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Automotive Service Technician Program shifts into the future with Bannister Group donation

On , In Foundation, College News, Connections & Community, People & Culture, Programming

We, at NLC, pride ourselves with supplying students with hands-on experience during their education. This is why the recent donation of a fully electric 2024 Mach E Mustang by the Bannister group in Dawson Creek means so much to our students and staff.

The NLC Foundation received a significant donation to offset the cost of an electric vehicle for the Automotive Service Technician program in Fort St. John. NLC has a long-standing relationship with the Bannister group in Dawson Creek, so when they brought forward the opportunity to help with the EV for the program, we were thrilled to move this forward.

Going above and beyond, they sourced the Mustang and provided a significant donation to NLC to make this addition to our program possible.

“This donation is instrumental to our Automotive Service Technician program, helping provide our students the ability to work and learn on state-of-the-art equipment,” said Lindsey Borek, Executive Director of the NLC Foundation. “We are grateful for our partnership and the dedication of Bannister to our institution.”

Changing technologies present a significant challenge to programming. This vehicle will provide our students with hands-on experience on the most advanced vehicle technology available on the market. It’s a fully electric vehicle with adaptive driver technologies and its main purpose will be to support the students’ learning. 

“Much like many other industries that drive our economy and country, the automotive world is constantly changing and evolving,” explained Josh Klassen, Chair of Trades and Apprenticeships on the Fort St. John Campus. “We recognize that in the trades training, we must remain diligent in keeping up with the trends and changes that students face during their apprenticeships and as Red Seal trades people.”

“As electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, it’s paramount that NLC students have the ability to understand, diagnose, and work on modern equipment. Collaborations and donations that partner in the funding of new equipment like the brand-new Mustang Mach-E electric car, assist NLC in providing timely and relevant training for our students. Community partnerships are a key pillar in successful education.”

Thank you, Bannister Group, for investing in the future generation of Automotive Service Technicians and for your continued support of Northern Lights College trades programs!