It's big news for Yorkton but it's also a boon for the region and the province as a whole.
On Tuesday Premier Brad Wall was in the city to make a big announcement. The Provincial Government has allocated $10 million in funding to support construction of a the new Trades and Technology Centre at Parkland Regional College.
"Saskatchewan is experiencing remarkable growth, which will result in a number of employment opportunities, many of which will be in the skilled trades," Wall says. "The new Trades and Technology Centre will increase the number of graduates in many highly skilled areas that are needed in Saskatchewan and will make it possible for students from the Yorkton area to learn closer to home."
It's due to the expanding tax base and prospering economy that the province affords to make announcements such as this says Wall. "We ought not to take it for granted, but the chances of us being able to sustain the growing economy in this province are pretty good." Saskatchewan, he says, is quickly becoming the envy of the world, particularly in areas like Asia.
"The world wants what we have to offer and therefore we are going to need greater training capacity... not just in our major centres, but in the regional centres of this province as well.
"Employers all over the province are in need of these skilled trades people." In fact, says Wall, over the next five years, it's estimated an additional 95,000 skilled and unskilled workers will be needed in Saskatchewan.
It's because of great partnerships that this will happen adds the premier. The City of Yorkton donated more than $3 million worth of land for the cause. The Potash Corporation contributed $1.2 million. The Federal government kicked in almost $1 million and locally, over $2.6 million was raised so the new learning centre can become a reality. Yorkton's MLA Greg Ottenbreit was also instrumental in moving things along says Wall.
"He has worked very, very hard on this. He was very determined. He hasn't just made the case that this college is something we should do for this constituency. He's made the economic argument. He's made the post secondary education argument and he's done an outstanding job at helping to get this to where it is today.
"This is a big investment for the provincial government. It's a big investment for the community of Yorkton but we know that we are supporting one of the finest post secondary institutions that we have in Saskatchewan."
The college's CEO Dr. Fay Myers would obviously agree. "Today's announcement will forever change the Parkland Region and the college," she said at the recent announcement. "We are witnessing a remarkable event in the college's 40th year and I am thrilled and honored to be a part of it.
"The Government of Saskatchewan is demonstrating its leadership in providing a great investment in post-secondary infrastructure for the Parkland Region. The Trades and Technology Centre will yield educational excellence, foster innovation, cultivate inclusion, and create accountability to the citizens of the Parkland Region as well as the entire province of Saskatchewan."
The proposed facility will be more than 2,500m2 and is expected to help address the trades and technical training needs of the region by graduating an additional 360 students and providing upgrading for more than 2,000 new students annually.
The planning phase for the Trades and Technology Centre is complete and design is well underway. The project is expected to be ready to proceed with tenders in November.
Premier Wall also highlighted the fact the Provincial Government is matching a $150,000 scholarship donation by the Yorkton Tribal Council to Parkland to help provide local First Nations youth with scholarship dollars over the next five years. Ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per student, the post-secondary scholarship is available to applicants from the Yorkton Tribal Council's six member First Nations - Cote First Nation, Key First Nation, Keeseekoose First Nation, Ocean Man First Nation, Sakimay First Nation and Kahkewistahaw First Nation - to assist with students' tuition, materials, living expenses and transportation costs. Parkland College is awarding $20,000 of the scholarship in 2013, $40,000 in 2014 and $80,000 in the remaining three years.
"One of our government's priorities is to help find new opportunities and to remove barriers to our Aboriginal young people so they can receive post-secondary training and education," Wall concludes. "This scholarship is a good example of how working together can make that happen."
