College celebrates opening of Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining building

WHITEHORSE—Yukon College held a grand opening ceremony today for the new Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM) building at the Ayamdigut campus. The $8.3 million, 18,000 square foot building is eighty per cent larger than originally envisioned and has been completed a year ahead of schedule.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, Yukon Minister for Energy Mines and Resources Scott Kent, Yukon Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell and the CNIM governing council joined students, faculty and staff for the ribbon cutting and tour of the new building with interim President Janet Moodie and CNIM Executive Director Shelagh Rowles.

“This ground-breaking programming will enhance the training experience for local students which will help the Yukon resource sector be the most technologically innovative that it can be. The Government of Canada is proud to support the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining at Yukon College - support that will help to advance Canada’s economic competitiveness,” said Minister Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

“Mining has always been an important part of the way of life in our territory, and it will continue to make a significant contribution to the Yukon economy,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said. “The Yukon government is proud to invest in the development and operations of this new facility to train the next generation of skilled trades workers who will be ready to bring innovative ideas and practices to the mining sector.”

“The hands-on and real world experience that the Centre for Innovation in Mining offers will ensure Yukoners are well positioned with in demand skills for careers in the North,” said Minister of Education Doug Graham. “We are excited for the unique opportunities for learning and development that will now be available to students interested in mining and the skilled trades.”

“This new multi-use trades and technology teaching space enables the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining at Yukon College to deliver flexible, dynamic training options necessary to expand the skilled workforce in Yukon,” said Dr. Paul West-Sells, CNIM Governing Council Chair and President and CEO of Western Copper and Gold.

“We are proud that this new building was designed and constructed by Yukon businesses—Kobayashi and Zedda Architects, TSL Contracting, Wildstone Construction and Engineering and Ketza Construction. It has been incredibly rewarding to see so many of our graduates working on this project and contributing directly to the next phase of trades and technology training at Yukon College,” said Shelagh Rowles, CNIM Executive Director, Yukon College.

The first programs in the building will be Foundation Carpentry and Electrical. The students will be tasked with constructing a 1,000 square foot storage unit for the new building—a legacy project ensuring the new building will truly function as a multi-use space.

The Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM) offers tailored programming to meet the employment and research needs of resource companies, Yukon First Nations and Yukon people. Programs include Geology Technology, Environmental Monitoring, Carpentry, Electrician, Pipe Trades, Welding, Introduction to Underground and Surface Mining, Trades Exploration, Heavy Equipment Technician and Air Rotary Drill Helper. CNIM works closely with the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) to provide cutting-edge research and innovation that will increase and improve the competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Yukon’s mining sector.

CNIM is guided by a Governing Council featuring representatives from industry, Yukon First Nations, Government of Yukon and Yukon College. Core funding for CNIM is provided by the Yukon Department of Education and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor). For more information go to yukoncollege.yk.ca/cnim/.

The Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining (CNIM) Building Fact Sheet

• The building has been completed a year ahead of schedule, is 80% larger than originally envisioned, and remains within the confines of a fixed budget.

• The total design, construction, and outfitting cost is $8.3 million.

• The Government of Canada (the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, or CanNor) and Government of Yukon equally funded a combined capital budget of $11.2 million for the CNIM project. Additional capital costs include renovating trades workshops in the main building, as well as purchasing and outfitting of the Mobile Trades Training Trailer (MTTT).

• The Government of Yukon also funded a five year programming budget of $5.8 million (2013-2017).

• The entire building was designed and constructed by Yukon companies:
          o The building was designed by Kobayashi and Zedda Architects.
          o Wildstone Construction and Engineering completed the preliminary foundation work (phase 1).
          o Ketza Construction supplied the pre-engineered steel shop components (phase 2).
          o TSL Contracting was the general contractor for construction of the building (phase 3).

• Almost all of the carpenters and many of the electricians on this project are Yukon College graduates.

• The building consists of two separate wings: a 10,000 sq. foot multi-use shop and an 8,000 sq. foot academic wing consisting of three classrooms, six offices, a meeting room, a reception area, a common lounge, and two change rooms with lockers, toilet facilities, and showers.

• The multi-use shop has a unique large door (25' x 25') to facilitate access for large equipment and structures.

• The south facing wall of the shop structure includes a passive thermal solar wall that will warm the temperature of fresh incoming air for the ventilation system.

• Insulation levels of R32 exceed code requirements for both the shop and the academic wing.

• The building itself is to be a teaching tool. Heating, ventilation, wiring, and plumbing systems will be exposed as a living demonstration of building systems.

• The building has already been effective as a teaching tool as trades students have been able to tour the building at certain phases of construction and learn from general contractor TSL.

• The first programs in the building will be Foundation Carpentry and Electrical. Students will be tasked with construction a 1000 sq. foot storage building next door, creating a legacy project that will truly ensure the main workshop is multi-use.

• Ongoing programming includes: Heavy Equipment Technician, Introduction to Underground and Surface Mining, Environmental Monitoring, Carpentry, Electrician, Pipe Trades, Welding, Geology Technology, Air Rotary Drill Helper, Trades Exploration, plus trades and technology areas as suggested by industry.

• 172 students have benefitted from CNIM programming since 2013. 57 of these students accessed training in Dawson City, Pelly Crossing, Ross River, Carmacks and Mayo through the MTTT.

• The MTTT is currently deployed in Burwash for an Industrial Trades Exploration program.

• Research conducted in partnership by CNIM and the Yukon Research Centre has focused on water remediation techniques as well as using native plants to assist with mine remediation for Canada’s North. Our NSERC Industrial Research Chair, Dr. Amelie Janin is working closely with the Mine Research Consortium made up of five of Yukon’s mining companies to solve northern challenges in the mining industry.