With representatives from federal, provincial and municipal levels of government offering congratulations to the venture, the opening of a general purpose skills training lab was held on Friday, October 14 at the Centennial Centre in Bonnyville.
The lab is intended for use by programs at Portage College, who have been lease tenants in the centre for the past five years. The creation and stocking of the lab has been a joint venture amongst the college, the Centennial Centre, the Town of Bonnyville and the two levels of government.
Portage has worked collaboratively with all partners on recommending the levels of training that could take place in a new designated trades area. The college also identified what capital and infrastructure was required according to Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology (AET).
Through the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada and the activities of the Bonnyville Centennial Centre, the college now has access to a general purpose trades skills lab.
"The Government of Canada's investment in the Trades Training Lab is a reflection of our commitment to create jobs and enhance economic activity in the community," said Brian Storseth, Member of Parliament for Westlock-St. Paul on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. "This initiative addresses the demands of our region's competitive economy by enhancing opportunities to access skilled labour."
"Through the generous support of WEDC and the independent activities of the B C2 Centre, Portage College now has access to a general purpose trades skills training lab,"
said Dr. Trent Keough, President of Portage College. He added that the lab will be rented by the college on an as-needed basis.
The new lab will support employability training related to several trades occupations including welding, steamfitter-pipefitter, carpentry and electrical. The college currently has a fully replete electrical lab adjacent to the new lab, where the college will meet apprenticeship electrical and instrumentation training.
"This new lab will best serve a larger proportion of underrepresented learners and those interested in learning what some trades occupations are all about," added Keough.
The new lab will help establish Portage's position in Bonnyville as a trades training provider. "The infrastructure and equipment we have today will attract candidates looking for experiential learning and introductions to trades training in the future," said Keough.
For more information, please contact Leona Geller at 780-623-5591.
