NORTHERN COLLEGE
Northern College and Interfor Renew Partnership

Northern College and Interfor are pleased to announce the reaffirmation of their partnership by extending an innovative memorandum of understanding which will continue to benefit Northern College students and graduates along with Interfor's workforce.

Originally formed in 2019, the memorandum outlines a continued three-year mutually beneficial agreement that speaks to a talent pipeline that encourages teaching partnerships, recruitment and employment initiatives, speaking engagement opportunities, applied research, co-op placements, curriculum support and scholarship offerings.

"At Northern, we strive to create an educational environment for students that is informed by industry, creating work-ready graduates in each of our programs," stated Mitch Dumas, President & CEO of Northern College. "Memorandums of Understanding like this one with Interfor help us achieve that, providing fertile ground for mutual growth that will benefit all parties involved, as well as strengthening the regional economy."

Interfor, working in partnership with Northern College, is taking a proactive approach to helping solve the skilled trades shortage that we are experiencing in Northern Ontario.

By offering experiential learning in industry to students on placement and newly hired graduates who are learning on the job, employment gaps within the forestry sector have a better chance of being filled when it comes to skilled labourers like millwrights, heavy equipment mechanics and instrumentation professionals.

"We enjoy giving students the opportunity to grow with us in a real-world setting, giving them the chance to apply learnings to practical application," stated Lee Jaques, Timmins Mill Manager at Interfor. "This ultimately leads to the prospect of future employment opportunities within Interfor, and the chance for a rewarding career."

The partnership between Interfor and Northern College has helped to shape the next generation in our communities. Interfor is excited to continue this partnership to enrich education, boost employment and drive local social and economic benefits through a well-established talent pipeline.

"We appreciate the caliber of the students and graduates of Northern College; they have become valued members of our Interfor family," stated Jennifer Young, Regional Manager of Human Resources for Interfor in Ontario. "At Interfor, we look forward to many years of partnership with Northern College, helping grow our youth of today into the future workforce of tomorrow."