We are thrilled to announce that Centennial College has been named one of the Pre-Qualified Partners for the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA)’s Project Arrow 2.0 – Canada’s first, original, full-build zero-emission concept vehicle! Our involvement reflects our commitment to driving innovation in the transportation sector and contributing to Canada’s transition toward a sustainable, zero-emissions future.
At Centennial Innovates, we intentionally position ourselves to innovate in areas that are aligned with our academic priorities. With our Centennial School of Transportation (SOT) as the largest transportation skilled trades trainer in Canada, we too are taking on the next big challenges in the transportation industry – including low-carbon and zero-carbon mobility – to ensure that we have innovation activities that place Centennial in a leading role as we explore alternative propulsion vehicles in the future. Project Arrow 2.0 is an ambitious initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and positioning Canada as a global leader in sustainable transportation solutions. The project answers the Prime Minister’s call for a zero-emissions future by 2050, bringing together the best of the best of Canada’s electric-drive, alternative fuel, connected and autonomous vehicle and light-weight technology companies. We look forward to this unique opportunity to work alongside our world-class Canadian automotive supply sector and postsecondary institutions in the development of cutting-edge technologies aimed at shaping the future of transportation in Canada.
Adding to the excitement, on November 8th, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a significant $7-million investment for the expansion of Project Arrow 2.0. "Through this new investment, APMA will build on the success of Project Arrow and continue to work alongside Canadian suppliers, technology companies and academia to expand its fleet of vehicles to demonstrate the competitiveness of Canada’s connected and autonomous vehicle and zero-emission vehicle] suppliers while strengthening the regional automotive supply chain. This project will create more opportunities for Canadian businesses to demonstrate their capabilities and components in the Project Arrow 2.0 fleet, which will generate investments in the region and across the country, while strengthening the Canadian economy.”
For Centennial College, being a Pre-Qualified Partner is a significant achievement in our continued focus on innovation in the transportation field. This partnership also comes in the midst of our 5-year NSERC Mobilize grant for low-carbon mobility and our SmartTO Regional Technology Development Site in partnership with York University through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network. Together, these initiatives showcase our strong leadership in the future of alternative propulsion systems and sustainable vehicle technologies. In addition, our ongoing work with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) on the Bus Design Innovation Program and with the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) on the TransitXcell Portal further underscores our commitment to making meaningful contributions to transportation solution development that shape the future of our communities.
All our innovation activities revolve around student engagement and impact at its core. As a post-secondary institution, we believe it is our responsibility to equip our students with not only the knowledge but also hands-on experience and practical skills development to thrive in their career. Through Project Arrow and other transportation applied research and innovation projects, current and future Centennial College students considering a career in transportation will have access to a wide range of exciting opportunities working with industry leaders in the sector.
A special thank-you goes to SOT staff and faculty – especially Paulo Santos, Acting Dean, Dave Weatherhead, Associate Dean and Janna Erichsen, Associate Dean, Part Time Learning for their continued support and collaboration, without which achievements like this would not be possible. We would also like to acknowledge the important contributions of Wenzi Ckurshumova, Associate Director, Research and Innovation at Centennial Innovates, who leads our transportation applied research efforts in collaboration with Paulo’s team.
As Project Arrow 2.0 continues to unfold alongside other exciting initiatives in the transportation sector, we will continue to position Centennial College as an innovation leader in sustainable transportation. This collaboration with the APMA is just one example of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for our students, faculty, and industry partners.