October 2, 2006 Source: :
http://www.mun.ca/marcomm/news/index.php?includefile=showitem.php&id=1296 Fortis Inc.
donation improves teaching technology and honours community builder Dr.
Angus
Bruneau The
heart of the S. J. Carew Building has been given a facelift. Thanks to a
$100,000 donation from Fortis Inc. to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Science, the main engineering lecture theatre on Memorial University’s St.
John’s Campus has been revitalized and will be officially renamed today in a
dedication ceremony.
The donation of Fortis is in recognition of the contributions Dr. Angus
Bruneau has made to the corporation and his years of service to Memorial.
Dr. Bruneau joined the faculty in 1968 and served as dean from 1969 until
1974. During that time, he led the development of the co-operative
engineering programs, which now have 800 undergraduate students who are in
high demand from employers upon graduation. Dr. Bruneau also served as
president and chief executive officer of Newfoundland Power from 1986 until
1990, at which time he became chairman of the board of directors of
Newfoundland Power. He served as chairman of Newfoundland Power until 1996.
>From 1987 to 1996, he was the chief executive officer of Fortis. Dr. Bruneau
was also the chairman of the board of directors of Fortis Inc. for 18 years.
He retired as chairman of the board of directors of Fortis Inc. in May 2006.
"Fortis is proud to be a part of today’s dedication ceremony to honour Dr.
Bruneau. Both Dr. Bruneau and Fortis share a strong connection with Memorial
University – Dr. Bruneau as founding dean of Engineering and Fortis as a
major employer in this province of graduates from the university. Dedicating
this newly refurbished lecture theatre in his name is a most fitting tribute
for Dr. Bruneau’s unwavering commitment to Fortis and his years of service
to Memorial University," said Stan Marshall, president and chief executive
officer, Fortis Inc.
The lecture theatre, which is used by many university units because of its
size, was inaugurated when the building opened in 1974. The $100,000
donation from Fortis covered a large portion of the funds needed to
completely remodel the lecture theatre. Improvements include new seating,
carpeting, lighting, and a new entrance way, as well as refurbished walls
and state-of-the-art teaching technology with two new projectors and a
24-foot screen.
Dr. Axel Meisen, president of Memorial University, said the improvements
will benefit the teaching of large undergraduate classes, public lectures
like the Speaking of Engineering series, as well as other university and
community events. "What most users will see is the physical enhancement of
this lecture space, but it will also provide students and others with a
richer learning experience," Dr. Meisen said. "This modern lecture theatre
will complement the high-quality teaching practices and standards for which
Memorial University is known."
In recognition of the Fortis donation and Dr. Bruneau’s service to Memorial
University, particularly to the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science,
the 213-seat lecture theatre will be named the Angus Bruneau Engineering
Lecture Theatre.
Memorial’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science is one of the few
programs in Canada that require all students to undertake co-operative
education work terms. All five engineering programs (civil, computer,
electrical, mechanical, and ocean and naval architectural) at Memorial
University recently underwent a periodic and thorough review by the Canadian
Engineering Accreditation Board. All programs received six-year
accreditation, the maximum period possible for engineering degree programs
in Canada.
Fortis is principally a diversified, international electric utility holding
company with assets approaching $4.5 billion and annual revenues of more
than $1.4 billion. Fortis has holdings in regulated electric distribution
utilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Newfoundland, Belize, Grand Cayman, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It has
non-regulated generation operations in British Columbia, Ontario, central
Newfoundland, upper New York State and Belize. Fortis also has investments
in real estate and hotels through Fortis Properties Corporation, its wholly
owned non-utility subsidiary. - 30 - For more information, please contact Michelle Osmond, communications
co-ordinator, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial
University, 709-737-8287, 709-691-5027, mosmond@engr.mun.ca.
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