A former New Brunswick premier contributed $5 million to establish the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick with a goal to make the province and Canada, a “digital trailblazer”.
In Fredericton on Tuesday, Frank McKenna said the criteria for greatness has changed where it once meant “seaports and railheads”.
“The winners in the new world are going to be jurisdictions that are safe and affordable with a good quality of life and connectivity,” McKenna said.
McKenna will lead a $50-million fundraising campaign.
A news release describes the McKenna Institute as “a catalyst and connector for academia, industry and government to create a globally competitive digital economy and society”.
McKenna called the project exciting and he called UNB’s ambition with it “bold and aggressive”.
“There is nothing profound about the reasoning that took place in our household. New Brunswick is responsible for all of the good fortune in my life and I have an obligation to pay it forward. It’s as simple as that,” McKenna said.
McKenna called on other New Brunswickers to pay it forward as well.
“Not only in terms of money but in terms of time and attention,” McKenna said.
“New Brunswick is well-positioned to emerge as a major centre in our country’s digital ascendency. We just need to be bold and determined enough to seize the tremendous opportunity before us.” – The Hon. Frank McKenna pic.twitter.com/6utP7Y965n
— UNB (@UNB) September 7, 2021
Premier Blaine Higgs announced a $10 million contribution from the province to the McKenna Institute project.
He noted the current momentum involving New Brunswickers moving home and those looking at the province for the first time.
“Buying properties virtually. When did we last have that situation? Where all of a sudden people just want to be in New Brunswick,” Higgs said.
He spoke of his own “digital nomad”, his daughter who was working in Bangkok, Thailand but came home in the pandemic and now works remotely from New Brunswick.
1/ UNB "is an integral part of the innovation ecosystem not only for New Brunswick, but for Canada," says @SiemensCanada CEO Faisal Kazi at today's McKenna Institute launch.
We're proud to be a part of the bold, creative & transformative ideas that lift up our province & world.
— UNB Research (@UNBResearch) September 7, 2021
