The first group of students of BHP Potash Academy at Carlton Trail College have completed their training and studies.
On Friday, the graduates were honoured with an event held at BHP’s Discovery Lodge located at the Jansen Potash Mine.
To reach graduation, the students completed an eight-month fit-for-purpose, paid Potash Academy program designed to prepare the graduates with the skills that are necessary to enter the mining industry.
The program featured a mix of classroom and theory learning along with practical workshop training for hands-on experience focusing on skills needed for production or maintenance technician roles at the Jansen mine.
Graduates earn a Certificate in Mining Essentials, an Applied Certificate in Industrial Mechanics, several multiple high-risk safety certifications needed to fill critical roles at the month and permanent, full-time employment at Jansen.
In attendance at the celebration was MLA for Kelvington-Wadena, Chris Beaudry, Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, and Carlton Trail College President and CEO, Amy Yeager.
“Saskatchewan is leading the country in overall new mining investment and over the next decade is expected to need an additional 15,000 new workers in the sector,” said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President, Potash, BHP said in a release.
“BHP’s Potash Academy is helping to close this gap and give new entrants to the industry an opportunity to get the skills they need. It’s fabulous to be a part of this first graduation.”
“Carlton Trail College is proud to support the inaugural graduates of the Potash Academy,” said Amy Yeager, Carlton Trail College President and CEO. “Their success represents a major step forward in building a skilled workforce for our region and industry. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement.”
“BHP is an excellent partner for our province, and the Potash Academy is a great example of what can be achieved when industry, educators and government collaborate to create the training opportunities we need to build a strong future workforce for Saskatchewan,” said Minister of Energy and Resources, Colleen Young. “Investments being made by Saskatchewan’s growing potash industry will lead to decades of opportunity and the graduates of this program will be instrumental in driving that momentum.”
“Being brand new to the industry, this is a milestone I never thought I would achieve,” said Potash Academy graduate, Allison Pasitney. “When I finished high school 25 years ago in this small community, it was a world where women seldom entered the mining industry. Completing the industrial mechanics course is something I wouldn’t have accomplished without the support of BHP.”
The Potash Academy facility is designed to evolve with the program, featuring functional replications of mining equipment, including a borer, battery ore hauler, and continuous miner.
A second cohort of 22 trainees will begin classes at Potash Academy in June.