Five future Heavy Equipment Operators wrapped up their onemonth training program at the Weyburn Landfill on July 15, thanks to many partnerships. The students, along with SIAST instructor Bob Mortimer, have been practicing on a grader, track-hoe, and front-end loader at the Weyburn Landfill since June 15. In addition to digging holes and moving dirt, the students have completed some inclass studies, exams, and received certification in CPR, First Aid, WHIMIS and Ground Disturbance. Each student will receive certification on two of the pieces of equipment.Southeast Regional College's ability to offer this training relied on a number of successful partnerships: SIAST provided the curriculum and approved the instructor; Redhead Equipment provided rental of the equipment; HSE Integrated provided a trailer for the students to meet and study in; Canada Saskatchewan Career and Employment Services (CanSask) provided various amounts of funding to all students in the course (tuition is $10,900 per student); and finally, the City of Weyburn provided grease, fuel, and the landfill as a project site. Blaine Frank, director of engineering for the City of Weyburn, was responsible for making the landfill available to the College and is very pleased with the work performed by the students. "We'd be happy to do it again in the future," said Frank.Of the five students, one has a job starting immediately, another has had an interview, and a third has a job offer on the table. According to the students, Heavy Equipment Operators can start out earning between $18 and $38 per hour, depending on the employer, type of job, and type of equipment being operated."We are thrilled with this program," said Randy Uhren, training consultant with the College. "The partnerships really made this training opportunity all come together."
