TIMMINS, ON: Northern College and Interfor are pleased to announce the reaffirmation of their partnership by extending an innovative memorandum of understanding which will continue to benefit Northern College students and graduates along with Interfor’s workforce.

Originally formed in 2019, the memorandum outlines a continued three-year mutually beneficial agreement that speaks to a talent pipeline that encourages teaching partnerships, recruitment and employment initiatives, speaking engagement opportunities, applied research, co-op placements, curriculum support and scholarship offerings.

“At Northern, we strive to create an educational environment for students that is informed by industry, creating work-ready graduates in each of our programs,” stated Mitch Dumas, President & CEO of Northern College. “Memorandums of Understanding like this one with Interfor help us achieve that, providing fertile ground for mutual growth that will benefit all parties involved, as well as strengthening the regional economy.”

Interfor, working in partnership with Northern College, is taking a proactive approach to helping solve the skilled trades shortage that we are experiencing in Northern Ontario.

By offering experiential learning in industry to students on placement and newly hired graduates who are learning on the job, employment gaps within the forestry sector have a better chance of being filled when it comes to skilled labourers like millwrights, heavy equipment mechanics and instrumentation professionals.

“We enjoy giving students the opportunity to grow with us in a real-world setting, giving them the chance to apply learnings to practical application,” stated Lee Jaques, Timmins Mill Manager at Interfor. “This ultimately leads to the prospect of future employment opportunities within Interfor, and the chance for a rewarding career.”

The partnership between Interfor and Northern College has helped to shape the next generation in our communities. Interfor is excited to continue this partnership to enrich education, boost employment and drive local social and economic benefits through a well-established talent pipeline.

“We appreciate the caliber of the students and graduates of Northern College; they have become valued members of our Interfor family,” stated Jennifer Young, Regional Manager of Human Resources for Interfor in Ontario. “At Interfor, we look forward to many years of partnership with Northern College, helping grow our youth of today into the future workforce of tomorrow.”

About Northern College
Northern College, established in 1967, leads the province in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). It holds the top ranking in the province of Ontario in the graduate employment rate category as well as the highest employer satisfaction score for Northern College alumni compared to all English-speaking colleges in Ontario (2023). The College has four main campuses located in Haileybury, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Timmins, as well as many Access Centres, which provide post-secondary education and academic upgrading to Indigenous learners in remote communities along the James Bay coast. Northern College, known as Canada’s Kindest College, is recognized for its warm, welcoming and culturally inclusive environment. A highly respected community and regional partner with close to 50,000 graduates, including the Haileybury School of Mines (est. 1912), the College plays a critical role in the region’s economic development as well as strong global mining influence. Northern College serves the educational needs of post-secondary, apprenticeship, and contract training, both on-site and through remote learning, as well as delivering academic upgrading and employment services. Its catchment area covers 160,000 square kilometres, which is roughly the size of France, and includes over 65 communities – 18 of which are First Nations.

About Interfor
Interfor is one of the world’s largest forest products companies with operations across North America and customers around the globe. With an annual lumber capacity of approximately 5 billion board feet from world-class facilities, we strengthen local economies, build value for our employees and customers and participate in sustainable forest management with sustainable building materials. Our commitment to sustainable growth has been the foundation of our success, and to a broader extent, the success of our partners and the communities we serve.

Media Contact:
Kyle Gennings (he/him)
Communications & Government Relations Officer
Marketing, Communications, and External Relations
P. 705-235-3211 ext 2276
F. 705-235-6888
C. 705-288-1101