Fresh off of celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2013, Parkland College is set to continue its success into the New Year. With four decades of adaptability and diverse educational and training options under its belt, Parkland College remains poised to serve the needs of adult learners and industry partners in East Central Saskatchewan.
Since its inception in 1973, Parkland College has worked to expand the philosophy of life-long learning in the Parkland region. Among the seven basic principles upon which the Saskatchewan community college system was founded is the idea that programs are to be developed in response to the needs of the community. Today, Parkland College delivers hundreds of program sessions at its campuses in Canora, Esterhazy, Fort Qu'Appelle, Melville, and Yorkton. Students can choose from a broad spectrum of educational services from trades training and high school upgrading to the province's most diverse off-campus university offerings.
The hallmark of 2014 for Parkland College will be the beginning of construction of the Trades and Technology Centre in Yorkton. With $10 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, $5 million from dozens of community and industry donors, and a generous land donation from the City of Yorkton, this project is ready to proceed. The facility will be complete in time for classes resuming in the fall of 2015. This expansion will allow Parkland College to deliver more high-demand programs including power engineering, mechanics, welding, and construction trades. This new capacity will help produce an additional 350 full-time graduates per year while upgrading the skills of 2,000 workers annually.
Currently, the trades and industrial area is as responsive and flexible as ever. For example, Parkland College is offering the SIAST Carpentry Certificate program, starting this February in Yorkton. In just 32 weeks, graduates are prepared to work in residential and commercial construction and related industries. The College will also be offering the SIAST Multi-Mechanical Trades program in Yorkton, beginning in September. In just 26 weeks, students learn the skills necessary to work in the Heavy Equipment, Truck & Transport, Agricultural Machinery, and Automotive Service trades. There's also the SIAST Welding program in Yorkton. Beginning in October, it's a 25-week program that prepares graduates to work in manufacturing, for welding contractors and in welding shops, or be self-employed.
Parkland College in Melville is home to two popular emergency services programs: firefighting and paramedic training. The 14-week National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 - Professional Firefighters program returns March 31. It gives graduates a comprehensive blend of theory and practical skills required for an entry-level career. Meanwhile, the SIAST Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program trains graduates for work with ambulance operations, fire services, industrial sites, mining sites, military departments, or special care facilities. The next PCP program begins in September.
To meet the steady demand for special care aides in the area, Parkland College continues to offer the one-year SIAST Continuing Care Assistant Program in Yorkton. Graduates typically find employment in home care settings, special care facilities (such as nursing homes), and hospitals. The next full-time program is slated to begin in September. Part-time courses are also available throughout the year. Applications are also being accepted for the two-year SIAST Practical Nursing diploma program, which starts in February 2015. The deadline to apply is March 21, 2014.
Parkland College offers more than 130 courses from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. Students in Yorkton can complete several degree options at the undergraduate and master's levels from these institutions. A new partnership with the U of S brings the full four-year Bachelor of Nursing degree to Parkland College. Other degrees available at Parkland College include Social Work, Indigenous Education, Geography, Justice, Northern Studies, Police Studies, and Sociology.
Along with these diverse training options, many students are drawn to the unique learning environment at Parkland College where class sizes are typically smaller. Students flourish in a friendly and welcoming setting where their teachers know them by name. Instructors and counsellors are dedicated to their students and have a passion for life-long learning.
Parkland College also offers a very generous scholarship program. Close to $150,000 will be awarded to over 100 students enrolled at Parkland College in the 2013-14 academic year. The benefits are two-fold: students don't have to leave the community to further their education, and they don't incur the costs associated with living away from home.
To inquire further, call Parkland College toll-free at 1-866-783-6766, or visit www.parklandcollege.sk.ca. Additional information can be found at www.facebook.com/CollegeofChoice.
