**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College is pleased to announce the continued success of its Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core program with the latest induction of students.

Since its inception in 2007, the 10 week program has produced 250 certified diamond drill assistants, 85 per cent of whom have secured meaningful employment with 21 per cent achieving full driller status within a year of graduation.

“Diamond Drilling is a mineral exploration technique, so you have to do an awful lot of exploration before you can start a mine,” said Ruthanne Ives, Manager of Community and Business Development at the Kirkland Lake Campus. “With the way that mining is going right now, with strong prices for metals, there is a lot of exploration going on, especially in Northern Ontario.”

Offering an accessible and effective 10 week course allows Northern College to not only provide students with tangible career opportunities, but also to help shore up growing national and international employment gaps.

“We believe that this is a great opportunity to find employment, and its life-long employment, this will take you around the world,” said Ives. “Ontario remains the world leader for their training standards in mineral exploration and the mining industry.”

This streamlined, hands on curriculum allows students the opportunity to invest in their future without losing out on much needed earning potential.

I’ve got two kids and another one on the way,” said Diamond Drill Assistant student, Tyler Marseille. “So I need something that’s secure and something that I’ll be able to work in a field where I’ll be able to work for the rest of my life and won’t end up needing extra work or extra income where my kids are well off and I won’t have to worry about my kids in the future.”

As regional employment needs grow, Northern College is committed to developing solid pathways for students to find meaningful employment.

“Mining requires a significant amount of Diamond Drilling mineral exploration,” said Christine Heavens, Executive Director, Community, Business Development and Employment Services. “The mining sector in Northern Ontario remains strong, re-enforcing the need for trained drilling assistants.”

Northern College remains committed to working hand in hand with area industry leaders to contribute to stable, steady growth across Ontario’s Northeast, building on an expanding, cumulative economic footprint throughout our catchment region.

“A recent economic impact study completed for Northern College by Emsi, a U.S. based economic modelling company has shown that Northern College has had a profound influence on job creation in Northeastern Ontario. In 2017-2018, the college supported the creation of 1615 direct and indirect jobs throughout the region,” stated college President, Dr. Fred Gibbons. “Graduates from our Diamond Driller Assistant Common Core program play an important role in mining exploration and the discovery of new ore bodies and the creation of new mining activity.”

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