Technology, Research & Education
Fred-eZone / e-Novations / Fredericton Knowledge Park / National Research Council / Research & Productivity Council / BioAtlantech / Canadian Forest Service / Agriculture & Agri Food Canada / Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre / Public Schools / Univerisites / Colleges / Libraries
FRED-EZONE
The City introduced Fred-eZone in 2003 making it Canada’s 1st Free Wireless City! Fred-eZone is a city-owned wi-fi network, part of its fibre optic network, that makes use of integrated traditional and wireless technologies to provide residents, visitors and businesses with mobile high-speed internet access in public areas. Info: 460-2999, www.gofred.ca
FREDeFIBRE
FredeFibre (formerly e-Novations) is a city-owned corporation tasked with constructing Fredericton's Comunity Network -- a fibre optic and wireless data network providing Fredericton businesses, government and academic institutions with access to high-speed / high-capacity electronic communications. Connections to the fiber backbone run at 100 megabits per second facilitating immediate access for users. It is up to 100 times faster than DSL or cable modem. The network puts Fredericton among leading centres in Canada in terms of communication infrastructure -- giving us an even sharper edge in the IT world. It acts as a catalyst to create new opportunities for businesses, and it is indicative of the City of Fredericton's commitment to its IT future. For more info, see the Fred-eChronicle. Info: 460-2999, www.gofred.ca
Fredericton Knowledge Park
The City of Fredericton, Enterprise Fredericton, University of New Brunswick and Province of New Brunswick created a partnership to advance the Fredericton Knowledge Park. Five buildings presently reside on-site of this 26 acre campus. As a hub of innovation, the Park has attracted companies like RIM and Radian6 with its synergistic environment for knowledge-based companies and close proximity to the R&D infrastructure. The Park also houses the national Centre of Excellence in Advanced Learning and Technology (CEALT) as well as an Acceleration Centre for companies in the post-incubation and pre-commercialization stage of development. For leasing info, contact 1-800-200-1180, www.knowledgepark.ca/en/
NRC-IIT
The National Research Council Institute for Information Technology (NRC-IIT) with labs in three Canadian provinces led from Fredericton, undertakes research in three strategic directions of information and communications technology: Knowledge from Data
; People-Oriented Systems; e-Business.
NRC-IIT conducts scientific research, develops technology, creates knowledge and supports innovation. Through Information Technology R & D, they have a beneficial and profound impact on Canadian society.
In Fredericton, NRC-IIT - e-Business is situated on the campus of the University of New Brunswick (UNB). The Institute's research areas include: 3D Imaging, Modeling and Visualization; Interactive Information; Knowledge Discovery; Natural Language Processing; Human Computer Interaction; Intelligent Internet Applications; and Learning & Collaborative Tehnologies.
Community stakeholders have played significant roles in shaping NRC-IIT-e-B's entire research agenda. NRC-IIT outfitted five specialist research labs based on the core research agendas as established with community consultations.
NRC-IIT has built a solid industry outreach capacity. An entire floor of the Fredericton lab is devoted to an Industrial Partnership Facility, a business accelerator that offers companies state-of-the-art technical facilities and the chance to interact with NRC researchers. Source NRC IIT www.iit-iti.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Research and Productivity Council (RPC)RPC is an independent contract research and technical services organization working on a fee-for-service basis for industry and government in New Brunswick and abroad. From a 13,000 sq. meter facility, chemists, geneticists, metallurgical engineers, mechanical engineers, molecular biologists, and technologists offer services certified to a variety of nationally and internationally recognized standards including ISO, CAEL, CSA, SCC, and CFIA. RPC offers expertise and facilities for the design, development and improvement of products and processes, technical services for testing and analysis, and specialized scientific research and engineering expertise for solving technical problems in industry. RPC is client- focused with a commitment to delivering good value and quality services. Source RPC, www.rpc.ca
BIOATLANTECH
Fredericton-based, BioAtlantech is the lead agency for New Brunswick's bio-industries. Working with government and the private sector, the corporation: builds and enhances new and existing businesses in New Brunswick's biosciences sectors; supports technology transfer from public institutions to the private sector; offers services in competitive technical intelligence and business plan development; assists partners in company recruitment; assists partners in policy development; manages strategic projects; and coordinates networking opportunities for the sector. Source BioAtlantech www.bioatlantech.nb.ca
CANADIAN FOREST SERVICE - ATLANTIC FORESTRY CENTRE
