Fleming College

Family and friends recently gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of 15 students who laboured for six months to complete a challenging program offered by Fleming College in Solar Installation and Maintenance.

Although Friday, April 1 was April Fool’s Day, there was no fooling at this celebration ceremony held at the community centre in Alderville. In addition to 350 hours of classroom training, the students also applied their new skills by installing 25 panels on the Alderville Band buildings.

Fleming solar instructor Howard Elliott noted that the students, “seriously impressed people experienced in the industry by the depth and breadth of their knowledge.”

Elliott added he is confident they will be an asset to employers from “day one” of being on the job. Elliott is himself a veteran in the industry, having worked on large solar installations both locally and internationally. He has seen a lot of changes in the industry and is pleased to now be responsible for ensuring highly skilled potential employees are available.

One graduate, Trudy Norse, was presented with the key to her own office at the Port Hope business incubator – the IDEAHUB. Ms. Norse had previously submitted a business plan and was delighted to become the latest tenant at the incubator.

These students now have in-demand skills, as job opportunities in the solar industry are expected to increase significantly. The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) released a study in 2009, which stated that “solar companies anticipate a significant growth of 101% in the number of full-time equivalents to be employed by the end of 2011.”

Fleming College is one of the few accredited Ontario colleges to develop training in this sector. Campus Manager Deborah Clifford plans to offer this program at the Cobourg Campus in September 2011.

“The program is appealing for many people who want in-demand skills without a huge schooling time commitment,” she said. “In a few short months, graduates can be job-ready for an industry which has a shortage of trained people. And, in this economy of scarce jobs, that’s a good news story.”

Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 90 full-time programs in Business and Technology, Continuing Education and Skilled Trades, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Visual Arts, Education, Health and Wellness, and Law, Justice and Community Services. Fleming College has 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 58,000 alumni.

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For more information:
Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca