Northern College receives funding

Northern College has received $750,000 from Hydro One to support its electrical engineering technician and technology programs and to enhance recruitment.

Continuing on a unique collaboration, Hydro One has extended its multi-year partnership with four Ontario Community Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, committing $3 million towards developing, educating and sustaining a highly-skilled workforce in the utility sector.

“This industry is continuously growing and evolving,” said Fred Gibbons, president of Northern College. “This partnership enables Northern College, and our partner community colleges of applied arts and technology to not only remain competitive, but to respond to the needs of our respective communities in terms of workforce development and succession planning. This initiative truly serves as a benchmark – a model for other employers in various sectors to utilize to collaborate with post-secondary institutions in developing strategies and building capacity to address workforce trends.”

This is the second $3 million contribution Hydro One has made. In 2007, the company made a four-year, $3 million contribution towards equipment, scholarships, and program and curriculum development to the Hydro One College Consortium. This Consortium includes Algonquin, Georgian, Mohawk and Northern Colleges. Since then, enrollment and graduation rates from electrical engineering technician and technology programs at Northern College have doubled.

“The Conference Board of Canada estimates that by 2025, Canada will face a skilled labour force deficit of 1.2 million people. This collaborative gives Ontario a competitive edge in attracting skilled professionals and students looking to work in electrical transmission and distribution,” Gibbons said.

As part of the second phase of the partnership, Northern College will heighten its recruitment efforts and focus on increasing the number of women and aboriginal people enrolled in engineering programs. New initiatives emerging from this partnership will include applied research activities and assessing new ideas and their potential for commercialization.