ST. PETERS BAY, P.E.I. — This tiny north shore community will soon become a world leader when it comes to studying climate change.
Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay announced Friday the federal and provincial governments are teaming up with UPEI to build a new 45,000-square foot research facility in St. Peters called the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, which will be part of the university.
The federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined $9.7 million, UPEI will throw in $4.8 million while ACOA will fork over another $4 million. The money is locked in so the project will move forward regardless of what happens in the federal election later this year.
Adam Fenech, director of the climate research laboratory at UPEI, said the school will feature a mix of undergraduate and graduate students and six full-time faculty. It will be open to about 40 students per year doing an undergraduate bachelor of science in climate change and adaptation.
A residence will also be a component of the school with a capacity for 100 students.
“This is a huge deal because it means that P.E.I. and the university are going to become world leaders in climate change adaptation,’’ Fenech said.
He added that it will be a centre where international researchers can come to examine all aspects of climate change. The centre will look at issues like how changing temperatures and precipitation patterns influence agriculture, how to deal with long droughts in the summer and too much rainfall in the fall — challenges that farmers experience each year.
“The whole Island itself is what we call a living laboratory,’’ Fenech said. “(This announcement) recognizes climate change is happening (and that) climate change is going to continue to impact not only the Island but around the world.’’
He said St. Peters is an ideal location because of its proximity to wetlands, forests and coastal habitats.
St. Peters Mayor Ronnie MacInnis said it’s a significant investment in the community.
“For us here in St. Peters, it’s jobs in the community and it’s people moving into the community,’’ MacInnis said. “We’ll have some young people in the area and we hope to keep them around.’’
Just the facts
- New climate research centre will cost $18.5 million to build
- Funding partners are federal and provincial governments and UPEI
- Centre will be 45,000 square feet in size
- Will be located across the street from post office in St. Peters
- Will cater to 40 students a year taking a four-year bachelor of science in climate change and adaptation undergraduate degree
- Will feature a student residence with a capacity for 100 students
The land the centre will be located on was donated by Gordon MacKay, Richard Flynn and potato growers Ray and Alvin Keenan. It will be located almost directly across from the post office, just up the road from Rick’s Fish and Chips.
Stephanie Arnold, a current graduate environmental sciences student at UPEI with a focus on climate change adaptation, said, for her, it’s going to be a chance to work with researchers from around the world.
Arnold said she’s also excited for the high school students who are always asking her where they should go to study climate change.
“They had very limited choices (before today),’’ Arnold said.
Premier Dennis King said he’s always thought of P.E.I. as an environmental leader, pointing to initiatives such as Waste Watch and the recent ban on plastic bags as examples.
“This is just further proof of our determination to be a leader in this because we have to be with the changing climate,’’ King said.
MacAulay said this project has been in the works for years.
“This is a game-changer,’’ said the MP. “We will be at the forefront of climate research. (It also shows) we can grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time.’’
There was no definitive word Friday when construction will start but the prevailing opinion seemed to be sometime this year or next. It is hoped that the centre will be ready for students by September 2021.
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