**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College is proud to announce the successful graduation of seven of our Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core Program students.

 

Offering students rigorous, theoretical and hands on training over a ten week period, the program is designed in tandem with industry partners to deliver capable, trained and work ready graduates ideally suited to meet workforce needs.

 

Five members of this graduating class have been offered full time employment days before accepting their diplomas.

 

“This team has worked very hard to see you over this finish line,” Ruthanne Ives, Manager of Community and Business Development for Northern Training Division told graduates. “Very excellent work, I am very impressed with this program and the quality and calibre of students we’re turning out.”

 

“Success breeds success and this accomplishment will now launch you into opportunities of a great career and a prosperous life,” said Ives.

 

These seven graduates of the programs 22 intakes now join a storied and accomplished alumni, Northern College graduates at the forefront of shaping the future of the industry and Canadian mining as a whole.

 

“The Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core program has established a strong, positive reputation throughout the industry,” said Dr. Fred Gibbons, President and CEO of Northern College. “It is believed that miners are the backbone of the mining industry, however, I would beg to differ, without the diamond drillers performing the exploratory and the production drilling in a mine or working in mineral exploration, often in remote areas and working long hours, there would not be the mines from which to extract the precious resources.”

 

As regional and national mining operations continue to expand, the demand for skilled diamond drillers and diamond driller assistants is high, with industry leaders and educational partners like Boart Longyear working to meet demand.

 

“In the new year, we’re going to be needing a lot of Diamond Drillers, there are definitely a lot of opportunities coming,” said Erica Maille, HR Generalist for Boart Longyear. “We see the success that comes from these types of programs, when they are prepared they know what to expect and we definitely see a better outcome from those who do come from programs like this.”

 

By working closely with industry stakeholders, Northern College continues to develop student focused curriculum aimed at not only preparing learners for their industry of choice, but preparing that industry for high quality, work ready graduates.

 

The result is confident, inspired graduates ready to make their mark in the mining industry.

 

“Each of us had our own obstacles to overcome and come together as a team to reach our goals,” said valedictorian Blain Brake. “Our journey into the mining industry is just beginning, we’re going to face many challenges in our future careers and should be persistent in striving for success, guided by the stories and experiences shared by our instructors.”

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