At a special October 2 gathering of broadcasting students and faculty, College and broadcasting industry representatives and special guests, Dennis Watson, Vice- President and General Manager of Kitchener television station CKCO-TV, a division of Bell Globemedia, announced a donation of $210,000 to Conestoga College’s broadcasting programs.
The donation, for use in acquiring equipment, was identified as an element of the public benefit package proposed by BCE at the time it petitioned the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for permission to acquire the CTV television network.
"Each of the CTV station managers was asked to make a recommendation in that station’s market area,” Mr. Watson said. "Conestoga College is an outstanding organization. I knew there was need for the College to move forward with regard to equipment for the broadcasting area. I also knew such an advance would be of great benefit to the students and, ultimately, the industry. We have employed a significant number of Conestoga graduates over the years. I myself am a community college graduate, and this donation seemed an excellent way of repaying all that the college system and Conestoga have done for broadcasting.”
In acknowledging the gift, Conestoga College President John Tibbits said, "The success of our broadcasting graduates and the many contributions they have made to their profession and their communities is a shining example of the value of a college education. I am very pleased that Dennis Watson and CKCO recognize and appreciate our achievements. Strong, productive partnerships like this are the key to the economic growth and development so necessary to our future prosperity.”
Students in two diploma-level programs, Broadcasting - Radio and Television and Journalism - Print and Broadcast, will directly benefit from the donation. Conestoga also has a full-service radio station, 88.3 CJIQ-FM, where students from these programs gain invaluable on-the-air and behind- the-scenes experience in a professional working environment.
Among the practical uses for the CKCO donation will be new digital editing suites equal to or ahead of those currently in use in the broadcasting industry, new ENG (electronic news gathering) cameras adaptable to digital television formats, new audio control boards and computer equipment to operate digital audio software programs, plus numerous upgrades to the radio and television lab infrastructure.
CONTACT: Dennis Watson (CKCO-TV), 519-741-4400 < dwatson@ctv.ca > Michael Thurnell (Conestoga College), 519-748-5220, ext. 3223