McMaster celebrates the official opening of One James North
From left to right: Leadership in Community Engagement student Kathryn Adams of Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Patrick Deane, McMaster Director of Community Engagement Sheila Sammon, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, McMaster Chief Financial Officer Dee Henne, Hamilton Community Foundation President & CEO Terry Cooke, and McMaster CCE Director Dr. Lorraine Carter
Hundreds of people, including Hamilton community members, McMaster students and university staff gathered on September 28th to celebrate the official grand opening of One James North. The downtown building hosts the McMaster Centre for Continuing Education, University Advancement, Financial Services, the office of Institutional Research and Analysis, and Internal Audit. Some McMaster undergraduate nursing classes are also held in the facility, as well as frequent community events. Approximately 200 McMaster staff call OJN their professional home.
“In the more than eight decades since the University’s move here, the relationship between McMaster and the Hamilton community has only become stronger and more visible,” said Dr. Patrick Deane, President of McMaster University.
“We are happy to open the doors of One James North and welcome the Hamilton community to the latest architectural manifestation of the long and productive partnership between McMaster University and the Hamilton community.
The University, in fact, has had a vital presence in downtown Hamilton for more than a decade and a half, since the move of a number of departments into what was called the McMaster Downtown Centre located in the former courthouse at the corner of Main and John. The McMaster Innovation Park on Longwood Road is thriving and, of course, the David Braley Health Sciences Campus has been operating across from City Hall for more than a year.
One James North has a specific mission along with the tools that help make that mission achievable. Part of the work is to engage the community. The Centre has taken that commitment to literal levels by offering a Leadership in Community Engagement certificate program through the Centre for Continuing Education.
In a very real way, One James North belongs to Hamilton. There are classrooms and spaces that are available for use by members of the McMaster family and the Hamilton community, with special arrangements available for local not-for-profit organizations. These spaces come equipped with the latest in learning technologies and with low-tech features like comfortable chairs and large windows.
“One James North is a vitally important part of McMaster’s community engagement plan and we hope that our University and the people who work in and visit this wonderful facility are just as important to the vitality of downtown Hamilton.”
