October 13, 2016 – The powerline program at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ont. is getting a new permanent home all to itself, thanks to a joint federal-provincial investment of $5.3 million.

The bulk of the funds, $3 million, will go towards the construction of a “state-of-the-art” Centre for Power Training and Research, the college says, which will be a “multi-functional, flexible training facility” for powerline students.

This centre will also allow the college to “expand existing academic programming, industry-specific training and applied research activity within the power sector”.

The school says the remaining funds from the investment will be put towards infrastructure improvements.

Of the $5.3-million investment, $4.3 million will come from the feds and $1 million from Ontario through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development’s Facilities Renewal Program.

Cambrian College will contribute a balance of $4.7 million, for a total investment of $10 million.

“The college continues to focus on energy efficiency while providing a first class learning environment,” says the MPP for Sudbury, Glenn Thibeault. “We realize that top quality education and training facilities are critical to building the highly- skilled workforce that is required to support good jobs. This guarantees economic growth for today and tomorrow.”

Marc Serré, the MP for Nickel Belt, adds he is “delighted that this funding will create a permanent home for Cambrian College’s Centre for Power Training and Research in a state-of-the-art facility that will produce numerous innovations when it comes to meeting Northern Ontario’s unique and challenging energy demands.”

J.L. Richards Architects have won the RFP to design the building, which will be roughly 17,000 sf.

The school is projecting construction to start in April 2017 and wrap up within a year.

Photos courtesy: Office of Marc Serré, Nickel Belt MP