While Wilfrid Laurier University has been working with the Town for more than eight years to develop plans for a Milton campus, the institution isn’t being automatically selected and will have to go through the proposal process.

“Laurier welcomes the opportunity to participate in the process announced today by the Ontario government,” said John Bowey, chair of the Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Directors.

In 2014, the Town and Laurier extended their memorandum of understanding, and the municipality agreed to donate 150 acres of land valued at approximately $50 million to the university. The parcel is within the MEV, located south of Derry Road, west of Tremaine Road and north of Britannia Road, adjacent to the Niagara Escarpment.

A press release issued by the Town following the announcement indicates that it, along with Halton Region, will continue to support Laurier through the proposal process and is moving forward with land use planning activities for the MEV.

The announcement brings to fruition former Town CAO Mario Belvedere’s idea of having a post-secondary institution in Milton.

The well-liked official died in 2014 at the age of 58 following a lengthy illness. His wife, Patricia, was in attendance at the announcement to watch her late-husband’s dream become a reality.

The jovial former head of Town staff was on the hearts and minds of others at the event as well, like Krantz, who worked alongside Belvedere at Town Hall for many years.

So what would the former CAO have said about the news?

“He would probably say, ‘Amen!’” remarked Krantz with a smile. “This really all started with the late Mario Belvedere.”

During her speech, Matthews tipped her hat to Naidoo-Harris for working behind the scenes at Queen’s Park and pushing to bring a post-secondary institution to her hometown of Milton.

“For years my colleagues at Queen’s Park have been hearing about this,” said Naidoo-Harris. “This was a community effort. Everyone in this community really made it clear that this is something that’s important. Today’s announcement is historic news for students, families and all of Halton.”

Current Town CAO Bill Mann touted the announcement as a catalyst that will open many doors for local opportunities in education, economic development, technology and innovation.

“It’s obviously a great day not only for Milton, but all of Halton Region. We’re very pleased,” he said. “We’ve been working at this for about 20 years trying to convince all provincial powers that we need something of this nature.”

He noted the post-secondary campus will support Milton’s need for all-day, two-way GO service.

Regional Chair Gary Carr was also on hand to celebrate the news and did so with a quote from Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

“Thank you, minister, for giving us the tools to change the world,” he said.

The plans come as the second phase of Ontario’s major expansion in post-secondary infrastructure.