Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Assiniboine launches the first 3rd Class cohort in the Power Engineering program
BRANDON, Man. (October 05, 2022) – Assiniboine Community College has welcomed its first 3rd Class cohort in the Power Engineering program, transitioning students who’ve completed their 4th Class training into their final year of the two-year diploma program.
Across Canada, power engineers move through five classes descending numerically, with a 1st Class Engineer signifying the highest level of education in the occupation. The college previously offered 4th class training before the diploma program was introduced in fall 2021. Students who complete this second year of the program will be the first to receive their 3rd Class certification.
“There is a high demand for qualified power engineers in Manitoba, and it’s only expected to increase,” said Kevin Poirier, Dean of Trades at Assiniboine Community College. “Providing a fluent transition in training enables students to accelerate their certification and enter the workforce positioned for advanced career opportunities.”
Pfizer Canada, a local industry leader, played a significant role in kickstarting the program through its $75,000 contribution to curriculum development and student entrance awards.
“Pfizer was a proud partner in supporting Assiniboine Community College as it launched its 3rd class Power Engineering program,” said Ron Cherepuschak, Managing Director, Pfizer Global Supply, Pfizer Canada. “This program is meeting a real need to help grow the number of Power Engineers required for Manitoba to meet its growing economic demand. As an organization that relies on power engineers in our manufacturing, we see how much value this program brings to the local economy.”
The program, located at the college’s North Hill campus in Brandon, prepares students to operate and maintain equipment found in industrial plants and learn the mathematics, mechanics, combustion, thermodynamics and instrumentation needed for a career in power engineering.
“The hands-on aspect of the program lends itself well to in-class learning, especially in trades,” said Sheridan Sainsbury, second-year student in the Power Engineering program at Assiniboine. “Reading theories in a textbook and being able to apply them to real-life applications is very helpful in my studies.”
Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to build careers in various industries, including chemical manufacturing, food processing and electrical generation.
For more information on the Power Engineering diploma, visit assiniboine.net/powerengineering. -30-
About Assiniboine Community College
Assiniboine Community College has been providing exceptional learning experiences for more than 60 years, offering unparalleled learning environments and responding to the demands and requirements of the Manitoba labour market. Following the philosophy of “learn by doing,” programs combine theory with hands-on learning inside classrooms, labs, kitchens, shops, fields and the college’s Sustainable Greenhouse.
Assiniboine offers more than 60 certificate, diploma and post-graduate programs across a variety of disciplines including culinary arts and hospitality, business, agriculture and environment, health and human services, and trades and technology. The college also delivers apprenticeship programming in a range of skilled trades disciplines.
The college welcomed more than 3,700 full-time and 6,000 part-time students last year. With campuses in Brandon, Dauphin, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, Assiniboine provides comprehensive educational opportunities throughout Manitoba. The college also partners with many communities and organizations across the province to deliver customized education and training. Assiniboine’s annual provincial economic impact is $612 million. In the most recent survey of graduates, nine months after graduation, 92 per cent were employed, with 93 per cent remaining in Manitoba.
Assiniboine Community College campuses are located on the traditional territories of Treaty No. 1 and Treaty No. 2, the shared traditional lands of Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Anishinabek/Ojibwe peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge their welcome to the students who seek knowledge here.
For more information, please contact:
Nycolle Adams
Communications Specialist Assiniboine Community College
adamsn@assiniboine.net
204.761.8403