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By admin, June 21, 2010

DAWSON CREEK – Supporters and participants of Trades and Apprentice programs in the Peace River South area were

SSA Scholarship recipients

recognized on May 19, at a recognition event hosted by School District 59 and Northern Lights College.

The event was hosted at NLC’s South Peace Campus, which houses the Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport Technician and Automotive Service Technician Foundation Trades programs, and the Esthetics and Nail Care Technology and Cosmetology/Hairstyling programs. Approximately 75 people attended.

A highlight of the evening was a speech from Brandon Mosher, a Chetwynd Secondary School student in the Heavy Duty program.

“When you take these programs you are treated like an adult and it’s a lot of work,” said Mosher. “But we also have a lot of fun.”

Keith Maurer, principal of South Peace Secondary School thanked the businesses that provide work experience opportunities for high school students. He also recognized the local businesses and industries that supported the Skills Canada Peace Region competition this year: Dawson Co-op, Peavey Mart, Praxair, R. Home Supply, Northern Metalic Sales, Windsor Plywood, Wright’s Food Service, Sysco Foods, Dorian Anderson Construction, Peace country Restoration, Boston Pizza, Air Liquide and Simple Pleasures.

Rodger Hargreaves, lead for Youth Programs with the Industry Training Authority, complimented the efforts of everyone involved in offering trades programs in northeastern B.C.

“You are leaders in the province with your unique Northern Opportunities partnership that makes it possible for youth to choose from a wide variety of trades programs to take while still in high school,” Hargreaves said.

Hargreaves presented 11 Secondary School Apprenticeship Scholarships valued at $1,000 each. The recipients graduated last year and are still working in their chosen trade.

Spectra Bursary Recipients 2010

Recipients were: Jeremy Bedard-Lessard, Douglas Lake Equipment Ltd.; Jordan Endicott, S. Vipond Construction; Nathan Haugen, Mr Mikes; Court Jacobs, Syntech Enerflex; Thomas Jessen, Edge Electric; John Knox, Peace Country Rentals; Rosalina McMath, Bogey’s Restaurant; Thomas Nichols, Riverbend Retail Repair; Tory Pohl, Wilson’s Timberline; Jordan Rondeau, Red Lion; and Tyler Sterling, Dakota Contracting.

Spectra Energy bursaries valued between $350 and $1,000 were also presented. Glenn Auger, community coordinator for Spectra Energy presented the awards. Auger announced that the fund has provided over $260,000 in scholarships and bursaries to northeast B.C. high school students since its inception almost five years ago.

Recipients were: Kayna Boyd, Troy Clark, Tim Schlauwitz, Jordan Ulledal (Auto Service Technician); Jessica Anderson (Carpentry); True Dowe (Cook); Elaine Cole, Kaitlyn Johnston (Cosmetology); Jacob Wandling (Electrician); Alex Beaton, Tanner Clouthier, Brandon Mosher (Heavy Duty); Sarah Linklater, Connor Pewarchuk (Plumbing); and Darrin Rideout (Welding).

Other speakers included:

Jeff Lekstrom, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship at Northern Lights College who reminded the audience that this area has the most dual credit programs of any school district in BC; and

Jeff Beale, Chair of Northern Opportunities Community Learning Council who spoke about the collaboration between industry, Aboriginal organizations, and secondary and post-secondary institutions to enhance opportunities for students to succeed in high school and build rewarding careers in the north.

For more information on trades and apprenticeship programs contact the College at 250-782-5251 or Frances Armstrong, School District 59 at 250-782-8571.

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By admin, April 26, 2010

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS – Representatives of Northern Opportunities (NOpps) made a presentation, by invitation, to the BC Miners and Educators Workshop held in Kamloops on March 23^rd and 24^th, 2010.

The BC Mining Industry Labour Shortage Task Force hosted the workshop. The purpose of the ‘joint venture’ was to highlight the importance of collaboration between industry and educators to develop and secure a skilled workforce that will meet the demands of the mineral industry.

The NOpps presentation focused on the partnership model that has been successful in its mission to strengthen individuals and communities in Northeast BC by enhancing opportunities for students to succeed in high school, pursue post-secondary education and build rewarding careers.

As a direct result of the Northern Opportunities partnership, the high schools in all districts – in collaboration with Northern Lights College are reporting a significant increase in interest and enrolment in dual credit trades and technology programs. This has contributed to a stable and vital workforce trained in the north to stay in the north.

The NOpps presentation delivered by Jeff Beale, Co-chair of the Community Learning Council and Aboriginal Relations Advisor Encana Corp., Frances Armstrong, Career Programs Manager for School District No. 59 (Peace River South) and Jeff Lekstrom, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, Northern Lights College was very well received.

