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Montreal – The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) and College of the North Atlantic (CNA) signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of new skills aligned with the latest advancements in mining technology. IOC will invest C$2 million over three years in this initiative.

IOC is gradually implementing new, more technically advanced systems as well as autonomous and highly instrumented equipment to continue improving its safety performance and competitiveness. This digital transformation creates the need to help current employees develop different skillsets and to establish a pipeline of qualified, local talent for the future.

IOC and CNA will co-operate across three main areas: workforce development, work assignments for college students and faculty, and applied research opportunities in the mining sector. In addition to the creation of new future skills training programs for the mining industry at the college, the MOU is expected to lead to the development of internship opportunities at IOC.

IOC President and Chief Executive Officer Clayton Walker said “Moving forward with modernization of our operations is critical to lay a solid foundation for the future of IOC. As we progress on this journey, there is nothing more important than to invest in our people to ensure they have the right skills for the new jobs that are being created through technological innovation. We are very pleased to collaborate with College of the North Atlantic to ensure we can develop local talent here in Labrador.”

CNA President and Chief Executive Officer Liz Kidd said “CNA is excited to be able to provide strategic solutions and offer training opportunities to a major industry leader, like IOC. This collaboration will result in numerous ways to improve how they do business in this continuously growing sector. We look forward to working with IOC to develop specialized training and educational programs and ensure the right people possess the appropriate skills to excel in their roles within the company. This agreement reflects the fact IOC is innovative in its strategy for success in new and competitive markets that will resonate well into the future.”

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, said “I applaud IOC and College of the North Atlantic for this innovative partnership, which will help support growth of a pipeline of world-class local talent for high-demand industries in Newfoundland and Labrador. Through this partnership and its resulting programs, current and future IOC employees will gain relevant technical skills and experiences to keep pace with the implementation of new industry technologies.”

The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology said “Innovation and technology are very important to the growth and future development in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the mining industry evolves, our strong innovative skillset will enhance exploration methods, techniques, equipment and technology. By collaborating with businesses and educational institutions on this MOU, we are aligning program delivery and design to meet the needs of this significant industry in our province.”