If you’ve been driving around Perth you’ve no doubt noticed the Save Perth College signs popping up with more frequency on the lawns of homes from one end of town to the other.
The movement has been gaining traction ever since the group behind it heard that Algonquin College was closing the Perth Campus.
Entrepreneur Toby Shannon would like to open a not-for-profit trade school on the site.
Speaking for the group is the former Dean of the Campus, Chris Hahn who is now retired but believes the Craig St. Campus to be a special place.
He says there are no other locations that he knows of that offer a masonry shop, a carpentry and joinery shop, a timber building area, and more.
He also points to the fact that the facility brings people from near and far to the area.
Hahn also says there’s a great level of talent in the area too. Mixing those elements can yield successful learning for many.
Hahn says there’s a public meeting coming up Thursday the 25th at the legion to gather public input and to have the public learn about the process.
He says partnership opportunities could arise too to help make the school a reality.
A different business model would have to be created specific to what would be taught at the campus.
That would come after the campus itself was secured not only for the school, but also with the possibility of public use too.
We’ll have more on the public meeting next week.
You can learn more about the effort here.