The presentation can be viewed along with all other presentations and breakout session notes from the March 24^th and 25^th BC Miners and Educators Workshop,

http://www.amebc.ca/resources-and-publications/courses/external-courses/BC-Miners-Educators-Workshop.aspx

For more information about the minerals industry in BC visit the following websites:

www.bcminerals.ca

www.mining.bc.ca

www.amebc.ca

www.mscca.com

www.gov.bc.ca/em/

www.bcmuseumofmining.org

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By admin, March 15, 2010

Northern Opportunities featured in the Northeast News from February 25th.

Northern Opportunities members were interviewed for the local paper, Northeast News. The article appeared in the February 25th edition. It discusses the program expansion and the new dual credit offerings. Click on the image for the complete article.

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By admin, February 15, 2010

WHEN:
Wednesday, Feb. 17
First program session: 9:45-11:15 am
Lunch: 11:30 am to 12 noon
Final program session: 12:15-1:30 pm

WHERE:
Fort St. John Campus, Northern Lights College, and North Peace Secondary School

DETAILS:
More than 400 grades 8-9 School District 60 students will experience a day on a Northern Lights College campus, learning about training options in Trades and Apprenticeships, and other Dual Credit programs and courses offered at NLC. Each student participates in hands-on activities pertaining to two programs for which s/he has pre-registered.

The event is co-sponsored by the Industry Training Authority; School District 60; EnCana; Northern Opportunities; and NLC.

NLC’s on-site contacts for the day will be Communications Director Brad Lyon or Recruitment Manager Kristina Van De Walle.

Brad Lyon, Communications Director
Northern Lights College • BC’s Energy College

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By admin, February 15, 2010

Wtmt-class: The inaugural Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician class at NLC, with Dean Howard Mayer (left) and instructor Duane Mitchell (right).

DAWSON CREEK – The only Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician program offered in British Columbia is underway at Northern Lights College with a full inaugural intake of 16 learners.

The Wind Turbine Technician program is one of the cornerstones of the NLC’s Centre of Excellence for Clean Energy Technologies based at Dawson Creek Campus.

The program commenced on Feb. 1, and it was a busy first week for the learners and instructor Duane Mitchell.

In addition to settling into the program’s new classroom in the gymnasium building, the class hosted two special guests from BZEE.

BZEE is an international conglomerate of manufacturers, government, and environment groups that develops the training curriculum required so that wind turbine technicians acquire the same level of basic knowledge. NLC is a member of BZEE, and Mitchell travelled to Germany in 2009 to complete six weeks of wind turbine instructor certification training.

Nils Peters and Beate Buhl made their first-ever visit to Dawson Creek on Feb. 4 to see the program in operation, and to provide NLC with access to BZEE’s database. That database can be accessed only by BZEE-affiliated colleges, and contains the approved program curriculum.

“We are very happy the program has started in British Columbia. It covers a very important need here, and will bring people into employment in the region,” Peters said.

Peters pointed out that it would be important for the learners to have hands-on experience. At NLC, much of that hands-on experience will come via a training tower to be erected in conjunction with the ongoing Energy House construction.

“This cannot just be a blackboard and chalk program. The equipment, when installed, will be the complete College training facility,” Peters said.

Graduates from the certificate program, which concludes in January 2011, will be prepared to enter the steadily expanding wind energy sector. Students are provided with the theoretical knowledge base supporting wind turbines and the practical maintenance procedures required to maintain turbine output availability.

The curriculum includes safety and wind turbine-specific courses, as well as pertinent electrical and millwright training. As well, there is a month-long summer practicum placement for each learner.

For more information on the Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician program, or any program at NLC, check the website at nlc.bc.ca, or contact the Student Recruitment department at 1-866-463-6652.

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By admin, February 2, 2010

Carpentry program dual credit grad Clayton Van De Water oversees Grade 9 student at the YES 2 IT event.

More than 150 Grade 9 students from School District 59 converged on Northern Lights College on Jan. 13 for a YES-2-IT (Youth Exploring Skills to Industry Training) event.

YES-2-IT provides students with the opportunity to spend a half-day in their choice of two program areas available to secondary school students for Dual Credit study. The event was held at NLC’s Dawson Creek and South Peace campuses.

World Pro chuckwagon driver and EnCana employee, Mark Sutherland, kicked off the day with a keynote challenge for the students to chase their aspirations, wherever they may lead. From there, students moved to programs that they pre-selected to have an interactive opportunity to see a trade or vocation in action.

Students who attended the Cook training session were easy to identify in their white chef hats. They could be found in the College cafeteria kitchen helping to prepare lunch menu items such as cabbage rolls, biscuits and muffins.

The highlight of the Residential Construction session was a tour through the Health Sciences Building construction site along with NLC carpentry program students. At the site they saw painters, electricians, welders and carpenters renovating the building. One of the carpenters is a graduate of the NLC Dual Credit program. He demonstrated how to frame a wall and had the Grade 9 students assist with hanging and attaching wallboard to steel studs.

