Another important step towards industry cohesion and harmonized training content in Alberta and Canada
Vermilion (Alberta), November 3, 2008 – The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lakeland College to offer full-semester CGC-recognized courses as part of a curriculum approved by Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. With campuses in Vermilion, Alta., and Lloydminster, Alta./Sask., Lakeland College is the first college in Western Canada to execute this arrangement, and CGC extends its congratulations to this educational leader.
The Canadian GeoExchange™ Installers’ Course® contents have been fully integrated into Lakeland’s one-year Renewable Energy and Conservation certificate program that began in October 2008 with online delivery available to participants anywhere with high speed internet access.
“The geoexchange training program to be offered at Lakeland will contribute to industry growth and help establish training cohesion in Alberta and in Canada,” said Denis Tanguay, President and CEO of CGC. “This is an important step forward as its sends a constructive message to the industry. Students trained at Lakeland College will be able to apply for CGC installer accreditation after they complete this program. At this time, there is no other geoexchange training course offering this opportunity in Alberta and Western Canada,” he added.
“This is a significant arrangement for Lakeland College as it strengthens our new Renewable Energy and Conservation program,” said Glenn Charlesworth, president of Lakeland College. “This gives our students assurance that the skills they are learning are skills needed to succeed in this growing industry.”
CGC is in the process of transferring its training courses to colleges and institutes of technology across Canada under a standard harmonization agreement. Currently CGC has active Memorandums of Understanding with college partners across the country. Once colleges/institutes have incorporated CGC training standards into their curriculum, CGC fully recognizes the students trained by those institutions as industry-equivalent. In turn, CGC facilitates the integration of this trained workforce into the geoexchange industry through its regular channels. As one of its functions, CGC regularly interfaces between training institutions and market actors, ensuring strong linkages between theory and practice, and training and application.
The Renewable Energy and Conservation program at Lakeland College allows students to gain the knowledge and practical skills to become leaders in renewable energy and energy conservation. Students will understand issues related to global warming, climate change, skyrocketing energy costs, lifestyle choices and the possibilities of renewable energy and implications of conservation. For more information please visit:
http://www.lakelandcollege.ca/programs/environmental_sciences/renewable_energy_conservation/
The Canadian GeoExchange™ Coalition acts as the industry catalyst to unite private and public sector stakeholders and to expand the market for geoexchange™ technology in Canada. As the nexus of information, training, certification, industry standards and public awareness, our mandate is to work with stakeholders to build the necessary infrastructure to foster the growth of the Canadian geoexchange™ industry. For more information, visit www.geo-exchange.ca
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For inquiries:
At CGC: Ted Kantrowitz 514 807 7559, extension 34
At Lakeland College: Mel Mathison, Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 780 853 8741