Staff
Grey County’s skilled training opportunities are getting the attention of the nuclear supply industry. On Thursday, April 18, more than 40 representatives from the nuclear supply industry visited Owen Sound to tour Georgian College and the neighbouring Sydenham Campus, Grey County’s proposed skills training, trades and innovation centre.
The tour group featured staff from Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation, trade unions, nuclear suppliers and Saugeen Ojibway Nation. Georgian’s Owen Sound Campus was the first stop. Here the group learned about the many trades offered in Owen Sound, the new pre-apprentice program and the new apprenticeship programs to be offered. The pre-apprenticeship program gives students the opportunity to try their hands at a variety of trades before focusing in on a specific career, and includes a 12-week paid field placement at the Bruce Power site provided by various unions and Bruce Power suppliers.
New apprenticeship programs include industrial millwright, electrician (both industrial and construction-maintenance), construction boilermaker, hairstyling, and educational assistant, some to be offered as early as fall 2019. These new training programs come in response to the strong regional economy and the Bruce Power major component replacement.
After touring the college, Grey County walked the group through the Sydenham Campus. The former school, located conveniently beside Georgian, was purchased by Grey County in 2018. Grey County will use the facility as a regional skills training, trades, and innovation centre.
The skills training tour was planned by the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI), Grey County, and Georgian College to showcase local facilities and programs and to build future partnerships.
Employers looking to discuss the apprenticeship programs can contact Lise Mollon, Georgian’s Owen Sound Campus business manager at lise.mollon@georgiancollege.ca. Businesses and training organizations interested in becoming involved with the Sydenham Campus can contact Grey County’s manager of economic development Savana Myers at savanna.myers@grey.ca.
