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Resolute renews Confederation College partnership with $150K investment

October 29, 2018 – Resolute Forest Products has renewed its partnership with Thunder Bay’s Confederation College, announcing a contribution of $150,000 to the College’s Technology, Education and Collaboration (TEC) Campaign.

The organizations will build on their existing relationship established in 2016, clearly defining strategies to improve training and educational programming options for students, while preparing graduates to fill a variety of job openings at Resolute.

The partnership supports the implementation of hands-on forest operations training, including truck drivers and harvest equipment operators; delivers technical skills upgrading and specialization courses on topics including fluid dynamics and pneumatics, maintenance leadership, and automation and process control; works with Indigenous communities to strengthen and promote the skills of their workforce as they relate to the forest industry; and
offers pre-employment training that prepares students for successful transition to an industrial work setting.

Resolute is providing $30,000 annually across a five-year term toward the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for students in programs supported by the College’s TEC Hub. The TEC Hub and Campaign will contribute to the development of a skilled, employment-ready technology and trades workforce for northwestern Ontario.

“Resolute is pleased to renew and expand its longstanding collaboration with Confederation College and to support the state-of-the art training centre in Thunder Bay, which provides high-quality training and employment opportunities for youth in the region,” says Yves Laflamme, president and chief executive officer of Resolute.

Additional funding from FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will match dollars from Resolute’s contribution. 

“We appreciate Resolute’s continued vision for supporting our students through meaningful education and employment opportunities within the technology and natural resources sectors,” says Kathleen Lynch, president, Confederation College. “A skilled workforce is a vital component to economic growth and this partnership, along with Resolute’s investment in equipment, will help our students receive the hands-on training needed for them to successfully meet the diverse labour demands of these industries.”

A room in the College’s TEC Hub has been named in recognition of the company’s support – the Resolute Forest Products Multipurpose Skills Workshop.