Plans for the new trades and technology centre to be built in Yorkton are coming along, bringing Parkland College to its next step in making the centre a reality-raising the funds.
"We could start construction tomorrow if we had the money," said Dr. Fay Myers, President of Parkland College. The concept design is finished, the site decided upon and the figures calculated.
Phase one of construction will costs about $20 million. Phase two will be $9 million.
Phase one involves the multi-purpose shops, students areas, classrooms and other vital teaching areas. Phase two includes a health sciences wing and a wellness centre, including a gymnasium and a teaching theatre.
"This is a regional centre," said Myers. "It will serve the region, and it will not duplicate or take away from any areas we currently serve."
The decision to build a trades training centre came with the high projection of need for skilled workers in the future, and even today.
The business plan for the trades centre quotes numbers in the mining, construction and agriculture industries. "Conservative market projections indicate a need for approximately 5,000 new skilled mine workers over the next 10 years." That number does not include the 4,000 workers who will retire over the next nine years.
"The current construction employment forecast for Saskatchewan shows increasing by a record 43 per cent by 2014 with 8 per cent increases for 2009 and 2010," the plan reads.
The business plan also notes the new canola crushing facilities adding employment to the Parkland region.
"There is a real need to raise the participation rate in the workforce in Saskatchewan," said Myers. Many skilled workers come from out of province, while young people are leaving Saskatchewan. "We need to upgrade and advance in the area of advanced skills."
The new trades and technology centre will be equipped to train 300 students at once. Myers said their hope is to join with industry on the research and development side, which is what other regional colleges have been doing across Canada.
The technology aspect of the centre will increase the college's ability to provide distance education. This greater access to training will help "to keep people here-both young and mature students."
When complete, the trades centre will be equipped for welding, carpentry, metal trades, electrical trades, power engineering, nursing and other health-related programs. The location chosen for the building in on the land at the corner of Highway nine and Dracup Avenue in Yorkton.
Parkland College will option to purchase the site and begin the process of raising funds for construction. Myers said their hopes are high the provincial government will allocate funding for the project.