The Atlantic Forestry Centre, part of the Government of Canada's Natural Resources Canada, is one of the five CFS research centres located across Canada. It plays a vital role in regional and national forestry research programs. Its facilities are located in both Fredericton, New Brunswick and Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Fredericton site, includes state-of-the-art research laboratories, a comprehensive insect and disease collection facility, and a sophisticated climate-controlled greenhouse/nursery complex. Researchers are investigating, among other things, new methods of pest management (biological control), forest health, gene conservation to preserve biodiversity, somatic embryogenesis and gene manipulation to improve timber production, effects of air pollution and climate change, and computer-based management planning tools for decision making. In addition, CFS manages and delivers regionally the First Nation Forestry Program and the Model Forest Program for the Atlantic region. CFS also endeavors to maintain the National Forestry Database Program. Info: www.atl.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station
The AAFC Research Station's primary area of research is the development of new potato varieties and germplasm, biotechnology and environmental studies of agriculture's impact on water air and soil. Source Potato Research Centre
Hugh John Flemming Forestry CentreThe Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre (HJFFC) is a cooperative venture, which brings together various government agencies, educational institutions, and forestry associations that have a common interest in forestry. The Forestry Centre offers a wide range of forest research, management and teaching expertise that cannot be matched anywhere in Canada. This Centre of Excellence in Forestry consists of some twenty buildings with over one half million square feet of space. HJFFC is home to the Government of Canada's Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service; the Maritime College of Forest Technology (formerly known as the Maritime Ranger School); the University of New Brunswick's Tweeddale Centre for Forest Industrial Research; and the New Brunswick Provincial Department of Natural Resources. The Centre is located in Fredericton, New Brunswick (Canada) on a 28 hectare site adjacent to the University of New Brunswick woodlot. Source Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre
EDUCATION
The Province delivers immersion/non-immersion education programs with over 35 schools residing in the Fredericton area. District 18 453-5454, www.district18.nbed.nb.ca/
*School District 18 ranks among the best in the world - see the PISA (Program for International Assessment) results at: www.d18international.nbed.nb.ca/questions.html
Ecole Sainte-Anne, which is located in the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne, provides French language schooling to students from kindergarten to grade 12. District #1 453-3991, www.esa.nbed.nb.ca
Fredericton is home to four universities:
University of New Brunswick (UNB)
The University of New Brunswick, with two main campuses located in Fredericton and Saint John, is Canada’s oldest English University and one of the first universities in North America.
More than 10,500 students move through the two main campuses annually and several thousand more take advantage of distance education and programs at partner campuses around the world. These numbers, and the deep affection and respect for UNB found among more than 70,000 alumni, speak to the reputation as an institution that cares deeply about its teaching, learning and research mission.
How is UNB making a significant difference in our communities?
• UNB receives in excess of $51 million in annual research funding, through grants and contracts, and 50 per cent of research funding is returned to the local economy through salaries and student support.
• UNB graduates employed in the province annually inject $31.5 million in incremental salaries and wages directly into the local economy.
• UNB employs nearly 2,500 full-time equivalents (FTE), which amounts to more than 3,500 full- and part-time staff, including faculty, support staff and students. It also has more than 70,000 living alumni, of which 23,400 reside in New Brunswick.
• UNB’s international students originate from more than 100 countries, contributing to the cultural fabric of the province.
• UNB awards $5.5 million in undergraduate scholarships annually, and about 60% of incoming high school students receive a scholarship to UNB.
• The UNB Planetary and Space Science Centre houses the sole NASA-designated Regional Planetary Image Facility in Canada.
• UNB consistently ranks among the top comprehensive universities in the country according to Maclean’s Magazine University Rankings.
• The UNB MRI Centre is one of the leading laboratories world-wide in many aspects of material science MRI.
• UNB’s Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society is an internationally recognized centre specializing in peacekeeping, modern stability building, terrorism, intelligence, and military and naval history.
• There have been four NHL contracts signed by Canadian university hockey players in the past five years and all of them came from UNB.
• UNB’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering is a world-renowned research facility in biomedical engineering and one of the oldest solely dedicated to this field.
UNB is known for its groundbreaking research, the depth and variety of its academic programs and its accomplished faculty and staff. The university if making a significant difference in New Brunswick, playing a fundamental role in the economic, social and cultural well being of the province.
Source University of New Brunswick www.unb.ca
St. Thomas University (STU)
Moving into its second century, St. Thomas is an ideal liberal arts institution, consistently ranking as one of the top undergraduate universities in Canada. Teaching is the highest institutional priority, and challenging programmes taught by professors directly engaged in learning foster each student’s intellectual development.
