NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN COLLEGE
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KIRKLAND LAKE - Northern College, Kirkland Lake campus held a celebration for students who graduated from their new Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core program.
This new program, supported by the Haileybury School of Mines and developed with the assistance of partners in the mining and drilling industries, develops adaptable graduates that are well equipped to secure employment in the exploration and mining industry.
What puts these graduates a cut above the rest is the underground feature added to this year’s program.
“To have an employee be introduced to the underground mining environment is important because it allows the employee to be more versatile when it comes to placing that employee in a position. It would also benefit the student as it would open him/her up for more employment options.” Stated Roy Addison, Safety & Training Coordinator from Asinii Drilling.
“We’re very fortunate to have such excellent industry partners who have helped guide us through this program’s development,” says Christine Heavens, Executive Director, Community, Business Development and Employment Services at Northern College. “Many of our past drilling graduates are already working underground, and our new curriculum will make it even easier for future grads to take advantage of career opportunities in the mining and exploration industries.” Boart Longyear, a longtime supporter of the program has been instrumental in helping revamp the curriculum to ensure consistent high standards in training were upheld.
Another longtime supporter of the program, Atlas Copco, was on hand to reward Jonathan (Corey) McLean with the Atlas Copco Leadership in Drilling Award. Harrison Etherington was another deserving student who received from the Webster Family the Len Webster Memorial Award for a student who demonstrated good teamwork skills and respect for other cultures.
Since 2007, 225 graduates from Northern’s Surface Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core programs in Kirkland Lake and the Hamlet of Arviat in Nunavut, have started careers in the surface exploration and underground drilling industries.
For more information about the program, or to enroll, please contact Rose-Lyne D’Aoust-Messier, Training Consultant at Northern College, by phone at 705.567.9291 ext.3638 or by email at [email protected].
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