Local UA 488 presents Keyano College Foundation with $100,000
Thu, 19/07/2012 - 2:00pm | by Anonymous
L-R: Barry Pruden, Business Agent, Local UA488 with Dale Unruh, Chair,
“The shortage of 3rd and 4th class engineers is an epidemic. The UA Local’s willingness to come onboard and invest in our hometown is fantastic and we thank you. Keyano College’s Foundation and Board of Governors have worked phenomenally well to get this new project started,” Unruh said. ShareThis
For immediate release
July 19, 2012
Local UA 488 presents the Keyano College Foundation with $100,000
It’s a trail-blazing donation and an inspiration for other Canadian unions. Today, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 488 presented the Keyano College Foundation with their donation of $100,000 towards the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab.
L-R: Barry Pruden, Business Agent, Local UA488 with Dale Unruh, Chair,
Keyano Foundation. Photo by: Sean McLennan, Keyano College.
The $22 million project, the first phase of the Oilsands Trades & Research Centre, is now under construction. Barry Pruden, Business Agent, U.A. Local Union 488 made the presentation. He says the group’s association with the Wood Buffalo region goes back decades and this is their way of saying thank you.
“Our work in Fort McMurray has meant millions of man hours resulting in wages and benefits. We will continue to be here – this represents more than 30 years of maintenance and commitment to the region,” Pruden explained.
Representatives from the UA Local 488 and the College gathered in Elements Reflections to celebrate the occasion.
Dale Unruh, Chair, Keyano Foundation, thanked the Union for their contribution and extended the College’s appreciation for their vision and support to the region.
“The shortage of 3rd and 4th class engineers is an epidemic. The UA Local’s willingness to come onboard and invest in our hometown is fantastic and we thank you. Keyano College’s Foundation and Board of Governors have worked phenomenally well to get this new project started,” Unruh said.
Angele Dobie, Director, Fund Development, Keyano Foundation, appreciated the donation immensely. She said Local UA 488’s funding commitment helped the Foundation complete their fundraising campaign for the new Lab.
“The UA Local has raised the bar in helping address the skilled labour shortage here,” Dobie said. “The campaign for the second phase of the Oilsands Trades & Research Centre is in the wings and we are hoping UA Local’s gift will inspire other unions to come onboard and support education in our region.”
The new 16,469 square feet Lab will feature steam turbine generators, high pressure boilers and turbine steam condensers. The learning environment is supported by two classrooms having direct visibility into the laboratories.
Expected completion for the Lab is slated for fall 2013 and the first intake of students is expected in January 2014.
For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Keyano College
780-791-8971