Teaching and Research Excellence Showcased at First-Ever Queen’s Park Event

Carleton University community members gathered on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the first-ever Carleton Day at Queen’s Park reception, hosted in the historic legislative building by the Honourable Yasir Naqvi, minister of Community Safety and Correction Services and Government House Leader.

Attending the event were more than 100 alumni working at Queen’s Park and in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), as well as ministers, MPPs, representatives of Carleton’s Board of Governors, senior administration and faculty.

The reception marked the end of a successful day of meetings held between Carleton and officials with the Premier’s Office, the Honourable David Onley, and the ministries of Health and Long-Term Care, and Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure.

A priority of the day included demonstrating how Carleton’s teaching and research are contributing to Ontario’s prosperity and how Carleton graduates are emerging as inspiring leaders.

The meetings with officials provided Carleton representatives with opportunities to share background information on Carleton-specific issues, including research, infrastructure, funding and new initiatives.

A group photo of Carleton alumni working at Queen’s Park was captured outside the chamber following a statement in the house by John Fraser, MPP for Ottawa South.

“Carleton has a long-standing reputation as a university that promotes research excellence and enjoys many partnerships around the world,” said Fraser. “It is a university that employs highly innovative teaching to solve real-life problems, and has built a well-deserved reputation as a leader in areas as diverse as public affairs, journalism, engineering, high technology and international studies.”

Special guests included Dr. Maxime Allard, president of Dominican College, Tony Tattersfield, chair of Carleton’s Board of Governors, other Carleton University board members, Prof. Daniel Feszty, director of Carleton’s Aerospace program, and Jackie Choquette, president of the Toronto Chapter of the Carleton University Alumni Association.

Prof. Feszty highlighted Carleton’s national and international expertise in aerospace research and teaching, and its importance to Ontario’s research and innovation strategy.

“Carleton Day at Queen’s Park afforded us an invaluable opportunity to meet with our provincial colleagues to discuss key issues facing our university and to showcase Carleton’s international leadership in programs such as aerospace engineering,” said President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “We are most grateful to our MPP, Minister Yasir Naqvi, and his staff for their strong support in this initiative. It was a privilege to share a bit of our knowledge and gain from the wisdom of our leaders in parliament.”

Said Jackie Choquette: “I am proud to work with so many Carleton alumni at Queen’s Park. Today was a unique opportunity for our graduates, not only in government, but in industry, the arts, the not-for-profit sector and business to reconnect with one another, reminisce about their Carleton experience, and talk about how their collective efforts can continue to support our communities.”

Quick Facts – Carleton’s Aerospace Program:

Milestones:

  • First Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering program (1988)
  • First team-based final year project in Aerospace engineering (1992)
  • First undergraduate course on rotorcraft in Canada
  • First Whirl Tower facility in Canada
  • First American Helicopter Society student chapter in Canada (20 students)

Amazing Brain Power:

  • Largest undergraduate Aerospace program in Canada (125 students/year)
  • Largest graduate Aerospace program in Canada (80 graduate students)
  • Largest group of professors conducting Aerospace research in Canada (30 plus)

Media Inquiries:
Chris Cline
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
christopher_cline@carleton.ca

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