STEPHENVILLE, NL – When entering the Town of Stephenville, it’s easy to be captivated by the beautiful state-of-the-art building prominently nestled near its outskirts.
CNA would like to introduce the public to the newly named Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology, a $20-million facility in Stephenville that is part of Bay St. George campus. Funding for the facility was received from the federal and provincial governments.
From the exterior with its walls of tinted windows, the large garage bays, and the heavy equipment moving about in what’s affectionately called the ‘sandbox’ at the rear, the cyan CNA letters adorning the upper left corner signify who the proud owners are.
Funding for the building was made possible through joint
federal and provincial government contributions announced in 2016. Now, three years after its completion and a pandemic that made occupying the new building a challenge in the beginning, College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) $20-million facility is in full operation and officially has a name – the
Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology.
Greg Ryan, Instructional Co-ordinator for Industrial Trades, gave the Board of Governors a tour of the Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology. Here, they are being shown the tool crib, designed to operate as if it were on a job site. Ryan is passionate about the capabilities the centre can offer its students and partners.
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, was at the initial funding announcement, and understands the significance of having this facility in NL.
“Thanks to investment by the Federal Government of Canada, the Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology – a state-of-the-art facility in Stephenville – has helped labour market demand by increasing the availability of highly skilled, certified industrial trade technicians right here at home, for all of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Hutchings. “We congratulate CNA for bringing this project to completion and the province will benefit from future graduates of the technically advanced programs housed there.”
The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Education, says, “The Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology is a state-of-the-art facility. It allows students to learn in an environment that is purpose built to develop and hone the skills they will need to successfully train and work in these areas. We are pleased to have provided funding for this facility, and we look forward to seeing many more students graduate from programs offered at the Stephenville facility and begin their careers in motive power industries.”
CNA’s Board of Governors recently met at Headquarters in Stephenville, and they were given a tour of the newly named Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology – a $20-million state-of-the-art facility that houses many of the Industrial Trades programs. Pictured are (front): Jill Quilty, Sam Synard, Dorothy Pye-Johnson, CNA President & CEO Liz Kidd and Peter Adams; (rear), Ken Martin, Chris Newhook and Charles Randell.
CNA’s Board of Governors recently visited Headquarters in Stephenville as part of a two-day strategic planning session which included a tour of the centre, allowing board members to see firsthand the advancements in technology and capabilities available at Bay St. George campus.
Liz Kidd, CNA’s President and CEO, says the board members were very impressed by what they saw. From the outset, the college insisted that the centre not look like a typical school building; rather, its design had to be unique and open, and feel like something special to those work and study there.
“We wanted our students and employees to take pride when they walk in the doors and see all the really innovative things offered in the building,” she said. “We also wanted it to be something the town would be proud to have in its community. While the structure itself is about bricks and mortar, the education opportunities within it, as a result of advanced technology, extend globally. CNA is a leader in post-secondary education and training. This centre is just the beginning of what we have in store for the future of learning and teaching that aligns with key industry demands for a highly skilled labour force.”
From the outset, CNA insisted that the centre not look like a typical school building; rather, its design had to be unique and open, and feel like something special to those work and study there. The lighting shaped like heavy equipment tires overlooking the foyer is an example.
Currently at capacity, the Centre for Heavy Equipment and Transportation Technology houses on-site, hands-on Industrial Trades training for students in the following motive power programs: Automotive Service Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician/Truck and Transport Mechanic, Heavy Equipment Operator, Mobile Crane Operator, and Small Equipment Service Technician.
In addition to this, the facility has labs for research capabilities, as well as technology to enable students and stakeholders from other campuses/locations to avail of online or blended learning opportunities. A second-floor observation area to view the training happening below in the garage bays at any given time, and a backyard training ground where students can learn to operate an array of equipment meant to provide real-world experiences, add to the overall technical leading-edge atmosphere of the facility.
For more information about CNA, visit:
www.cna.nl.ca
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Media contact:
Michelle Barry
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
Michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca