Front Row (L-R): Phillip Tysoe (Superintendent Training Pathways), Lyndon Roberts, Hunter Erikson, Kevin Ackerman (CTC Instructor)
2nd Row (L-R): Sierra Tokarski, Dylan Laliberte, Sarah Wilson, Mickey Tolofson, Mackenzie Jonasson, Loretta Nosbush, Tyler Caron
Back Row (L-R): Tina Loyns (Maintenance Supervisor), Ashley Manitopyes, Vivian Tobias, Alison Solmes (Maintenance Supervisor), Erica Gerwing, Allison Pasitney
BHP and Carlton Trail College have announced the launch of BHP Academy with the first group of trainees.
13 trainees are already participating in on-site orientation at the Jansen mine site this week and will begin the classroom portion of BHP Potash Academy at Carlton Trail College in Humboldt on January 20.
President and CEO of Carlton Trail College Amy Yeager says the working relationship between the College and BHP dates back over the last five years.
“We’ve worked together to deliver pre-apprenticeship and industry related training, not only in the Humboldt location, but with our Indigenous communities in Punnichy, and so the Potash Academy is a natural extension of this collaboration developed to address skill and representable workforce in the region and specifically for BHP.”
Through the eight-month program trainees are prepared for production or maintenance technician roles at the Jansen mine site.
Yeager says It will be a mixed of classroom and hands on experience.
“They will basically do some essential skills with us here in the classroom and then will be working towards their applied certificate in Industrial Mechanics certificate and a certificate in Mining Essentials and that will be done also classroom based but will only be working only when the mine is ready underground, so they will be doing all training basically in Humboldt and then working in the mine full-time in the mine when it’s ready.”
In a release, Graham Reynolds, General Manager of Operations of BHP said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Carlton Trail and are thrilled to welcome the Potash Academy’s first cohort. The launch of Potash Academy is an important milestone that will support the long-term success of Jansen and economic growth and participation in the region. We look forward to working with this great group of trainees who bring diverse experience that they can apply to BHP and the mining industry.”
“BHP is a strong partner that supports Carlton Trail College and other post-secondary institutions in developing a skilled and representative workforce,” said Minister of Advanced Education Ken Cheveldayoff said in a release. “This partnership is a clear demonstration of the success that comes from Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions working with key industry partners to create training opportunities that meet the needs of students and employers in the region.
BHP anticipates approximately 5,500 workforce opportunities during construction of the Jansen mine and 900 long-term jobs once operational.