Mining and manufacturing companies in Saskatchewan will be able to hire more Power Engineering graduates thanks to a $950,000 investment in a new training laboratory at Parkland College, announced today by the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

With the federal investment, Parkland College will purchase and install equipment to provide technical training in the Power Engineering Lab at the College’s Trades and Technology Centre in Yorkton.

The development of this facility is important as the primary resource sector has identified a critical shortage of Power Engineers as the current generation of workers retires or leaves the workforce.

Quick Facts

• Power Engineers operate steam power plants or processes, which can include operating high and low–pressure boilers. Graduates typically work in mining, the oil and gas sector, manufacturing and processing, hospitals, and the pulp and paper sector.
• Currently, students from Parkland College must travel to Saskatoon for four weeks to complete the lab training component because of the extremely limited Power Engineering lab space in the province. With a lab on–site in Yorkton, the college will be able to increase the available number of graduates from 24 to 48.

Quotes

“Congratulations to Parkland College on recognizing a need in the local labour market and working with industry and government to fill the gap. WD’s investment in the Power Engineering lab will help prepare the skilled workers that Saskatchewan companies need to stay competitive in the global marketplace while creating jobs and economic prosperity here at home.”

– Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

 

“This contribution is integral to the success of the Trades and Technology Centre. We are committed to supplying skilled employees to the businesses and industries in our region and our province, and this investment will help us do just that.”

– Dr. Fay Myers, President of Parkland College