Sault College technology students and instructors will benefit from $597,473 in FedNor funding for research and development in automation, advanced manufacturing, robotics and information and communication technology (ICT) programs.
A portion of the funding — announced Tuesday at the college by Sault MP Terry Sheehan — is aimed at keeping the college’s skilled trades programming up to date and its graduates in demand from local employers.
“We need to have the skilled trades, the skilled workers to continue to help the Sault grow and build and community colleges do just that,” Sheehan told reporters after Tuesday’s funding announcement.
The FedNor funding will enable Sault College to purchase an augmented reality welding simulator system.
“Students actually get the opportunity to practice the different welding processes on the simulator. They can see, they get feedback from the system in terms of how they’re progressing. It allows them to practice their skills before they do the real thing,” Corey Meunier, Sault College Dean of Technology, Trades and Apprenticeship told SooToday.
Meunier said the college will buy more than one unit and hopes to have the simulators by the New Year.
“The simulators really are like the real thing. When the students practice on them there actually is a welding machine, they have to set up a steel plate and weld with it and they can practice all the different welding processes as many times as they want and continue to improve their skills and the simulator gives them a grade when they’re done. It feels like you’re actually welding,” Meunier said.
Meunier said the simulators will pique the interest of high school students visiting Sault College on tours as they prepare for postsecondary education, adding that grads from Sault College skilled trades programs are experiencing success.
“They’re getting jobs locally. Some of them leave town because they choose to but they’re getting jobs at Algoma Steel, Tenaris and lots of other smaller companies. They’re in demand. Employers are coming to us to talk to our students, network with them to hire them,” Meunier said.
Of the nearly $600,000 in FedNor funding, $378,000 goes to research and development and the positions of an automation project manager and a business development officer position.
Those employees will work together to develop and coordinate projects with students and staff.
The remaining $219,473 goes to the new augmented reality welding simulator system.
“It helps modernize the trades program that is here. It was excellent. This funding will make it even better. This is really going to give Sault College a competitive advantage because students have a choice of where they want to attend school for trades. Sault College is one of the best in Canada and this funding will help to maintain that position," Sheehan said.
The funding will help the college’s technology department maintain experiential learning projects and good partnerships with local industry, said David Orazietti, Sault College president.
“The team has had some incredible successes in the past. They include projects with Rector Machine Works, Heliene, Pollard Banknote, Soo Mill and Boniferro Millworks,” Orazietti said, adding the college is working on new yet-to-be-announced future projects.
The full text of a release from Sault MP Terry Sheehan’s office follows:
12 November 2024 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, today announced a Government of Canada investment of $597,473 in Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology. The announcement was made on behalf of The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, and on behalf of The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
Of this, $378,000 in FedNor funding will support Sault College’s capacity to expand local collaborative applied research and development activities in automation, advanced manufacturing, robotics and ICT with the private sector. This investment will encourage improvements in business development and productivity by fostering innovation. Specifically, the FedNor funds will help maintain an Automation Project Manager and a Business Development Officer position, who will work together to develop and coordinate projects with students, staff, and other resources at the college.
An additional $219,473 in funding from Employment and Social Development Canada under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Investments in Training Equipment (formerly the Union Training and Innovation Program), to help the college purchase an augmented reality welding simulator system. This equipment will allow the college to further advance the training offered to students in the welding trade using new and up-to-date technologies that meet the evolving skills requirements and technological developments of the labour market.
The financial support announced today will help position Sault College to build additional strategic alliances, help modernize businesses, and develop value-added products, processes and technologies.