$1.8 million Yukon College mobile trades training lab open for business

WHITEHORSE—Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor and Yukon College Board of Governors Chair Paul Flaherty officially launched a new $1.8 million mobile trades training lab and supply trailer at Yukon College’s Ayamdigut campus today.

The two trailers, which join together to create a mobile workshop and classroom, will be operated through the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM) at the College and will  provide professional trades training in communities and at work sites across the territory.

“The mobile trades training lab is an important part of the Government of Yukon’s ongoing work to build a successful economy,” Taylor said. “Yukon is proud to support this innovative tool that will provide Yukoners with essential training to fill industry jobs.”

The 53-foot-long training lab is outfitted for classes in welding, electrical, millwright and piping, with an onboard diesel generator to provide power for heating, lighting, equipment and wireless Internet. The sides expand to provide 1,048 square feet of instructional space.

$1.1 million in funding for the mobile training lab came from Yukon government, with CanNor contributing the remaining $700,000.

“Our Government is proud to invest in training that will strengthen local capacity and skills,” said Yukon MP Ryan Leef on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Minister for the Arctic Council. “This mobile training facility will offer trades programming to students directly in their communities, which will help give Yukoners better access to high quality jobs.”

Yukon First Nation leaders were instrumental in advocating for the community-based training this facility will provide.

“It is absolutely critical that First Nations people have the opportunity to  receive high quality training in their communities, if they are to benefit from responsible development in the Yukon,” Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation Chief Eddie Taylor said. “We think this trades training trailer will be a valuable resource not only for our First Nation, but for communities across the territory. “

Chief Taylor also noted the First Nation is looking forward to hosting the first training opportunity on Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Traditional Territory in January, and having its citizens participate in the welding course.

“The mining industry working in Yukon has a real need for qualified, trained workers,” Brad Thrall, chair of the CNIM Governing Council, said. “This mobile training laboratory will help address that need by making training for those jobs far more accessible to people in the communities outside Whitehorse.”

Thrall also said that the launch shows that CNIM—a partnership between industry, Yukon College and various levels of government—is working for the benefit of all Yukoners.

“This is an exciting and rewarding project for us,” Yukon College President Dr. Karen Barnes said. “One of our goals as a college is to bring innovative learning options and delivery methods to Yukon communities. This training trailer shows we are putting those words into action.”

After staff complete training and outfitting of the two trailers, the mobile campus will head to Dawson City later this month to deliver a Pre-Employment Welding program with dual credit options for students at Robert Service School.