TIMMINS, ON: Northern College and its Innovation Hub are pleased to announce an investment of CAD 500,00 from Kirkland Lake Gold to fund it’s new 24,000 square foot applied research facility at its Timmins Campus.

This newly designed Innovation Hub, slated to open for operations in mid-2020, will continue to build on the intrinsic value found in the kinds of research and development that benefit both Northern College’s academic pursuits and the growing industry demand for the latest in leading edge technology.

“The new Innovation Hub will open the door to many more education and career opportunities for the students of Northern College, as well as promote business opportunities in the area,” said Amy McKillip, Manager of Applied Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Northern College.

Northern College’s existing innovation facilities recently reached maximum capacity as a result of a growing number of businesses seeking spaces for innovative dialogue, product and concept testing, making the support of Kirkland Lake Gold integral to the successful expansion of these services.
“We are grateful to companies like Kirkland Lake Gold for investing not only in the Innovation Hub, but in the region as a whole,” said McKillip.

“Generosity like this allows for growth, prosperity and possibility for our communities that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible.”

The new facility, which will take over existing lab space within the Timmins Campus’ F wing, will feature a wide array of state-of-the-art spaces, including trades-related labs, larger shops and tech-enhanced classrooms. A manufacturing lab, prototyping lab, carpentry shop, welding shop, virtual reality lab, simulation lab, alternate energy lab, and mining exploration lab, along with several classrooms will all be a part of the new design to better cater to growing industry needs.

“Northern College is constantly working to position itself as a valuable resource for our campus communities and catchment region,” said Northern College President and CEO Dr. Fred Gibbons. “Industry support from companies in the area allows Northern College to continue to grow as a multi-faceted institution with the kind of firm footing that allows us to provide the highest quality education and the industry ties that produce work-ready graduates in their chosen fields.”

As industries like mining continue to become more and more competitive, companies like Kirkland Lake Gold understand the importance of investing in the kinds of innovation that flourish on the campuses of post-secondary institutions like Northern College.

“We fully recognize the importance of advancing research and innovation in our region and are delighted to be supporting Northern College and its Innovation Hub in launching this important new initiative,” said Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold. “Our investments in community-driven organizations and initiatives like those at The Northern College represent our shared commitment to improving the quality of life in the areas where we operate.

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