In an effort to increase Saskatchewan’s mining workforce, The Mosaic Company announced a $4-million investment Tuesday to expand career opportunities in the province, specifically for high school and post-secondary students. With the investment, Mosaic is partnering with educational institutions in Saskatchewan to expand training capacity, secure qualified instructors, upgrade facilities and equipment, and create new routes for local and indigenous learners to pursue mining careers. “Mosaic is pleased to invest $4 million to grow our future workforce. Our investment will strengthen our talent pipeline by mining local talent in the communities where we operated and provide opportunities for rural and indigenous students to grow their careers,” said Bruce Bodine, CEO of The Mosaic Company, in a media release. The company’s largest potash operation is home to the town of Esterhazy, located in east central Saskatchewan. With the town continuously looking for ways to keep young people in the community, councillor Maggie Rowland said the investment does just that. “Students that are in Esterhazy, their parents already work at the mines,” she said. “With them getting their education in Esterhazy, they could become second or third generation miners, which means growth for our community as well as Churchbridge, Langenburg, all of the ones around us.” The four institutions to benefit from the funding include Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Suncrest College, Good Spirit School Division and the Potash Mining Readiness Program, each receiving at least $1 million from Mosaic. “We’ll be able to almost quadruple the number of students that we’re able to put through our Practical and Applied Arts Millwright Program in Churchbridge that doors would have been closed for in the past,” explained Quintin Robertson, director of education for Good Spirit School Division. Robertson added the funding allows the division to add more spots to its program which is currently capped at 13 students, but has 50 registered. With students having the chance to learn more about the industry as early as high school can increase the likelihood of them pursuing mining as a career, said Suncrest College’s president Alison Dubreuil. “It’s a great pathway for students in rural Saskatchewan to be able to get this education, it’s phenomenal, and we know that our learners thrive when they study close to home,” said Dubreuil. “We’ve had a partnership for a number of years with Good Spirit School Division, being able to ladder students from the Churchbridge programing to Esterhazy campus and out the doors to hopefully Mosaic’s operation.” Sask. Polytechnic’s president Dr. Larry Rosia added the company’s investment is a good example of collaboration. “A gift like this demonstrates what can be done when industry and education work together towards a common cause, and that’s really providing these industries with the skills they’re going need,” Rosia said. “This donation for Saskatchewan Polytechnic is really two-fold. It will help with programs that we already deliver in Moose Jaw, programs that feed this industry, instrumentation, electrician, mechanical engineers, as well as our new Saskatoon campus.” Partnerships with four education institutions were part of Tuesday’s announcement: Saskatchewan Polytechnic -- $1.5 million Suncrest College -- $1.5 million Good Spirit School Division -- $1.05 million Potash Mining Readiness Program
