by Maria Driscoll

With assistance from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Holland College is creating a Centre for Industrial Technologies to be located in a 15,000-square-foot building in Slemon Park.

The centre will house the college's enhanced carpentry program and also a number of specialized training programs in Heritage Millwork and Restoration, Advanced Building Technologies, and Cabinetmaking/Fine Woodworking.

"The new centre will be a tremendous benefit to all of Prince Edward Island," said the Honourable Joe McGuire, Minister of ACOA. "As with other occupations, carpenters are facing increasingly demanding work environments with pressure to perform different tasks and use new equipment and materials in a productive manner. Carpenters who have a strong foundation of core skills and specialty skills, such as those being taught at this new centre, will be in demand over the next decade. I expect that demand will continue to grow well into the future."

Holland College will continue to offer its current one-year carpentry program, which will be enriched through the purchase of new equipment. In addition to the three specialty training programs, the college will be able to offer a variety of programming opportunities including enhanced block release training, customized contract training for industry, continuing education for the public and enhanced training for apprentices and journey persons.

"There will now be over 700 students enrolled in full-time and part-time studies at Holland College locations in Slemon Park," stated Dr. Brian McMillan, Vice-President of Programs at the college. "The college is committed to this community and to offering quality facilities and services to its students. To this end, we will be undertaking a study that will develop a campus plan for our facilities at Slemon Park."

The establishment of the Centre for Industrial Technologies will allow for the consolidation of trades training programs at Slemon Park (carpentry, electrical, electromechanical, automotive, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, and precision machining) Holland College's Georgetown Centre is home to additional trades and technology programs in welding, fabrication, plumbing, pipe-trades and commercial diving.

The project will cost $2 million and ACOA is contributing $750,000 through the Strategic Community Investment Fund.