Founded for and by the Peterborough community, Trent University continues to play an integral role in supporting the social, cultural, and economic health of the broader community. On March 25, the Trent Board of Governors had the opportunity to preview the University’s annual Community Report, which outlines Trent’s contribution to the region over the past year. The full report will be released in April.

“With the academic year coming to a close, the Community Report is an opportunity to reflect on the milestones, relationships, and impact that Trent University has on the greater Peterborough region,” says Julie Davis, vice president of External Relations and Development at Trent. “Trent is a place where students, staff and our broader community can thrive and build a resilient, sustainable Peterborough.”

Some of the highlights shared with the Board of Governors include Trent’s economic impact on the region, philanthropic endeavours, the contribution of Trent research, and initiatives underway through the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan.

Supporting regional resilience

“While post-pandemic recovery has been challenging at times, the past year demonstrates Trent’s place as a leader in our community and our commitment to the region’s success,” VP Davis says. During the reporting period, the University accounted for nine percent of the region’s GDP and $176 million in local expenditure, with a total estimated economic impact of $675 million.

The generosity of the Trent family also had a significant impact on the community. The University’s United Way campaign has raised over $2 million over the past 50 years, with faculty, staff and retirees giving a record-breaking $150,936 during the reporting period.

Trent’s staff and faculty are not only the backbone of its academic success – they are an integral part of the Peterborough community, contributing their time, resources and donations to a range of causes and community efforts. A recent staff and faculty survey by the Community Relations office found that almost 71 per cent of respondents volunteered in the community in the past year, while 92 per cent supported a charitable organization and 49 per cent supported community development efforts with goods or monetary contributions.

Transformative community-based research

Research plays a vital role in supporting community development, and Trent is fast being recognized as a leader in conducting impactful community-based research. The University continues to build on its long-standing relationships with not-for-profit, business, and industry partners within the community through its 484 active research projects.

These community-based research collaborations not only give students the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience addressing real-world problems, but participating community partners benefit from these talented students’ ideas and perspectives. The reporting period saw 839 student researchers and 223 future teachers placed in roles that directly contributed to the community’s knowledge and talent pool.

Ensuring a sustainable community and campus well into the future

It has been a year since the Trent Board of Governors approved the Trent Lands and Nature Areas Plan, the University’s vision for a thriving Symons Campus that advances its mission as a learning institution, steward of the natural environment, and community anchor, with several initiatives outlined in the Plan, already underway.

“The Lands Plan sets a new standard in campus planning best practice to thoughtfully evolve the campus into a thriving environment with diverse opportunities for both our students and the broader community,” VP Davis explains. “Through our ongoing initiatives, we aim to address some of the most critical issues facing our local communities such as housing, employment, climate change, and food security.”

In 2020, the University received $4.8 million in federal funding to support the development of Cleantech Commons, a partnership between Trent and the City of Peterborough set to become Canada’s premier green technology research and innovation site. The park will bring together Trent’s world-class researchers and laboratory facilities with entrepreneurs, business, and government partners to accelerate green technology solutions to address global energy, environmental and climate challenges. Cleantech Commons will not only retain top talent in the region but will bring additional job opportunities to Peterborough in fields such as human resources, marketing, and accounting.

Another exciting initiative is the planned University-Integrated Seniors’ Village, the first phase of which is a 224-bed not-for-profit long-term care (LTC) home that will be built and operated by peopleCare Communities on land leased from the University. With almost 2,500 people waiting two to four years for an LTC bed, this initiative will help to address the region’s need for aged care.

Through the Lands Plan, Trent is committed to maintaining 60% of its Symons Campus as nature areas and green spaces where the community can interact with nature. This will be achieved through the University Green Network (UGN), a connected natural system that includes areas for habitat preservation and creation, wildlife movement corridors, productive landscapes, and diverse green spaces that include the popular trails used by many in the community. In November 2021, Trent received a $350,000 grant from TD Bank Group to implement environmental enhancement projects in the UGN.

The full 2020/21 Community Report is set to be released will be published in the Peterborough Examiner, Peterborough This Week, and online by the end of April 2022.