Other featured program areas were: Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Applied Business Technology, Auto Service Technician, Cosmetology/Hairstylist, Early Childhood Education/Education Assistant, Esthetics, Health Care Assistant, Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport Technician, Plumbing, Practical Nursing, University Arts and Sciences, Visual and Graphic Communication Arts, Welding, and Wind Turbine Technology.

YES-2-IT is designed to give students hands-on experience at what specific careers might be like. The event also shows students they can start the transition to a career in Grade 11 or 12, earning secondary and post-secondary school credits while still in secondary school.

Based on written teacher feedback, the event has met its goals.

“This is finally capturing the imaginations of an interactive generation. Rather than the students sitting through lectures, they are allowed to try things, question things, and see things for themselves. This is one of the most useful tools we have to assist students with career planning,” a teacher wrote.

Event sponsors included: School District 59, Industry Training Authority, EnCana, Northern Opportunities, Dominos Pizza, and Dominion Construction.

The College also will be hosting YES-2-IT events at the Fort St. John Campus in February, and Fort Nelson Campus in May.

For more information on Dual Credit programs, students should contact their secondary school counsellor. For more information on programs available at NLC, call 250-782-5251 or check the website atnlc.bc.ca.

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By admin, November 11, 2009

Gerald Jerome, a Welding instructor at NLC, presented Kole Sloane with a welding tool bag donated by BC Hydro Construction Services, Prince George – Welding Division (Hudson’s Hope).

Sloane was selected to receive the award by the instructors in the Welding department. The instructors agreed that Sloane’s positive personality, attendance, and consistently above-average marks on practical and theoretical assignments qualified him for this useful award.

The tool bag, which was provided by Linde Canada in Fort St. John, has a value of $350. It was donated to NLC by BC Hydro as a thank you to the College’s Welding department for assistance provided on many occasions.

Sloane, who attended NLC as a Dual Credit student, is finishing Grade 12 this year, and plans to pursue a welding career upon graduation.

For more information on Welding, or any Trades and Apprenticeship program offered at NLC, call 250-782-5251, 1-866-463-6652 (1-866-INFO-NLC) or check the website at nlc.bc.ca.

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By admin, October 28, 2009

It’s all smiles as the Northern Opportunities Northeast Learning Council and Working Group Members witness the signing of the Accountability Agreement with Northern Development Initiative Trust for their grant of $542,000.  This will officially ‘kick off’ the next three year phase of Expanding Northern Opportunities to include both trades and non-trades related courses for students’ post secondary pursuits.

Signing on behalf of the City of Fort St. John is Dianne Hunter, City Manager and Lori Ackerman, Fort St. John Council Member, witness (right front row).  Also in the photo, Jeff Beale, co-chair and signing authority for Northern Opportunities with Cheryl Anthony, Program Director, witness (left front row).

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By admin, October 16, 2009

Kirstie Mitchell works on a vehicle at NLC’s Fort St. John Campus.

FORT ST. JOHN – A resident of Taylor has proved that Automotive Service Technician skills run in the family.

Kirstie Mitchell recently completed her entire training as an Automotive Service Technician at Northern Lights College, and did so in just two and a half years.

“This type of career is in my family. My grandfather was a mechanic in World War II, and my dad has been in the automotive industry for a long time,” Mitchell said. “And I really enjoy working with vehicles.”

Mitchell originally enrolled in the Foundation program at NLC’s Fort St. John Campus in the fall semester of 2006, and then proceeded to complete all four levels of Apprenticeship, as well as her Interprovincial exam to earn Red Seal status.

She said that writing the Interprovincial exam was the toughest part of her training.

“They try to test your knowledge,” said Mitchell. “You have to be very well prepared to write the exam.”

For more information on Trades and Apprenticeships, or any programs available at NLC, check the website at nlc.bc.ca or call 250-782-5251 or 1-866-463-6652.

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By admin, October 8, 2009

Tyler Fisher with the tables built for the AME program.

DAWSON CREEK – Two programs in the Trades and Apprenticeship Division at Northern Lights College have worked together to help with some renovations at the Dawson Creek Campus.

Two metal tables were constructed by a Level C welding student for use in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) program.

Tyler Fisher, a Level C welding student at NLC, completed the tables in a month, essentially on his own. He worked from drawings provided by an AME instructor.

“There were lots of intricate little adjustments that had to be made in this project,” said Kevin Walters, a welding instructor at NLC, who supervised Fisher’s work. “Tyler made sure it was square and level, and performed all the welds. All the practical experience he gained as a C level welder was used in the construction of these tables.”

The tables will be used for Type training courses specific to helicopters, as well as for different projects undertaken in AME Basic programming.

For more information on Trades and Apprenticeship programming available at NLC, call 250-782-5251, 1-866-463-6652 (1-866-INFO-NLC), or check the website at nlc.bc.ca.