Hands-on learning is becoming a larger part of most schools’ curriculum, so it’s no surprise that is just what was targeted by Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson during a late March visit to the Northwest Community College (NWCC) Terrace campus.
A $269,850 boost to the college to purchase new training equipment for its trade programs was announced on March 29.
The college will get equipment such as an intravenous pump for health care students, an abrasive mitre saw for welders, a vehicle scanner for heavy-duty mechanic students and more.
Whether or not some of the equipment will make its way to the Prince Rupert campus is still up in the air, but NWCC director of communications Heather Bastin said if there is a need in Prince Rupert, the equipment will arrive.
“The trade shop [at the Prince Rupert campus] is going to rotate through different trades, so equipment will be brought in and taken out depending on which trade is being offered in the shop that semester,” she said.
The trade shop space has been and will be a dedicated welding facility up until the program is moved to Terrace in the fall, but the shop will now rotate through different programs.
Additional equipment purchased includes electrical three-phase transformer lab benches and electromechanical trainers, drill presses and multi-process welders, mig welders and stick welders, as well as a track pin press and engine stands for heavy-duty mechanical students.
“Depending on which trade is offered [in Prince Rupert] at that particular semester – if particular equipment is needed then it will be there,” Bastin said.