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Timmins college marking 10 years of training hard rock miners

Common core program boasts a 95 per cent success rate for employment following graduation
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Over the last decade, Northern College has graduated 273 people from its hard rock common core program. (Supplied photo)

Northern College is marking the 10th anniversary of its hard rock miner common core programming.

In a decade, the program, which is offered through the college’s training division, has partnered with six different mining operations to produce 273 work ready graduates, with a 95 percent success rate of graduates gaining employment within the mining sector.

“The program offers students a straight forward, hands-on, experiential learning environment that directly prepares them for the rigors of the mining industry while exposing them to the unique working environment that few outside the industry see,” said Karen Hamel, a training consultant with Northern’s Training Division, in a news release.

“This type of training has proven to be very successful for our students and our regional mining partners.”

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The college said success of this program would not have been possible without partnerships with mining companies like Tahoe Resources, which open their operations to learners and provide skilled workers to teach students ensuring the best calibre, ready-to-hire graduates.

“Our Safety, Training, and Operations group work closely with the College team to ensure world-class training in an active mine development heading for its students,” said David Bernier, Tahoe Resources’ Bell Creek mine manager.

“With the current and projected shortfall in the underground mining industry, we are working collaboratively towards harnessing the high quality skill sets of our current workforce and downloading that information into the next generation of miners.”

The combination of first-rate training and quick employment turnaround allow graduates like Ashley Rock to not only succeed in a new field, but to make a sincere difference in the quality of life for themselves and their families.

“Choosing to enroll in the Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core has bettered my life and lives of my two beautiful daughters,” said Rock, one of 22 female graduates of the program.

“I was lucky to get hired immediately after graduation, and now, only a few months later I’m already looking at my first promotion.”

The college said it would continue to work toward providing the highest quality education rooted in the principals of accessibility and tangible success.