Xstrata gives $150,000 to Northern College

Xstrata Nickel has announced plans to donate $150,000 over three years to trade-focused Northern College, in Ontario.

The majority of the money will be spent on trade and technology programs, including new portable PLC stations, overhead cranes and total stations.

“Skilled trades personnel are vital to successful mining operations and companies must provide support wherever possible to ensure training of the next generation of these important individuals,” said John McDonald, manager of Xstrata Nickel’s Montcalm mine, near Timmins. “Xstrata Nickel’s Montcalm mine is pleased to provide Northern College with this funding commitment to enhance the skilled trades programs at the college.”

The funds should help the community college, which has four locations in northern Ontario, including one in Timmins, offer more options for students looking to join the trades. In Sudbury alone, mines and construction crews are in need of nearly 1,000 workers. The announcement by Xstrata Nickel follows a recent donation made to Northern College by Xstrata Copper; both are subsidiaries of Swiss-based mining giant Xstrata.