Ontario Construction News staff writer
Sault College is getting $2 million in provincial funding to build its school of engineering that will create a “pipeline of talent” for Sault Ste. Marie employers.
facility for a new engineering program. Construction will include classrooms and lab space, along with an upper mezzanine.
“For years I have hoped that Sault Ste. Marie would one day have a School of Engineering to serve the needs of our advanced manufacturing sector,” said Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie.. I was so proud to announce the partnership between Humber College and Sault College that helped make this a reality.
“So many employers, like Algoma Steel and Tenaris, will be able to secure the talented workforce they need, while ensuring that youth in our city can obtain the skills they need for great jobs and be ‘Home to Stay’.”
“With today’s announcement, we are ensuring that the School of Engineering will be a state-of-the-art facility for our future graduates and workforce to study in.”
Sault College will use NOHFC funding to renovate 8,000 square feet of space to create new classrooms and labs that support the college’s engineering programs. By its fifth year of operation, the facility will accommodate an estimated 100 engineering students and have created a number of well-paying jobs for professors, lab instructors and program administrative staff.
“Today’s announcement is another important step and investment in Sault College’s future and in the education of our learners,” said Dr. Ron Common, president at Sault College. “This new space will offer our students an all-encompassing learning environment with specialized, stateof-the-art equipment, labs and study spaces to further support our new, unique Bachelor of Engineering – Mechatronics program.
The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects – big and small, rural and urban – that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $473 million in 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,600 jobs.
“By living and studying in Sault Ste. Marie, students are more likely to pursue a career in Northern Ontario upon graduation,” said Greg Rickford, minister of Northern development, mines, natural resources and forestry. “Engineering graduates from Sault College will help address the demand and labour market needs in the region.”
Grads of the new program could find jobs at Algoma Steel, Tenaris Algoma Tubes and other local businesses.