UCN is a Key Training Partner for Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2023
(The Pas/Thompson, MB) – University College of the North (UCN) and the Government of Manitoba will work together to create flexible, in-demand training pathways to prepare skilled workers from the north to support Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
“The inclusion of UCN in the Critical Minerals Strategy shows considerable confidence in UCN by the Government of Manitoba,” said Doug Lauvstad, UCN’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “This helps to solidify UCN’s role as the principal provider of post-secondary education and training in the north.”
UCN has also recently received new funding to support the expansion of Nursing training, Early Childhood Education, and two additional programs in Information Technology. Further, UCN continues to partner with other post-secondary institutions, governments, communities, and industries to develop and offer more program options for northern Manitobans. The Northern Manitoba Labour Force Development Strategy, proposed by UCN, will support the development of a skilled workforce specifically for the mining industry, helping to realize the objectives of Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy.
“UCN has been undergoing the most significant period of program growth since being established in 2004,” said Dr. Dan Smith, UCN’s new Vice-President, Strategic Growth. “Manitoba’s Critical Minerals Strategy presents an important new opportunity for UCN to help create a skilled and educated labour force to meet the emerging needs of Indigenous and northern communities and industries.”
UCN will continue working collaboratively with governments, communities, and employers to develop programming to help develop a highly skilled workforce from the north, aligned with the needs of northern communities, northern industries, and the Critical Minerals Strategy. UCN is committed to helping develop professional and technical workers in northern Manitoba who contribute to sustainable growth and development in their home communities, building better futures for a stronger north.
University College of the North provides learning opportunities to northern communities while respecting diverse Indigenous and northern values.
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CONTACT: Monte Koshel
UCN Director of Marketing, Communications & Recruitment
communications@ucn.ca | 204.627.8244
UCN acknowledges that we are on the traditional territories and homelands of many Indigenous peoples, in particular the Cree, Dene, Red River Métis, and Oji-Cree. Indigenous peoples have continuously maintained homelands in northern Manitoba since time immemorial. The First Nations in the area that UCN serves entered into treaty relationships with the Crown (within our region these include signatories to treaties 4, 5 — and the treaty 5 adhesion, and treaty 6 – located within the treaty 5 adhesion). The territory has also become home to other Indigenous peoples. We uphold the treaties and collaborate with all Indigenous peoples to share truth, reconciliation, and learning.