The Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) is set to welcome twice as many skilled trades students to their Advance Technology Campus near Tiverton for the next Explore Energy Co-op.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is supporting the work to connect the energy industry with high school students exploring future career paths in the trades. The OPG committed $5,000 towards the co-op plus their time and expertise over the upcoming fall and winter terms.
“This homegrown solution to meeting the growing needs of the clean energy workforce would not be possible without support from partners like OPG and NII’s Founding Members,” said NII Explore’s Phillip Craig, President, STEM Education. “From this generous donation to hosting students at their facilities during the program, we are grateful for their contributions to the Energy Co-op.”
In the co-op pilot program earlier this year, 25 high school students from Kincardine District Senior School (KDSS) spent two days learning about OPG’s waste management facilities and how OPG safely manages different waste types, from spent fuel to radiation-exposed equipment, as well as about the various trades involved in OPG’s waste processes.
“Having the opportunity to go through OPG’s waste management facility at Bruce Power was really eye opening when you get to see the behind the scenes—it has me inspired to possibly work there in the future," shared one alum from the pilot program.
“OPG is a proud community sponsor and values partnerships such as the NII Explore Energy Co-op, whereby students are able to experience hands-on learning opportunities in the growing and much-needed industry of nuclear energy production,” said Kaitlyn Nevill, Senior Communications Advisor at OPG. “Supporting this program through both sponsorship funding and hosting students on our site helps empower the next generation by allowing them to explore a multitude of potential career opportunities within the nuclear sector, including many within OPG’s Western Waste Management Facility.”
The Co-op is a specialized 17-week education program in partnership with the Bluewater District School Board. The unique program exposes students to nearly 30 different careers across the clean energy industry—from construction and welding to emergency management and robotics.
NII Explore is a charitable organization dedicated to delivering enhanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) opportunities for school-aged children to learn, experiment, discover and create. NII Explore gives students living in the rural region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties and local Indigenous communities access to the skills, knowledge and technologies required to live and work in a rapidly changing world.