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Some heavy-duty stuff going on at Northern College (5 photos)

The Heavy Equipment program at Northern College received a big boost on Wednesday morning. Dumas Mining has donated $65,000 worth of equipment to give students more hands-on and practical experience.

The Heavy Equipment program at Northern College received a big boost on Wednesday morning.
 
Dumas Mining has donated $65,000 worth of equipment to give students more hands-on and practical experience.
 
The company says donations like these are about more than charity, but also a way for them to make use of outdated machinery. 
 
“We always give back. Whether its fund raising for Christmas drives or whatever. We decided to donate the equipment, it's in our yard, it's kind of like cleaning up your basement. What don't I need? What I am not going to use?” said Wayne Mohns, Vice President of Operations at Dumas.
 
“We identified several pieces of equipment. As the equipment serves its useful life for us, we turn it over. Give it to the college. So they can work on applicable equipment that they'll be working on after graduation” added Mohns.
 
He says the vehicles and equipment donated are extremely common at all mines in Northern Ontario and beyond.
 
Two scissor lift vehicles and three mine tractors, used for transporting workers or forklifting purposes, have been donated. 
 
They are mainly for underground use.
 
“Basically, guys can get to and from work, and they can go rock bolts, go get their explosives and vent tubes. So this is their go-to piece of equipment. Pretty common in the mining industry” said Mohns.
 
Northern College President Fred Gibbons was excited about the additions for the programs and their benefits for students.
 
“This equipment, although its not state-of-the-art technology, this is important technology for our students to be able to practice on. When they graduate, not only do they move into an environment where they are working on state-of-the-art equipment, but they'll experience working on vintage equipment as well” said Gibbons.
 
He applauded the mining company for stepping up and contributing to the education and training of the next wave of workers.
 
“This is a great example of how industry works with the college to create a good learning environment for our students, to produce good graduates ready for the workforce” said Gibbons
 
“Part of the success of Northern College is our ability to work with industry to forge new partnerships. Not just for the benefit of equipment that we receive from them, when its served its useful purpose for the employer, but industry and partnerships we create provide funds, bursaries, and scholarships for our students. They provide work placements for students when they go out on a work term” said Gibbons.
 
There are approximately 30-35 students in the various Heavy Equipment programs at Northern College and Gibbons forsees a slight increase in enrollment for the fall semester.

A release from Northern College:

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Heavy equipment students at Northern College Timmins Campus can now gain hands-on experience working with specialized mining equipment, thanks to a generous donation from Dumas Mining Contractors.

Dumas has donated six pieces of equipment to the college valued at $65,000, including three mine tractors and two scissor lifts.

The equipment will be used by Northern’s Heavy Equipment apprenticeship students, as well as students in the Heavy Equipment Techniques and Motive Power Technician – Heavy Equipment post-secondary programs.

Dumas representatives Glenn Wilson, Fleet Manager, and Wayne Mohns, Vice President, were on-site at Northern’s Timmins Campus today finalizing the donation.

Transportation for the equipment was generously provided by William Day Construction at no cost.

“An educated workforce with high-skills training is essential for the continued success of our industries and communities,” says Mohns. “By providing this donation to Northern College, we’re helping to ensure that local heavy equipment students graduate with in-depth experience working with the same kinds of equipment used extensively in the local mining industry.”

Northern College President Fred Gibbons was present to accept the donation.

He was joined by Dr. Audrey J. Penner, Vice-President, Academic and Student Success. 

“We’re very thankful for this generous donation from Dumas, because it will allow our students to gain valuable hands-on experience that is in high demand from local employers,” says Gibbons. “This donation is a shining example of how we can enhance the quality of the education we provide through collaboration with partners in local industry.” 

Heavy equipment students at the college can expect to begin working with the new equipment when classes resume in September.

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(PHOTO: Dr. Audrey J. Penner, vice-president academic for Northern College, Glenn Wilson, fleet manager for Dumas Mining Contractors, Wayne Mohns, vide-president of Dumas Mining Contractors, and Fred Gibbons, Northern College president, are pictured at this morning's announcement. Supplied)