Trades and Apprenticeships students at Northern Lights College
(NLC) will benefit from a generous donation by TransCanada that will go towards
new welding booths for the proposed new trades training centre at the Dawson
Creek Campus – subject to all appropriate approvals – and student bursaries to
increase access to trades workforce training skills development programs.
TransCanada’s donation from its Coastal GasLink Pipeline and
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission projects is part of the company’s Pathway to
Pipeline Readiness Program. The program is focused on helping to build northern
B.C.’s skilled labour force, and to grow workers’ transferable skills.
“Through our work with local residents, community leaders and
Aboriginal groups, we know that investing in skills development is important to
northern British Columbians,” said Kristine Delkus, TransCanada’s executive
vice president, stakeholder relations. “That’s why we are working closely with
northern educational institutions such as Northern Lights College to ensure
residents are able to access training in the essential skills and relevant
trades needed to participate in pipeline and other development projects in
northern B.C.”
“TransCanada’s donation to the proposed new trades training centre
will help NLC close the skills gap and ensure that students gain access to the
right training in the right location at the right time,” said Dr. Bryn
Kulmatycki, NLC president and CEO.
“One of the biggest barriers to furthering one’s education is
finances,” said Donna Kane, executive director of the NLC Foundation “By
helping students with financial need, the TransCanada awards program will go a
long way in ensuring that those who wish to attend NLC will have that
opportunity.”
TransCanada is developing more than $13 billion in new natural gas
pipeline projects in northern B.C. in support of the emerging liquefied natural
gas (LNG) industry. The projects are expected to create thousands of jobs and
other economic benefits across the region. TransCanada operates a network of
natural gas pipelines extending 68,000 kilometres across North America.
NLC offers two intakes each year for Foundation Trades programs in
September and February with various start dates for its Apprenticeships
programs. For more information, check the website at www.nlc.bc.ca.
To learn more about the
TransCanada Pipelines bursary, visit the NLC Foundation online at http://www.nlc.bc.ca
Photo: Appearing left to right are: Donna Kane, NLC Foundation executive director; Kiel Giddens, GasLink land, community and Aboriginal relations; Bryn Kulmatycki, NLC president and CEO; Danny Schilds, NLC Foundation chair; Dennis Armitage, NLC Board vice chair; Anndra Graff, NLC vice president, finance and corporate services; Richard Gateman, GasLink president; Holly Larden, NLC and Board executive assistant; John Dunn, Prince Rupert Gas Transmission vice president; Catherine Thompson, NLC confidential secretary to the vice presidents; John Kurjata, NLC Board chair; Rebecca McElhoes, TransCanada manager, community relations, western Canada; Billie-Jo Crandall, NLC Foundation secretary; and Sharon Miller, NLC Board.