Northland School Division and Northern Lakes College engage on program opportunities

(Peace River) – Northland School Division No.61 (NSD) visited Northern Lakes College (NLC) at the Peace River campus on May 10, 2018 to engage in conversation about career-learning opportunities for high school students. NSD has approximately 2600 students in 24 schools across their service region that covers 288,347 square kilometers.

Ten principals from NSD travelled to the Peace River Campus and toured the Mobile Trades Lab with Ann Everatt, President and CEO, and Cherie Friesen, Chair of Resource Technology Programs, Trades and Technology at Northern Lakes College.

 “NLC provides innovative solutions so northern students can access education and the Mobile Trades Labs are a great example. The College has collaborated with over 20 schools across the service region on dual credit programs,” said Ann Everatt, President and CEO at Northern Lakes College. “Working together with the Northland School Division we hope to create positive impacts for high school students that will support their educational success.”

One of the highlights from the conversation between the two institutions was supporting career opportunities in rural communities. NLC’s Mobile Trades Labs have the mobility to travel to rural communities and offer trades training. This will give high school students the opportunity to learn in their own community, be exposed to hands-on trade’s experiences, and explore postsecondary education. Students will have the experience and ability to match their skillsets to future career opportunities. NSD and NLC had an open discussion on the integration of NLC training opportunities into secondary school programming.

From left to right: Tim Stensland, Area 3 Associate Superintendent, Jill Gaudet, Paddle Prairie School Principal, Christoph Ruge, Area 2 Pedagogical Supervisor, Terri-Lynn McLeod, Mistassiniy School Vice-Principal, Ann Everatt, NLC President & CEO, Gord Atkinson, NSD Superintendent of Schools, Shelly Hamelin, Mistassiniy School Principal, Cal Johnson, Anzac School – Bill Woodward School Principal, Angela James, Career Pathways School Principal, Cherie Friesen, NLC Chair Trades & Resource Technology, Don Tessier, Pelican Mountain School Principal.

 “Our focus is developing a sustainable career training strategy for NSD students,” said Gord Atkinson, Superintendent of Schools, Northland School Division. “We hope our conversations with NLC will result in more opportunities for students.”

 Creating awareness about learning opportunities among high school students is critical, especially in communities that are traditionally under-served. Communities depend on a strong and skilled workforce to sustain future economic growth. NSD and NLC invest in students and support their career opportunities that in turn will move a community towards sustainability and growth.