Algoma U faculty, departments urged to support city's ferrochrome plant bid

Algoma U president says successful bid could have significant impact on community, university

20171002-Asima Vezina new Algoma University President-DT

Asima Vezina file photo. Darren Taylor/SooToday

Algoma University president Asima Vezina is actively seeking letters of support from all "chair faculty and departments" for Sault Ste. Marie’s bid on a Ring of Fire-related ferrochrome smelter.

“If successful, it could have significant impact on our community and in turn our university, including a significant investment ($1 billion) and job creation of up to 500 jobs in the facility,” Vezina wrote in the president’s report for the January 2018 senate meeting.

The request was also reiterated by Vezina verbally to senate during Friday’s senate meeting at the university.

Algoma University was initially approached by the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Economic Development Corporation for the university's support of the ferrochrome processing plant bid, according to the president’s report.

The deadline set by Vezina for letters of support from all university departments is Jan. 19.