Skip to content

Sudbury college to offer new mining program in 2015

Collège Boréal will launch a new prospecting and exploration technology program in 2015. College president Pierre Riopel made the announcement at the annual general meeting of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA) on Dec. 4.
pierre_riopel_cropped
Pierre Riopel, president of Collège Boréal

Collège Boréal will launch a new prospecting and exploration technology program in 2015.

College president Pierre Riopel made the announcement at the annual general meeting of the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA) on Dec. 4.

The program, he said, was a direct response to industry needs following conversations with Dick DeStefano, SAMSSA executive director, and other mining sector representatives.

“The college system is a very nimble system,” Riopel said. “We're listening to industry.”

"I think Boréal offers groups such as this one (SAMSSA) great opportunities in terms of training.”

Riopel and his Cambrian College counterpart, Bill Best, took to the stage to address the local mining supply and services sector, and outline the solutions their institutions can provide.

Best said that while the city's colleges can respond to industry needs, they can only do so when they are provided evidence of those needs.

“If you're coming to us to say you have a need, you need the data to go along with it,” he said. “We don't respond to anecdotes; we respond to facts.”

Best also took an opportunity to promote Cambrian's recent foray into applied research.

“Think of them (Cambrian students) as your R&D department,” he said.