Former Resolute workers getting chance at new career

December 22nd, 2014 is a date residents in Iroquois Falls remember clearly.

It’s the day Resolute Forestry shut down production and almost 200 jobs were lost.

Fast forward to 2015 and the town is now a partner with College Boreal to offer those workers a chance at a second career.

The town of Iroquois Falls and Collège Boréal have entered into a partnership agreement allowing community members to gain professional skills in order to re-enter the work force.

Last November, seven participants enrolled in the Heavy Equipment Training program with the support of the Labour Action Adjustment Centre and the CDSSAB Employment Services Centres in Cochrane and Iroquois Falls.

Since the town’s landfill site required some maintenance, the municipality invited Collège Boréal to use the location as part of the practical component of the training course. This partnership is a win-win situation for everyone. Participants develop the skills they need close to home, Collège Boréal has access to a work site to offer a unique learning experience, and the town of Iroquois Falls benefits from the work completed.

Given the growing interest in this training opportunity, Collège Boréal’s Timmins campus is looking into offering the Heavy Equipment Training and Trucking programs starting February 16, 2016.

“Collège Boréal is committed to offering quality programs that meet the needs of the labour market in partnership with local communities, said Boreal Timmins Director Jean-Pierre Nadon, “We are proud to contribute to the training of Iroquois Falls residents and, consequently, to the economic development of Northern Ontario as a whole.”

“Local training opportunities offered by Collège Boréal allow our residents to gain new professional skills while remaining in their community,” added Iroquois Falls Mayor Michael Shea, “And thanks to this latest partnership, we were able to make the necessary repairs to our landfill site.”