Education Services ACCESS TO WORKFORCE TRAINING Saskatchewan Polytechnic aligns and adjusts programs to meet employers’ current and future needs. This is a winning strategy for employers and students alike. Saskatchewan Polytechnic has a student enrolment (full load equivalent) of 13,502 at its fours campuses, including Moose Jaw with 2,868 students with just under 900 graduates annually and employs about 300 people. Moose Jaw’s Polytechnic Palliser Campus is a technical and trades college. Moose Jaw Palliser Campus graduates are highly trained in the areas of Engineering Technologies, Building Trades, and Business Administration. Other programs such as Food Services, Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language are also offered. Starting in 2018 the school will offer an Alternative Energy Program, the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. The school offers a bachelor’s program and students can transition into University of Regina degree programs from Palliser Campus, receiving full credit for courses taken. Palliser Campus has the advantage of being the only campus in the province to offer co-op education work experience programs. The Cooperative Education program, in which business and technology students gain on-the job training at area businesses and industries, is highly successful. In addition to its traditional education role and importance as a major institutional employer, Polytechnic serves the business community through special education and research initiatives. Saskatchewan’s Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Commission expect to train 6,500 apprentices in 2017.
15 Wing is home to the Snowbirds, an icon of national pride and the Canadian Forces demonstration team.
NATO FLYING TRAINING (NFTC) Canadian Forces Base 15 Wing Moose Jaw is home to the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC). CAE is a simulation-training-system company, providing flight simulation training. CAE is the prime contractor responsible for the NFTC program which involves base facilities, delivering ground-school classroom and simulator training, and support of live flying training until 2023/24. The NFTC program, which CAE operates in partnership with the Government of Canada, is run out of Moose Jaw and Cold Lake (Alberta) employing 190 and 26 staff respectively. CAE has expanded its offering into support for live flying training of future military pilots. CAE and the Air Force train high-quality pilots from dozens of countries from around the world. The company is banking on a second contract so they can continue their NFTC training program for another 25 years. To prepare for that, CAE will need to attract over 200 highly skilled highly skilled workers to replace those who will be retiring in the next decade. Attracting skilled workers to Moose Jaw will be a high priority. CAE is exploring other training opportunities and hopes to expand its operation driving up the demand for highly skilled airplane mechanics. Meanwhile, many of those retiring with “really good pensions” are expected to stay in Moose Jaw. 15 Wing is home to the Snowbirds, an icon of national pride and the Canadian Forces demonstration team. THE MOOSE JAW ADVANTAGE > 21