Ontario Construction News staff writer
Alberta’s government is investing $11.3 million to build a power engineering lab at Northwestern Polytechnic.
Demand for power engineers is growing in northwestern Alberta and the expansion will create more opportunities for students to pursue careers in a high-demand sector.
“Skilled workers are the backbone of a modern competitive economy. This strategic investment will benefit Northwestern Polytechnic, industry and the city of Grande Prairie by giving students the opportunity to learn and find a rewarding career in their community,” said Rajan Sawhney, minister of advanced education.
The $11.3-million project will include the development and building of a new power engineering lab at Northwestern Polytechnic’s Grande Prairie campus and create space for an additional 60 students. The new facility will have upgraded and modern equipment for third and fourth class power engineering training.
Two new hydrogen and ammonia processing plants in the Greenview Industrial Gateway and County of Grande Prairie have increased demand for power engineers and instrumentation technicians in the immediate area. Funding will also be used to build new instrumentation laboratories to support additional class offerings, helping students complete their studies more efficiently and join the workforce faster.
“These investments are integral to supporting the development of in-demand skills and specialist expertise in northern Alberta. Northwestern Polytechnic is committed to working with our communities to deliver responsive programming and state-of-the-art facilities that will fuel economic growth and regional competitiveness,” said Shawna Miller, chair, board of governors, Northwestern Polytechnic.