Sault College will get $2,387,823 in provincial funding to support apprenticeships at the school.
Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti made the announcement on May 6.
"Today’s announcement of the investment through the Ontario Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund builds on the significant progress made at Sault College in recent years,” Orazietti said in a release.
“The new equipment and improved infrastructure will continue to strengthen key programs, and will give apprentices the hands-on experience they need to excel in the trades, and to contribute to our economy.”
Project funding is being provided as follows:
Redesign, renovation and expansion of motive power labs: $1,495,584.
Purchase of equipment and tools for the motor power division: $352,590.
New equipment and workstations to accommodate more apprentices in construction maintenance and industrial electrician apprentices: $241,000.
Pre-apprenticeship training program for 20 Aboriginal youth in Sault Ste. Marie: $229,476.
New annual apprenticeship registrations in programs across Ontario have grown from 17,100 in 2002-03 to more than 26,500 in 2014-15.
“We have been training apprentices in these fields for decades and this investment will enable us to continue with that tradition,” Colin Kirkwood, vice-president of academics and research, said in a release.
“The project will increase apprentice seat utilization rates by attracting more apprentices from the region wanting to train with state of the art equipment in modern labs designed and organized to emulate cutting-edge workplaces in the motive power trades. Larger classroom space and efficiencies in the design of the labs, new equipment and a new roof will allow us to increase our capacity to train motive power apprentices and will provide an excellent space for future students to learn.”
