Province commits $30 million to support health-care education at SAIT
MEDIA RELEASE
Calgary, AB (Monday, March 3, 2025) — The Government of Alberta’s 2025 budget was unveiled with a significant contribution to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Through Budget 2025, the province has announced a $30 million investment to support SAIT’s Taylor Family Campus Centre, which will include the development of an integrated health-care education piece.
Leveraging SAIT’s expertise in health care, plans for the new campus centre include integrated health clinics covering comprehensive health, dental, vision, pharmacy services and mental health support. Health and public safety programming at SAIT is providing a stream of students primed for practicum placement, with the centre's future clinic space serving as a critical training ground.
“We appreciate government’s commitment to SAIT. This contribution will support the essential infrastructure needed to deliver innovative, hands-on learning experiences at SAIT and underscores the importance of the work we’re doing through the Real Futures campaign,” says Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO.
SAIT’s Real Futures campaign will bolster the Taylor Family Campus Centre’s development only after institutional and government contributions have been disbursed.
Expanding the health clinics and services available on campus will provide students with 360-degree support for their health and wellbeing, as well as physiotherapy, rehabilitation and sports medicine offerings to support SAIT’s high-performance athletes.
“SAIT’s new Taylor Family Student Centre will be an innovative, state-of-the-art facility that will support student learning, community, and wellness on campus. This project will support health care education and work-integrated learning, while also featuring a range of student-focused spaces to enrichen the student experience on campus. Through investments like this, Alberta’s government is ensuring we are building the workforce Alberta needs, today and in the future,” says Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education.
With a focus on student wellness, sustainability and work integrated learning, the centre — expected to open in late 2027 — will welcome more than 26,000 students each year. The new centre is also an important part of SAIT’s vision to provide world-class facilities where students learn, work, play and live.
“SAIT is taking a bold step forward to deliver fresh perspectives and re-imagine education through new technologies, spaces and ideas. The institution has a long and proud history of providing career-ready graduates who play an instrumental role in driving Alberta’s economy," says David Erickson, Chair, SAIT Board of Governors.
Building on the momentum of Alberta’s shifting economic landscapes, the goals set out by the Real Futures campaign will facilitate SAIT’s ability to deliver on industry’s talent needs. SAIT is poised to embark on a new chapter by elevating our role in advancing innovation and developing talent trained for tomorrow.
About SAIT
Established in 1916, SAIT was the first of its kind, publicly funded technical school in North America. As a global leader in applied education and research — serving nearly 40,000 students annually — SAIT offers certificate, diploma, post diploma, apprenticeship and applied degree programs, baccalaureate degrees, corporate training and more than 1,000 continuing education courses, along with four dedicated, award-winning areas of research and capacity for new and emerging research. Curriculum and research priorities are developed through industry partnerships to ensure graduates have the skills and knowledge required to fulfill the demand for talent. SAIT is honoured to be recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 2024, and to be ranked fourth by Research Infosource Inc. in the Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada for 2024. CEOWORLD Magazine ranked the SAIT School of Business #49 on the list of Best Business Schools in the World for 2024, and the School of Hospitality and Tourism placed #14 on their list of Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World for 2024.
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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.