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Babcock Canada today announced an investment of $800,000 into Camosun College’s TRADEMark of Excellence campaign. The contribution, the largest to Camosun’s campaign to date, will support next generation specialized equipment in the college’s new future-focussed Interaction Lab.

“Babcock Canada is proud to partner with Camosun College— a leading provider of trades training in BC,” says Mark Dixon. “Our business relies on skilled trades and technicians to design, build, and maintain complex technology which plays an important role in Canada and BC’s marine industry and the economy.” The Innovation Lab will support learning and skills development to help meet the needs of BC’s future skilled workforce to support industries across the province.

“Partnering with international industry leaders like Babcock Canada allows Camosun College to be a key driver of economic success in our region,” says Sherri Bell, Camosun College President. “Camosun’s new Interaction Lab is designed to solve real-world problems and to move from idea to implementation through interdisciplinary innovation. It’s a great opportunity for our students to really apply their learning in a state of the art facility.”

Housed in a revitalized space near the college’s sparkling new $30-million Centre for Trades Education and Innovation, which opened in February, the Interaction Lab is the first of its kind in the region, helping to foster critical trades skills that will support a thriving coastal economy.

“The hands-on approach with the new Interaction Lab is designed to break down silos and to stimulate truly innovate work across disciplines,” says Dr. Tim Walzak, Director of Camosun Innovates. “It has real-world implications beyond the classroom, helping to test cutting-edge technologies, supporting manufacturing in our community and providing a strategic link up between students, faculty and industry leaders.”

“Throughout the course of the campaign, we’ve seen the community step up to support our efforts,” says TRADEMark campaign co-chair Murray Farmer. “Babcock Canada’s contribution is incredibly generous and it will allow the college to become a regional leader in tackling real-world problems through innovation.”

Babcock’s $800,000 contribution puts Camosun College’s Foundation over the top in achieving their ambitious campaign goal. In recognition and appreciation of this major investment by Babcock Canada, Camosun will rename the new space the Babcock Canada Interaction Lab in perpetuity.

Camosun’s new $30-million Centre for Trades Education and Innovation opened in February 2016 and provides capacity for an additional 1,000 trades students (increasing enrolment from 2,700 to 3,700 annually) who work across a range of specializations including metal trades, pipefitting, nautical training, automotive technology and the construction trades. The new Interaction Lab, which builds upon an original investment from Western Economic Diversification Canada, is set to open in September 2017 and will become part of the Camosun’s greatly expanded trades complex—Vancouver Island’s largest trades education centre and the second largest in BC.

About Babcock

Today, Babcock Canada is recognized as a leading naval ISS specialist, not only in Canada but around the world. Our success in Canada is supported by our international partners. For 125 years, these talented specialists have delivered excellence in engineering support and services across six continents.

Through our focus on developing skilled trades and our commitment to investing in education and training opportunities for indigenous youth, Babcock Canada supports a sustainable and growing marine industry in Canada.

The success of that approach is evident in Babcock Canada’s extensive maintenance work on Canada’s four Victoria Class submarines. Since taking on the task in 2008, we’ve created a highly skilled workforce to carry out significant through-life maintenance activities, developing uniquely Canadian expertise and contributing significantly to Canada’s economic development.

About Camosun

Since 1981 the Camosun College Foundation has been working to inspire life-changing learning for students. Led by a 14-member volunteer board, the Foundation has raised millions in our community to support student financial assistance, new classroom equipment and teaching technologies, library holdings, special projects, new facilities and more.

From accountants to welders, professional chefs to nurses and engineering technologists, Camosun College helps transform lives to build a better future. Located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Camosun’s two main campuses serve 19,000 learners a year in certificate, diploma, bachelor degree and continuing education programs. Each year Camosun welcomes over 1,100 Aboriginal students from 50 Nations including Métis and Inuit groups, and more than 1,600 International students from 80 different countries.

Original article from: Camosun College

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