Success Centre opens in downtown

By Maciejka Gorzelnik

St. Clair College students have a new place to call their own in the downtown sector that has been made possible because of a partnership between the college and TD Canada Trust.

The former TD Canada Trust branch located at the corner of University Avenue West and Victoria Avenue was donated to St. Clair College by TD. After four months and approximately $700,000 in renovations the TD Centre for Student Success opened to the public Nov. 2. The building has kept much of former TD branding with wood paneling and glass walls in the offices. With state of the art computers, lounge areas, study rooms and a club room, Student Representative Council president Keri Bagley said the building is a welcome addition to college life.

“To have this new building for students to come and share in their college experience and for us to be able to be a part of enhancing their college experience, it really means a lot to us,” said Bagley.

St. Clair began expanding into downtown in 2007 with the addition St. Clair College Centre for the Arts and the MediaPlex in 2010. According to St. Clair College president  John Strasser a student success centre was needed right from the start.

“(We needed) some place that the students could gather that were not classrooms,” said Strasser. “This will help us be able to support student success in one area quite apart from the day to day classroom.”

The Success Centre will soon have ATMs installed by TD and there are also plans to put programs in place to help students with financial literacy and budgets according to TD Canada Trust Windsor District Vice President Eric Griggs.

“We’re really eager to be part of the community and continuing education is absolutely one of the pillars of TD,” said Griggs. “But the main thing is that it’s now your building to use how you see best and we’re thrilled that our name is going to be tied into it as well.”

Windsor West MPP Teresa Piruzza attended the opening and said she is excited to see the collaboration between the college, the bank and the city.

“It’s really about giving the students a place to gather, to be together, to have resources available for them and somewhere to relax,” said Piruzza. “To have this centre here in the middle of (downtown), it really provides a good resource for students and it’s really a great space.”

The Success Centre will be open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m..