Three for the price of one
6/20/2007 9:24:17 AM
Do you have multiple interests when it comes to a career?
In just three years you could be certified to work in three high paying, high demand industries – pulp and paper, petroleum and mining.
This training, offered through the Process Operations Engineering Technology program at College of the North Atlantic (CNA), has many graduates walking into high paying positions, with some starting salaries in the $50,000-$80,000 range.
Desmond Brown, currently employed by CVRD Inco Ltd., is a graduate of this program.
After working in Halifax as a computer technician, Brown decided to pursue a different field.
“I had previously taken a computer program back in 2000 in Stephenville for Programmer Analysis Scientific. I was working in Halifax with the computer side of it as a computer technician but I had decided it was time for a change,” says Brown.
“I was talking to a few people I knew who worked with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and they were telling me about this Process Operations course.”
Brown says there were several factors that influenced his decision to enroll in the Process Operations program. One of which was a potential shortage of workers at the mill in Corner Brook.
“When a lot of their employees retire, they will be looking for skilled people to fill those jobs. To work at the mill they require that you have a three–year technology program. I felt there was an opportunity of getting into the pulp and paper industry and this program was a good route to take,” says Brown.
“The other factor I considered was that it wasn’t only the pulp and paper industry that the program dealt with. There are three main industries it focuses on – pulp and paper, petroleum and mining. It gives you a little bit of a broader opportunity to go out and find work.”
Brown began the three-year program in 2003 and while still in school, got his foot in the door with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in the form of a student job. He worked for the company in 2005 and again in 2006 before switching his focus to work at CVRD Inco Ltd.
“After I finished my program I was on two minds on if I should go back to school. But I got a job for the summer at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper just after April. Come July there were a few openings for a process operator at Inco, and I got called to start work on Aug. 14 to begin training for four weeks.”
Since completing the Process Operations program he has worked in two of the three industries for which he was trained. He feels the Process Operations Engineering Technology program is well designed and can provide a wide range of opportunity for those interested in these fields.
Norris Eaton, the dean of engineering technology with CNA, feels Process Operations produces highly trained workers.
“The graduates are highly trained plant operators, which are typically very well paying jobs,” explains Eaton. “They understand how all of the equipment works in the process, they operate that equipment, they run the show – from refining crude oil, oil sands upgrading, making paper, processing raw minerals and producing a refined product with nickel, gold and iron.”
He points out that graduates are not trained to maintain equipment.
“The program trains people to operate the plant after it has been built. These are not construction type jobs, consequently they are long–term and stable – the person can stay in one location or community.”
He says an example can be seen in the construction of the new Voisy's Bay Nickel Hydromat facility.
“It will require thousands of construction jobs for a short period of time, maybe two to three years. After the construction has been completed the construction workers have to move on to other construction jobs, possibly. The work in one location is not long-term,” says Eaton.
“However with Process Operations Engineering Technology graduates, such as Desmond, they step in after construction and operate the plant, hopefully for 20–30 years or more. They have stable, long-term work in one location.”
Meanwhile, Brown says the training he received from CNA has been very useful.
“A lot of students think they won’t need certain knowledge when they get into the work force, but with this course there’s a lot of stuff that will come back to you when you’re working,” he says.
“The program was well rounded for dealing with petroleum, mining and pulp and paper. When you’re dealing with three industries, there’s a lot of material you have to go through and learn.”
Brown feels the program is worth the work because there are a lot of opportunities in these industries within Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I’d suggest this program to anyone out there trying to figure out what program to take – I definitely suggest they take it on. Here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we have so many opportunities in these three industries. We have an oil refinery on the east coast and another commercial plant will be finished by 2010. There are opportunities out on the west coast, and within the next three years there’s going to be a lot of people needed in the sector.”
Brown says there are also many opportunities in Alberta, however he’s pleased he didn’t have to leave the province to find work.
“I had considered leaving Newfoundland and Labrador. I didn’t really fussy going to Alberta, but if push came to shove I definitely would have had to go that route,” he continues.
“One of the things I was hoping for was to be able to stay within the province. I would rather have stayed on the west coast but the east coast is fine. Anywhere in the province was better than moving outside of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Seats are still available for Process Operations students at the Corner Brook campus. For more information about this or other programs at CNA log on to their website at www.cna.nl.ca.
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For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
(709) 643-7721
Or
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
(709) 643-6408