SaskPower is making a $2-million investment in its future workforce.
One million dollars will go to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, with another million going to SIAST.
The corporation is expecting a wave of retirements over the next 10 years.
At the same time, it has embarked on a ten-year, $10-billion upgrade and expansion of its system.
SaskPower president Robert Watson says the corporation is in critical need of new skilled workers:
“So anybody involved with the power industry, at almost any level, we really need for the future.”
At SIAST, the grant will be used to expand electrical engineering programs — while at SIIT, the focus will be enabling Aboriginal students upgrade their skills so they can enter trades programs.
SIIT president Riel Bellegarde says there is a big demand and high interest among the students.
“We have probably 50% of our students or more going into the trades. Through this collaboration now, this is only going to enhance our ability to work in collaboration with SaskPower.”
Bellegarde says the $1-million grant will also allow SIIT to expand its training in northern regions.