Assiniboine announces $150K Westman Communications Group donation

One of Assiniboine Community College’s newest learning spaces, the Centre for Creative Media (CCM), is announcing a $150,000 donation from Westman Communications Group that helped make the new facility possible.

This generous contribution by the local media cooperative includes $50,000 in student financial awards and $100,000 toward the facility. Today, the college revealed a space named on behalf of the donor—the Westman Communications Group Shared Edit and Screening Lounge.

“Westman Communications Group is committed to the betterment of our communities. Assiniboine, one of our long-time partners, has done an excellent job providing top-notch education in Manitoba,” said WCG’s Chief Customer Officer, John Quail. “We are delighted that we have an opportunity to contribute to Assiniboine’s initiative of upgrading its Brandon facilities, which will benefit its students and our communities for years to come.”

The WCG Shared Edit and Screening Lounge is a multi-functional learning space that provides a classroom space for students working on post-production alongside a dedicated screening area with a high-end projector and sound system. This lounge gives students an appropriate space to view content they’ve created; view, discuss and critique other content; invite guest speakers and host screening events.

“Developing this dedicated creative space will enhance the college’s ability to deliver students the experience they want and need to go confidently into working in industry,” said Jana Sproule, Chair of Media and Office Technology at Assiniboine. “This facility is an essential accompaniment to the concentrated program options it will house. Like these programs, the Centre for Creative Media was developed with industry needs and standards at its core.”

In fall 2021, the college launched three new two-year diploma programs—Media & Communications, Digital Art & Design and Web & Interactive Development. These programs will be the primary users of the new Centre.

Construction on the 10,050 sq. ft. Centre for Creative Media started in early 2021 and was completed later that year.

“Westman Communications Group has been an integral partner to us here at Assiniboine, particularly in our digital and media-related programs,” said Bobbie Robertson, Dean, School of Business. “Their support of this new leading-edge learning space was important in bringing it to life, and is going to benefit hundreds of students who we know will go on to contribute big things to the industry.”

(ACC News)