Strange indeed are the times when a post-secondary institution identifies a field of study, implements a program, succeeds at the endeavour and has to go hat-in-hand seeking funding to expand it.
That’s the position St. Clair College found itself in last week when it came to Chatham-Kent council looking for a quarter of a million dollars to expand its power line technician program.
The College got the money, of course. Council agreed earlier this year to provide Ridgetown College $1.5 million for its expansion so it couldn’t say no.
Both projects will be funded on a multi-year basis so taxpayers won’t have to bite the bullet all at once.
St. Clair has a somewhat spotty record in local initiatives (the James A. Burgess Skills Centre, downtown campus and golf programs come to mind) but appears to have a winner in this venture that has seen enrolment grow from 24 to 145 students during the last five years.
It’s not as if C-K is in this alone, as the funding doesn’t kick in unless St. Clair can raise $1 million (including the C-K amount) and another $1 million from a federal strategic education fund.
Grandly called the National Powerline Training Centre, the program taps into the need to correct massive upgrades needed to Ontario’s electricity grid.
Proponents say each student generates $15,000 in economic spinoff to the community.
Increases in enrolment will also aid the college in construction of additional student housing which is a known economic driver.
Council’s investment has the potential to establish the Thames Campus as a leader in a particular field of endeavour and provide economic stimulus.
We would prefer to see the province showing such leadership but given the fact it recently shelled out hundreds of thousands in bonuses to the staff that brought the Pan Am Games in more than $300 million over estimate, perhaps it’s good Queen’s Park stays out of it.
