Jobs waiting for hard rock mining grads – by Chris Ribau (Timmins Daily Press – November 1, 2011)

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

First group to complete program at Northern College

The first graduates have completed the Basic Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core program at Northern College. The Porcupine Campus, in partnership with Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines, held a luncheon Monday to honour the students who graduated from the 12-week program.

“We’re here to celebrate the journey of the first group of graduates in our industry leading Basic Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core program,” said Norm Bolduc, training consultant for Northern College.

Peter MacLean, vice-president of Northern College, offered some encouraging words for the graduates.

“What we do here at Northern College is we bring in students, we register them and we graduate them,” said MacLean. “There is no downside to graduations. Graduates are happy, the college is proud of their graduation and the community is proud of the graduates, and the mine has a whole new set of workers with new skills.”

Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mine took a hands-on approach with the students, allowing them access to the mine where students could get a real feel for working underground. Goldcorp also hired all five graduates following the completion of the program.

Fred Gibbons, Northern College president, acknowledged the “incredible efforts of the Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mine team. Equipped with new skills I trust you will have success in re-entering the workforce.”

Originally, students looking at getting into Basic Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core would have to travel to a school in Dubreville, Ont.

That is a long distance for local residents to receive training in what is a core industry for Timmins, said Mayor Tom Laughren.

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