CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM PROJECT IN MEADOW LAKE

A new Welding Lab is being constructed at North West Regional College. A sod-turning ceremony was held today at the college's Meadow Lake Campus. Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, on behalf of Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris and Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison were present at a sod-turning ceremony held today at the college's Meadow Lake campus.

This project is part of the $117 million the provincial and federal governments are contributing under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) announced in June 2009. The Welding Lab received funding totalling of $1.477 million from the federal and provincial governments, and the Northwest School Division #203. North West Regional College is also contributing $300,000 for this new facility.

"At a time of economic uncertainty, our government is making a strong intervention to stimulate economic activity through KIP," said Clarke. "This initiative to renew Canada's college and university infrastructure will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus and put many people to work in Meadow Lake."

The design of the new lab will provide greater capacity for the college and high school welding programs. These educational partners will have significantly expanded shop time to increase training opportunities.

"Our government is committed to enhancing post-secondary infrastructure for our students and demonstrating our position as a national leader in education and training," Norris said. "The new welding lab will provide training to better prepare northern students for careers in the skilled trades."

"The college's welding program has been incredibly successful for a long time, due in part to the commitment of Northwest School Division to encourage youth to consider welding as a prosperous career," North West College President and CEO Bryan Nylander said. "The new welding shop is another demonstration of the very successful partnership between the college and the school division and we are appreciative of the significant support from the federal and provincial governments to make this shop a reality."

North West Regional College has delivered pre-employment welding programs in Meadow Lake since 2000, delivering level one and two apprenticeship training to more than 120 students. This new welding lab is a much-needed facility for the college and high school as it will provide a quality state of the art training space for welders. Welders are currently in high demand and it is expected that the demand will only increase as the resource based sector and the province's economy continues to grow.

"The current welding lab space has been identified by the School Division for other purposes, creating the perfect opportunity to build a new joint-use welding lab right where the students are located," School Division Director of Education Glen Winkler said. "This proposal embodies another successful partnership between the School Division and the college."

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.

For more information, including program criteria, application instructions and a list of approved projects to date, visit the KIP website.

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For more information, contact:

Gary Toft
Office of the Minister State for Science and Technology
Phone: 613-943-7599

Media Relations
Industry Canada
Phone: 613-943-2502

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