**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College and its Training Division are pleased to mark the 10 year anniversary of its Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core programming.
Over these past 10 years, Northern Training Division has partnered with six different mining operations to produce 273 work ready graduates, with a 95 percent success rate of graduates gaining employment within the mining sector.

“The program offers students a straight forward, hands-on, experiential learning environment that directly prepares them for the rigors of the mining industry while exposing them to the unique working environment that few outside the industry see,” state Karen Hamel, Training Consultant with Northern Training Division. “This type of training has proven to be very successful for our students and our regional mining partners.”

The success of this program would not have been possible without partnerships with past mining companies partners and current partner Tahoe Resources. These partners open their operations to learners and provided skilled workers to teach students ensuring the best calibre, ready to hire graduates.

“Our Safety, Training, and Operations group work closely with the College team to ensure world-class training in an active mine development heading for its students,” stated Tahoe Resources Bell Creek Mine Manager David Bernier. “With the current and projected shortfall in the underground mining industry, we are working collaboratively towards harnessing the high quality skill sets of our current workforce and downloading that information into the next generation of miners.”

This combination of first rate training and quick employment turn around allow graduates like Ashley Rock to not only succeed in a new field, but to make a sincere difference in the quality of life for themselves and their families.

“Choosing to enroll in the Underground Hard Rock Miner Common Core has bettered my life and lives of my two beautiful daughters,” stated Rock, one of 22 female graduates of the program. “I was lucky to get hired immediately after graduation, and now, only a few months later I’m already looking at my first promotion.”

Northern College and its Training Division are proud of success stories like this one and continue to work towards providing the highest quality education rooted in the principals of accessibility and tangible success.

Filed under: Local News