The cornerstone four-year Bachelor of Arts programme has more than 30 academic disciplines. Students explore various disciplines during their first two years of study, allowing them to broaden their interests before selecting an honours or major. Small class sizes (no class is larger than 60 with the average class size 31) encourage students to participate in discussions with peers and professors.
According to a national survey of graduates, St. Thomas ranked second in Canada on overall student recommendation and third on the quality of the learning environment. It also consistently ranks in the top five of undergraduate universities for quality of student services such as tutors, writing service, skills developments, academic advisors, and employment programmes.
Colleges, Programs, and Degrees: Majors in Anthropology, Catholic Studies, Criminology, Economics, English Language and Literature, English (w/Drama), English (w/Creative Writing), Environment and Society, Fine Arts, French, Gerontology, Great Ideas, History, Human Rights, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Relations, Irish Studies, Journalism, Native Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Sociology, Spanish, and Women's Studies and Gender Studies. Professional programmes in Education and Social Work.
Source St. Thomas University, www.stu.ca
Maritime College of Forestry Technology
The College was established in 1946 as a cooperative effort between the wood-using industries and the provincial governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. MCFT offers courses in traditional forestry through Dendrology (study of trees and shrubs), Forest Fire Management and Wildlife Management. The College's expanded curriculum also addresses new forestry issues like Urban Forestry, Forest Technology (GPS/GIS) and Ethics and Environmental Issues. Each year, 50 new students are enrolled in the program.
The College's Department of Continuing Education provides life-long learning for graduates and other forestry professionals. Courses such as Watercourse Alteration Certification, Hardwood Management, Supervisory Development, and Forest Landscape Ecology allow graduates to specialize and remain current in their field. Source Maritime College of Forestry Technology
New Brunswick Community College (NBCC)
New Brunswick Community College is a provincial Crown corporation directed by a board of governors and headed by a President and CEO. We are committed to providing quality opportunities for learning to prepare students for the workforce, while encouraging innovation and diversity to continuously improve our educational environment.
Across six campuses, NBCC offers more than 80 programs, as well as apprenticeship and continuing education opportunities. NBCC’s programs are designed to meet the needs and demands of industry. Our programs offer a combination of theory, practical training and job exposure that enables our graduates to compete and prosper in today’s demanding workplace. Well-equipped facilities and highly qualified, industry-leading instructors ensure a consistently high standard of educational excellence and continued employer confidence in our well-deserved reputation for career-ready graduates.
The new Fredericton campus, located on the UNB campus, will have a capacity of 400 seats and will deliver programs in health, business administration, information technology, engineering technology and social services.
Source NB Community College, www.nbcc.nb.ca
New Brunswick College of Craft & Design (NBCCD)
The NBCCD awards a Diploma in Fine Craft to students who have completed the required courses in Foundation Studies, and have completed their major in one of seven studios: Clay, Creative Graphics, Fashion Design, Surface Design, Metal/Jewellery Arts, Photography and Textiles. Certificate Programs include the Certificate in Foundation Visual Arts, Certificate in Specialty Photography, and Certificate in Studio Pottery. NBCCD is the only school of its kind in Canada. Source NBCCD, www.nbcc.nb.ca
Private Sector Institutions
Fredericton has a full range of private training colleges and institutes offering various expertise from computer and business skills to hairdressing and heavy equipment operation.
Libraries
On a per capita basis, Fredericton is one of the most intensively "libraried" cities in Canada. Fredericton has three public libraries: the Fredericton Public Library, the Nashwaaksis School-Public Library, and the Bibliothèque Dr. Marguerite Michaud in the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne.
The University of New Brunswick community of libraries includes the main Harriet Irving Library, the Science and Engineering Libraries, the UNB Gerard V. La Forest Law Library, as well as special collections, such as those held by the Centre for Conflict Studies.
The Provincial Archives, located on the UNB campus, provide a rich source of historical documents including government records dating to 1784, private manuscript collections, maps, architectural plans/drawings, photographs, and a growing collection of oral and video histories. The website also features over a million records online at: http://www.archives.gnb.ca.
The Legislative Library provides information, reference material, research and publication services to Members of the Legislative Assembly, their staff, and the public.
In addition, over 50 special interest libraries serve the citizens of Greater Fredericton. These libraries include the Agricultural Research Station Library, the Forestry Canada Library, several privately operated and maintained Law and Engineering Libraries, the Health and Community Services Library, and the Cathedral Library.
