Enersource Hydro Mississauga has given a large bucket truck to Cambrian College in Sudbury to help train students enrolled in the powerline technician program.
The truck, which is equipped with a cherry picker, will be used by students embarking on a career in the power distribution industry. The college program, in its third year, is the only one of its kind in Ontario.
Cambrian officials said funding limitations wouldn't have allowed the college to buy the utility vehicle.
"We thank Enersource for their generous donation," said Michel Barbeau, dean of the school of skills training. "The double-bucket truck will support the ongoing growth and development of Cambrian College's powerline technician program. It will enable Cambrian's faculty to enrich the curriculum delivery and provide hands-on training opportunities for our students, which will enhance their employability in the electrical utility sector in Ontario and beyond."
Barbeau said the school's partnership with companies such as Enersource helps it maintain its position as an education leader offering key apprenticeship training programs.
Enersource Hydro Mississauga officials also visited the Sudbury campus to conduct interviews for co-op positions.
"It is great to see colleges now offering programs for skilled trades that will yield high-calibre graduates," said Craig Fleming, president and CEO of Enersource Corporation. "This relationship is beneficial for our company as we plan for our next generation of skilled trades resources. The students have completed much of the training that takes place during a four-year apprenticeship program, and that will make the transition much easier."
Enersource officials said the partnership with Cambrian College is also significant in the wake of the Arnett Report commissioned last year by Queen's Park. The report revealed that the average age of a powerline worker is 44.4 years; furthermore, 40 per cent of the workers will be eligible for retirement within the next 10 years, and their positions will need to be filled.
rpanjwani@mississauga.net