McGuinty Government Improving Access to Post-secondary Opportunity in Bruce County - April. 2, 2007

McGuinty Government Improving Access To Postsecondary Opportunity In Bruce County

Students Learning Locally Through Co-op Diploma And Distance Education Technology

KINCARDINE, ON, April 2 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is helping young people in Bruce County reach their potential through innovative postsecondary programs, Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce, said today.

Mitchell and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley visited Bruce Power where a co-op program delivered by Fanshawe College in partnership with Bruce Power and Power Workers' Union Training Inc. is helping students kickstart their careers. The McGuinty government also announced a new distance education access centre in Kincardine to make postsecondary education and training more accessible in Bruce County.

"Bruce County's economic success depends upon its highly skilled workforce," Mitchell said. "Our community and local industry can now access quality postsecondary education closer to home through co-op apprenticeships and the new Kincardine access centre."

Bruce Power and Power Workers' Union Training Inc. are training up to 25 Industrial Millwright Mechanic co-op apprentices from Fanshawe College's Mechanical Technician diploma program. The Ontario government funds the program with a $400,000 investment in the college.

"Providing students with information and opportunities to learn a trade benefits everyone," said Duncan Hawthorne, Bruce Power's president and chief executive officer. "Innovations like this apprenticeship program let students know there are many routes to a rewarding career."

Bob Menard, executive managing director of Power Workers' Union Training Inc., added, "This shows how unions can work with employers, government and colleges to deliver innovative solutions to skilled trades training needs."

Kincardine's new distance education access centre is being supported by a $2.2 million investment in 2007 to implement the new network in five small or rural Ontario communities.

"We strongly support Minister Bentley's commitment to providing increased learning opportunities for students in Bruce County," said Alana Murray, superintendent of secondary education, Bluewater District School Board. "The focus on co-operative education, apprenticeships and trades training validates the importance of all career pathways for our students and the new e-learning access centre will reduce the distance barriers for students in our district."

"Distance education is a wonderful opportunity for our communities: to be able to access post-secondary education without having to necessarily move from the area is a significant one," said Patrick Cureton, director of education, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board. "Not only will it afford graduating secondary students the ability to test the college or university waters, it will allow other individuals to complete post-secondary studies that may be incomplete and even offer opportunities to pursue additional certification, diplomas or degrees beyond post secondary education for those who may have already completed one diploma or degree."

"Our partner organizations along with the provincial government have demonstrated a strong commitment to training and apprenticeships," said Dr. Howard Rundle, president of Fanshawe College. "Our programs, combined with enhanced co-op and distance learning resources, will provide amazing opportunities for our students to learn in a dynamic environment."

The new network will be implemented by Contact North/Contact Nord, which has used advanced technology to bring high school, college and university programs in English and French to students living in small and remote northern communities for more than 20 years.

The Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program combines a college diploma with apprenticeship training, which adds flexibility to the apprenticeship system, responds to employer needs and attracts more young people to the skilled trades.

"The Bruce Power/Fanshawe co-op program and the new access centre in Kincardine are prime examples of how we're putting opportunities for postsecondary education and training right at the fingertips of our youth," said Bentley.

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For further information Carol Mitchell, MPP Huron-Bruce 519 482-5630