Hazardous Training Facility Opens
Canada's only simulated hazardous-area training facility was officially opened today in Halifax.
The Atlantic Canada Centre for Electrical Technologies will be housed at the Nova Scotia Community College's Institute of Technology campus.
The centre was opened by Gordon Balser, Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate, and Dr. Paul LaFleche, vice-president academic of Nova Scotia Community College. It was established as a partnership between the directorate and the community college.
"Government is proud to invest $1.2 million in this project and partner with the college to bring this unique training facility to Nova Scotia." said Mr. Balser. "The centre will offer graduates an opportunity to receive highly specialized training that will open doors to future opportunities in the oil and gas sector, both at home and abroad."
"The centre offers North America the latest in electrical safety training for those involved in hazardous conditions both onshore and offshore," said Dr. LaFleche. "This is an example of how the community college is attracting partners to Nova Scotia and securing the knowledge base within Nova Scotia so that we are prepared when the opportunity arises to export this knowledge."
Dr. LaFleche said the centre's goal is to provide skills and knowledge to other offshore areas and make sure Nova Scotians are trained in the latest industry procedures.
The centre offers internationally recognized training and assessment -- or Ex Training -- for electrical and instrumentation technicians working in hazardous onshore and offshore areas.
The centre contains an office, classroom and customized work area containing a pressurized cabin and 12 work bays. The equipment is state of the art, including purge panels, fire and gas detection panels, modern communications and alarm panels and primary- and secondary-power distribution panels. The bays are equipped with explosion proof devices.
The centre anticipates training 200 students in the first year of operation. Programs range from one to five days.
Supporters said this facility fills a need in Atlantic Canada and benefits those who require training in the petrochemical, mining, pharmaceutical and distillery industries throughout North America.
The Nova Scotia training facility is modelled after Aberdeen Skills and Enterprise Training Ltd. of Aberdeen College in Scotland.