On September 5, 2025, Carlton Trail College and BHP came together to celebrate the first graduates of the BHP Potash Academy. The Academy's inaugural cohort of 11 graduates were honoured in an event at BHP's Discovery Lodge located at the Jansen Potash Mine.
This graduation marks the completion of the eight-month fit-for-purpose, paid Potash Academy program, which is designed to equip graduates with the necessary skills to successfully enter the mining industry. The program offers a mix of classroom and theory learning, as well as practical workshop training for hands-on experience with a focus on skills required for production or maintenance technician roles at the Jansen mine.
Photo (L-R): Councillor Hugh Pratt (George Gordon First Nation), Chris Beaudry (MLA Kelvington-Wadena), Dylan Laliberte, Ashley Manitopyes, Michelle Tolofson, Allison Pasitney, Vivian Tobias, Erica Gerwing, Mackenzie Jonasson, Sierra Tokarski, Loretta Nosbush, Hunter Erikson, Lyndon Roberts, Karina Gistelinck (Asset President, Potash, BHP), Amy Yeager (President and CEO, Carlton Trail College)
Graduates earn a Certificate in Mining Essentials, an Applied Certificate in Industrial Mechanics, several high-risk safety certifications needed to fill critical roles at the mine, and permanent, full-time employment at Jansen.
Guests in attendance included MLA for Kelvington-Wadena, Chris Beaudry, Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, and Carlton Trail College President and CEO, Amy Yeager.
"Saskatchewan is leading the country in overall new mining investment and over the next decade is expected to need an additional 15,000 new workers in the sector," said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President, Potash, BHP. "BHP's Potash Academy is helping to close this gap and give new entrants to the industry an opportunity to get the skills they need. It's fabulous to be a part of this first graduation."
"Carlton Trail College is proud to support the inaugural graduates of the Potash Academy," said Amy Yeager, Carlton Trail College President and CEO. "Their success represents a major step forward in building a skilled workforce for our region and industry. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement."
"BHP is an excellent partner for our province, and the Potash Academy is a great example of what can be achieved when industry, educators and government collaborate to create the training opportunities we need to build a strong future workforce for Saskatchewan," said Minister of Energy and Resources, Colleen Young. "Investments being made by Saskatchewan's growing potash industry will lead to decades of opportunity and the graduates of this program will be instrumental in driving that momentum."
"Being brand new to the industry, this is a milestone I never thought I would achieve," said Potash Academy graduate, Allison Pasitney. "When I finished high school 25 years ago in this small community, it was a world where women seldom entered the mining industry. Completing the industrial mechanics course is something I wouldn't have accomplished without the support of BHP."
The BHP Potash Academy was officially formed in July 2024 by BHP and Carlton Trail College and was designed to help kickstart additional career pathways to the mining industry in Saskatchewan. It is an extension of a long-term partnership between Carlton Trail College and BHP that previously delivered pre-apprenticeship and related industry training.
The Potash Academy is housed in a new, purpose-built, 8,300 square-foot learning facility in Humboldt. The state-of-the-art space is designed to evolve with the program, featuring functional replications of mining equipment, including a borer, battery ore hauler, and continuous miner, as well as advanced training simulators.
A second cohort of 22 trainees began classes at the Potash Academy in June.
More information on the Potash Academy and how to apply can be found at career8.successfactors.com.
For more information
Box 720, 623 - 7th Street
Humboldt Saskatchewan
Canada S0K 2A0
www.carltontrailcollege.com/
