Northlands College is getting $1.841 million for its mine school in Air Ronge.
The money is coming from the International Minerals Innovation Institute.
Among other things, the funding will be used for new equipment and expanded lab facilities to enhance its training programs.
Northlands College CEO Toby Greschner says its all about developing the technological and scientific skills of the northern mining workforce.
“We think that we have here a niche. Our niche is uranium mining. And we’re one of the few places in the world that does train people to work in uranium mines. I’ve always said that northern Saskatchewan produces the best uranium miners, and so we’re going to make sure that we produce the school that produces the best uranium miners. We know that we can do it, and we can’t water it down. The rigour has to be there so that the students that come out of our programs are as good or better than anywhere else in the world. And we’re going to stick to that and we’re going to raise the bar.”
Part of the funding will be put toward the development of a new facility which will replace the aging structures of the mine school’s Air Ronge campus.
During a visit to the mine school this past summer, the Prime Minister announced millions in funding for mine equipment simulators and new facility development.