17/06/20
BRANDON, Man. (June 17, 2020)— Assiniboine Community College and Pfizer Canada have partnered to deliver a new two-year Power Engineering diploma program that will train students for 4th Class and 3rd Class certification.
“There has long been incredible employer demand for trained workers in this occupation and strong demand for expanded seats in our Power Engineering program,” said Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine. “By partnering with Pfizer to certify more third class power engineers, we are continuing our mission to meet the need of Manitoba’s labour market.”
Pfizer Canada had expressed a desire to support relevant programming and student success at Assiniboine, and the two parties landed on Power Engineering as the best fit. Pfizer is one of the aforementioned local industry partners who have a demand for these trained graduates.
“We are pleased to support the Assiniboine Community College to implement concrete measures that will attract future students to their Power Engineering program,” said Ron Cherepuschak, Managing Director, Pfizer Global Supply, Pfizer Canada. “Our approach is to collaborate in new and dynamic ways with community stakeholders such as the Assiniboine Community College to help grow and scale future talent opportunities required for Manitoba to meet its growing economic demand.”
The new program will double student capacity from 16 to 32, bridging students in the college’s existing 4th Class Power Engineering program into the second year to prepare for 3rd Class certification. Across Canada, Power Engineers move through five classes descending numerically, with a 1st Class Engineer denoting the highest level of education in the occupation.
“This innovative partnership between Assiniboine Community College and Pfizer Canada will provide critical resources to allow students to participate in work-integrated learning to pursue careers as power engineers in Manitoba,” said Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Minister of Economic Development and Training. “Power engineers continue to be in high demand in our provincial labour market and this program expansion will help meet the needs of employers in Manitoba.”
A portion of Pfizer’s $75,000 support will go to students entering Power Engineering at Assiniboine. Starting in fall 2021, students can apply for a $2,000 entrance award, a critical piece in moving the program forward. Assiniboine and Pfizer are currently in the curriculum development phase.
“We’re grateful to Pfizer Canada for their leadership in helping us to train students for occupations that are in demand, benefiting both graduates with well-paying careers and employers who are in clear need of trained power engineers,” said Frison.
The first intake for the new Power Engineering diploma program designed to train students to certify in both 3rd and 4th Class will begin in September 2021. Students start with 4th Class courses in their first year of studies, followed by the 3rd Class portion of the new program beginning in September 2022.
More details about the program and future program information sessions will be available at assiniboine.net as they become available.
A link to the full announcement video can be found at bit.ly/PfizerPE.
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About Pfizer Canada
Pfizer Canada ULC is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world’s best known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. In 2017, Pfizer Inc. invested US$ 7.65 billion globally toward developing safe and effective medicines and took part in more than 180 new R-D collaborations. Global headquarters are located in New York City, where the company was founded in 1849. Pfizer’s Canadian footprint includes its headquarters in Kirkland, Quebec and a manufacturing site in Brandon, Manitoba. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
About Assiniboine Community College
Assiniboine Community College has been providing exceptional learning experiences for more than 55 years and offers certificate, diploma and post-graduate programs across a variety of disciplines including culinary arts and hospitality, business, agriculture and environment, health and human services, and trades and technology. The college also delivers apprenticeship programming in a range of skilled trades disciplines.
With more than 4,000 students, and campuses in Brandon, Dauphin and Winnipeg, Assiniboine provides comprehensive educational opportunities throughout Manitoba. The college also partners with many communities and organizations across the province to deliver customized education and training. Assiniboine’s annual provincial economic impact is $613 million.
Assiniboine Community College campuses are located on the traditional territories of Treaty No. 1 and Treaty No. 2, the shared traditional lands of Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Anishinabek/Ojibwe peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge their welcome to the students who seek knowledge here.
For more information, please contact:
Danielle Adriaansen
Director, Public Affairs
Assiniboine Community College
1.204.725.8717
Corporate Affairs Canada
Pfizer Canada Media Line: 1-866-9Pfizer
(1 866-973-4937)