June 20, 2011
Cooper Construction gift builds community hub at Ron Joyce Centre
Hamilton, Ont. June 20, 2011—A $250,000 gift from Cooper Construction—a family-run company with deep community roots and a longstanding relationship with McMaster University—will create a valuable information hub in the heart of the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington.
The Cooper Construction Welcome Centre, located on the main floor, is designed to be the first stop for students and visitors alike.
“We are very grateful to Cooper Construction for its enduring support to our university, which makes this gift all the more meaningful,” said Patrick Deane, president of McMaster University. “The Welcome Centre is a gateway to the Ron Joyce Centre, providing a friendly and warm atmosphere for our students and a strong relationship to our community in Burlington and beyond.”
The Oakville-based company was founded in 1905 by William H. Cooper, a Hamilton native and stone mason. For 70 years, Cooper Construction has partnered with McMaster University, working on more than two dozen construction projects on campus.
Most recently, the company completed the four-storey Ron Joyce Centre—home to the University’s MBA and executive education programs—which opened in September of 2010.
“Hard work and determination are the cornerstones of our company,” says Bill Cooper, CEO of Cooper Construction. “These are the same values which are critical to students who are future business leaders. Our hope is that this space will not only create the right environment for learning but will also connect the important work being done here to the entire region.”
In 1987, during the building of the original DeGroote School of Business, Cooper Construction offered critical support to McMaster. Bill Cooper and his wife Gillian have shown a deep personal commitment to the university, including support for the McMaster Museum of Art. Bill is a former member of the Board of Governors and past chair of the Business Advisory Council for the business school. Gillian, who graduated with a degree in Art History in 1994, has served as a member of the Board of Governors, Senate, Chair of the McMaster Museum of Art and as a Cabinet member of two campaigns, among many other contributions. In 2009, she received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000, and more than 140,000 alumni in 128 countries.
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For more information, please contact:
Michelle Donovan
Public Relations Manager
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext. 22869
Wade Hemsworth
Public Relations Manager
McMaster University
905-525-9140, ext. 27988