CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON THE KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT AT SOUTHEAST REGIONAL COLLEGE

Work on the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute Centre of Excellence at Southeast Regional College got underway today following a sod-turning ceremony held at the College's Estevan campus. This $14.2 million project will enhance facilities for skills and safety training in the energy sector.

This project is part of the $55 million the province is contributing under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) announced in June 2009.

"This infrastructure investment will develop skills and safety training for the future leaders of the Energy sector here in Estevan and beyond," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "Through KIP, we are building a renewed post-secondary system that is focused on excellence, innovation and inclusion."

Upgrades to the Energy Training Institute will provide an opportunity to train employees locally in courses that are traditionally offered only out of province and will continue to focus on regulatory safety certification, resulting in training and retaining local and international workers in Saskatchewan.

Ed Komarnicki, Member of Parliament, spoke about the federal government's involvement in the program. "It is great to see the Knowledge Infrastructure Program of Canada's Economic Action Plan be put to work in the southeast corner of our province through the co-operation of the federal and provincial governments," Komarnicki said. "This project will have significant benefits for the continued growth of the energy industry in our province and is timely, given all that is happening in the region."

"This facility will provide local students with the opportunity to access a high quality education right here in Estevan," Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles said. "It is an investment that will benefit this generation and the next."


"On behalf of the Board of Governors, we are thrilled that the Provincial and Federal Governments support Southeast Regional College's vision in creating a Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute Centre of Excellence," Chair of the Board of Governors Sheila Sterling said. "We are very proud of our management and staff and appreciate their dedication, enthusiasm and the hard work it has taken to move this project forward."

KIP is a two-year, $2 billion program that is providing economic stimulus measures to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions, including universities and community colleges. It is resulting in the creation of jobs for engineers, architects, trades people and technicians, as well as helping to ensure that Saskatchewan and Canada are better positioned to contribute to, and benefit from, the global knowledge economy.

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For more information, contact:

Marieka Barrie
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3170
Email: marieka.barrie@gov.sk.ca