SAINT JOHN (GNB) – A building on the New Brunswick Community College's (NBCC) Saint John campus is being named after a prominent New Brunswicker.
The NBCC Allied Health Education Centre - officially opened in 2011 - will now be called the NBCC Gerald S. Merrithew Allied Health Education Centre.
"Gerald S. Merrithew was an outstanding New Brunswicker and we are pleased to name this building after him to honour his vast contributions," said Premier David Alward. "Mr. Merrithew was a fine example of the type of excellence and community contribution students can admire and aspire to."
Throughout his career, Merrithew was an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces, an educator, school principal, and a provincial and federal cabinet minister as well as a well-known statesman.
"The Saint John campus of the NBCC is a place where students can access quality instruction to gain the skills and experience needed to find employment and contribute to their community and province," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr. "Mr. Merrithew had a profound influence on this community and today we honour his accomplishments."
The request to rename the building was made by a member of the public in 2012 and gained wide-spread community support. The provincial government worked closely with the NBCC board of governors to undertake the process.
"Mr. Merrithew's public service - particularly in education - is well known not only in Saint John, but at the provincial and national levels," said Cheryl M.G. Robertson, chair of the board. "We look forward to welcoming the Merrithew family into the NBCC family."
Marilyn Luscombe, president and chief executive officer of the NBCC, said the naming of the building was a way of recognizing someone whose service exemplified NBCC's own vision and purpose.
"At NBCC, our vision is to transform lives and communities, creatively contributing to the socio-economic prosperity of New Brunswick through education," said Luscombe. "This is the same spirit that motivated Mr. Merrithew's many, many years of public service."
"Renaming this building celebrates individual and community participation and reflects on the importance of those who have led the way," said Alward. "The Gerald S. Merrithew Allied Health Education Centre is a state of the art learning environment for students and educators and will be a centre that builds on the successes of others for many years to come."