building was built in 2003, sits on 2.39 acres of land and is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified. It is currently owned and managed by the Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation (SOCO).

“We are pleased the University of Saskatchewan has a new vision for this facility to create and advance educational programming for their students. I look forward to seeing the opening of this revamped facility and the opportunities it will provide to future students, not only in Prince Albert but for all students in the north,” said Minister of Crown Investments Corporation and Minister Responsible for SOCO Joe Hargrave.

 

Over the next year, Stoicheff said the university will develop a renovation plan to include the services and facilities required in the building. The renovated space will include classrooms, offices, lab facilities and common gathering areas.

 

According to Stoicheff, the U of S has a long history of being present in the north—running academic programs and conducting research with communities. He said the purchase of this building and the development of a northern strategy reaffirms the university’s commitment to Indigenous and northern education.

 

“It’s time to create an integrated and comprehensive strategy that builds on the strengths of the work happening now, and also to create mechanisms that make it easier for northern communities to access our university,” said Stoicheff. “Together, we will collaborate on developing needed programs and areas of research that are of interest to Indigenous and northern peoples.”

 

Stoicheff said the population of northern Saskatchewan is growing and based on enrolment numbers and conversations he has had with northern communities, there is a keen interest in more local post-secondary education options.

 

"What an exciting announcement for Prince Albert,” said Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne. “For many years we have considered Prince Albert the medical, educational and service centre for Northern Saskatchewan, and a University of Saskatchewan campus in Prince Albert fits our vision and how we serve the north.”

 

During the 2017/2018 academic year, 324 students in the colleges of arts and science, nursing, and medicine took U of S classes in Prince Albert. Of those students, 47 per cent were Indigenous.

 

Undergraduate students
Website: admissions.usask.ca

Email: admissions@usask.ca  
Phone: 306-966-5788

Graduate students
Website: grad.usask.ca/contact.php
Email: grad.studies@usask.ca
Phone: 306-966-5751

Communications Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
Office: 306-966-6068
Cell: 306-381-7992
meghan.sired@usask.ca

 

Corinne Szwydky
Director, Communications and Brand Management
Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation
Office: 306-280-5223
cszwydky@innovationplace.com

 

Kiley Bear
Communications Manager
City of Prince Albert
Office: 306-953-4367
Cell: 306-940-6772
kbear@citypa.com