"As automotive manufacturers and dealers, we need to partner withinstitutions like SAIT that produce the best of the best in terms ofdeveloping competencies and skills to ensure the safety and well-being of themotoring public. We look forward to and take pride in our long-term future inthis regard."
Stadium Nissan's Lawrence Bates used a strategy that has been successfulin producing donations from other auto manufacturers. Bates, who has beeninvolved in SAIT fundraising for several years, first solicited donations fromthe other Nissan and Infiniti dealers in Calgary, raising $100,000, thensuccessfully approached Nissan Canada to match their donation.
"This new state-of-the-art automotive centre is a fine example ofpartnering between the auto industry and SAIT," Bates said. "It will provideour industry with well trained, highly skilled technicians so that we are ableto meet our customers' needs now and in the future."
As well as Stadium Nissan, Brasso Nissan, Sunridge Nissan and HyattInfiniti contributed to Nissan's donation.
The automotive centre is named after SAIT alumnus Clayton Carroll, whograduated in 1940 and went on to build a highly successful paving company inSouthern Alberta. Carroll donated $1 million, the largest donation ever froman individual SAIT alumnus, to kick off the funding for the centre.