MHC News

New power engineering training centre officially opens

October 08, 2009

Medicine Hat College celebrated the official opening of the EnCana Power Engineering Technology Centre today with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach in attendance. Provincial and local government officials, donors, college staff, as well as past and present students were also on hand to mark the opening of the new training centre.

 

“It’s a significant day for the college and community” says Medicine Hat College President and CEO Dr. Ralph Weeks.

 

“This state of the art training facility is the product of our partnerships with government, private sector donors, individuals, and EnCana Corporation. We are proud to train future power engineers in this wonderful facility,” he says.

 

He noted that the facility and program are closely aligned to the needs of regional employers who look to graduates of the Power Engineering program to fill highly skilled positions in industry.

 

“This new facility has dramatically enhanced the student experience”, remarks Ms. Jody MacKenzie, coordinator of the power engineering program at Medicine Hat College. “The college has offered the program for many years from an older, off campus facility. Now students can readily take advantage of services and facilities on the main campus while learning in a modern facility with state-of-the-art equipment.”

 

The facility, which replaces the Kipling Street facility just adjacent to the Medicine Hat campus, is approximately 2,000 square meters of renovated existing space and new construction. The official ground breaking ceremony took place in September 2007 and the building was completed in time for classes to begin in September 2009.

 

The initial cost of the project as envisioned several years ago was $8.9 million. However, the budget was increased to enhance the power engineering facility and upgrade nearby facilities such as the college’s plumbing lab. At September 30 the project costs were $9.4 million.

 

 

 

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