Canadore College’s The Village Honoured
Known for its award-winning programs that prepare workers across all sectors of the economy, Canadore College is celebrating a recognition of a different kind — this time for architectural excellence.
The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has announced the projects selected for the 2025 Queen’s Park Picks, an annual program that showcases outstanding architectural contributions from across the province. Among the nine projects chosen from 55 submissions is The Village at Canadore College, nominated by Hon. Vic Fedeli, MPP (Nipissing).
The Village represents Canadore’s commitment to learning, community well-being, and reconciliation. For students, it offers innovative, hands-on training opportunities. For the broader community, it provides vital health and wellness services. The design intentionally integrates interprofessional education with Eastern, Western, and Indigenous healing and wellness practices, creating a space where Indigenous students find both academic support and cultural connection.
The Village is also home to programs that promote healthy aging, offering daily activities for seniors that enhance quality of life while providing meaningful experiential learning for Canadore students.
Designed by Critchley Hill Architecture Inc. and completed in 2018, The Village serves as a community-focused centre for health, culture, and wellness education. The facility includes clinics, labs, and culturally significant spaces such as a harvest kitchen and ceremonial gathering room. At its heart, the light-filled Village Centre connects students, elders, and community members, fostering a “living lab” where learning, healing, and cultural exchange thrive.
Now in its tenth year, the Queen’s Park Picks program invites Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to nominate a building within their riding that highlights their community’s unique architectural identity. This year’s theme, “Reshaping Communities,” encouraged nominations from across all political parties, spotlighting spaces that have had a meaningful impact on Ontarians. The initiative reflects the OAA’s ongoing commitment to celebrating the province’s architectural legacy and advancing design excellence in the public interest.
“Canadore is very proud of what The Village has come to mean for our students and the people it serves. It has truly created a bridge between learning and real-world impact,” said George Burton, President and CEO. “At Canadore College, people feel a sense of belonging here—and that connection motivates them to support our students in every aspect of their learning. The Village is a very comfortable environment for learning and socializing. We thank Critchley Hill Architecture Inc. for its thoughtful design, and MPP Vic Fedeli for nominating us for this recognition.”
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About Canadore College
Canadore College trains people through applied learning, leadership, and innovation. It provides access to over 80 full-time quality programs and has outstanding faculty and provides success services to students from nearly 400 Canadian communities and 25 international countries. The College, its students, and alumni add $402.5 million to the Nipissing Parry Sound service area economy. Approximately 1,000 students graduate from Canadore each year, and they join 78,000 alumni working across the globe. Canadore receives less than 50 per cent of its traditional funding from the provincial Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security and relies on its own innovation and entrepreneurial endeavours and generous donors for the balance.
