University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy

The University of Waterloo is creating a knowledge powerhouse in Downtown Kitchener. The new Health Sciences Campus, anchored by the School of Pharmacy, is positioned to become an innovative centre focused on medicine and health that will bring together education, diagnostics, treatment, research, and commercial applications in dramatic new ways. The School of Pharmacy, which is the first new school in Canada in 20 years, will help to fill the urgent demand for more pharmacists across the country. This innovative project is the result of a unique partnership between the City of Kitchener and UW.

The goal for the school is to create a knowledge powerhouse with the ability to conduct state-of-the-art research on various health-related disciplines, including the use of genomics and bio-informatics in the design of prescription drugs in the future.

With its Integrated Primary Care Clinic, the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in partnership with McMaster School of Medicine and the UW Optometry School, will undoubtedly offer research, learning and professional-development opportunities unavailable and unmatched by any other school in North America.

The City of Kitchener has committed $30 million of its $110-million Economic Development Investment Fund to this project. It’s a bold move that's virtually unheard of among Canadian municipalities; a move that will diversify and strengthen the local economy; a move that will bring new family doctors to a traditionally medically underserviced area; and a move that will provide many lasting benefits to Waterloo Region, Ontario and the nation.

 

 

 

Facts About the UW Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus:

• Spearheaded by Dr. Jake Thiessen, Hallman Director and renowned Canadian researcher in the field of pharmacokinetics.
• 10th Canadian School of Pharmacy.
• Second school of its kind in Ontario.
• Graduating 120 students each year.
• Will have 480 undergraduate and 70 graduate students, 50 faculty and staff. 
• Upon completion, the UW Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus expected bring hundreds of faculty members and staff to the city’s core each day.
• Collaboration between UW and the University of Toronto (U of T) will create a “pharmaceutical zone” in southwestern Ontario.
• Power to admit 360 pharmaceutical students annually between UW and U of T – a number virtually untouchable by other Canadian pharmacy schools.
• Enrolled its first undergraduate students in January 2008.
• UW faculty members will work with professors of Laurentian University in Sudbury to enhance the number of pharmacists placed in Northern Ontario and isolated communities.

For more information about the University of Waterloo Health Sciences Campus and the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, please visit the University web site at http://www.pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca/

UW Business and Economic Development Perspective

Development of the University of Waterloo (UW) School of Pharmacy will evolve through three phases to become the UW Downtown Kitchener Health Sciences Campus in the heart of Kitchener’s downtown and will generate economic benefits that will be felt throughout the entire city and Waterloo Region.

Economic benefits:
Diversify and expand the local economic base.
Provide critical balance for the city, lessening the impact of future economic downturns.
Stimulate the local economy through ongoing expenditures by students and visitors.
Create opportunities for new economy industries.(i.e. research and biotech)
Stimulate residential growth in the city’s core.
Produce spin-off activities. (i.e. the creation of supporting businesses, the development of housing, fitness and leisure activities)

UW One-time Impacts:
$30 million to the local economy through construction of the campus and residence building.
358 full-time jobs = $21 million in wages and salaries during construction.
$11 million in public revenues to federal, provincial, regional and local levels of government.

UW Recurring impacts:
$28 million annually from operations, research and expenditures by students and visitors.
Employment creation of 766 person years annually.
$25 million annually in wages from the creation of employment.
$9 million annually in public revenues for all levels of government.
Private sector impact of $20-$30 million annually for the provision of housing to students.
$6 million to $10 million per year from external sources, including government and private sources.

UW Costs: (from UW Business Case, 2004)
$147 million for construction of 120,000 square-foot building, including site work and preparation; $30 million City of Kitchener contribution; $75 million to $90 million in capital funding; $20 million to $30 million in private sector donations.
$25 million to $30 million for operating costs, scholarships, fellowships, professorships.
$15 million in annual operating costs.

For more information about the City of Kitchener Economic Development:
Rod Regier,
Executive Director, Economic Development,
City of Kitchener,
(519) 741-2506
rod.regier@kitchener.ca

For more information about Downtown Kitchener:
Cory Bluhm,
Manager, Downtown Community Development
City of Kitchener,
519-741-3400 ext. 3375
cory.bluhm@kitchener.ca