Cameco donates $5 million towards mining education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Uranium giant Cameco is investing in the future of mining with a $5 million gift to help further mining education at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s new Saskatoon campus.

According to the post-secondary institution, the new Joseph A. Remai Saskatoon Campus will feature the Cameco Virtual Reality Mine Lab, “a leading-edge space designed to strengthen mining education and prepare students for careers in the industry.”

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Students in the lab will use virtual reality technology to gain exposure to underground conditions, participate in realistic scenarios to gain experience and enhace their technical skills, Saskatchewan Polytechnic said in a statement.

Additionally, the $5 million gift will help create a pilot for an industrial mechanic certificate program for Indigenous women at the school’s campus in Prince Albert.

“For more than 20 years, Sask Polytech has been fortunate to partner with Cameco to align education with industry needs,” Larry Rosia, the school’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

“We share a long-standing, productive partnership that powers workforce development, applied research and student success across the province. Today’s generous gift will support our continued growth in building a sustainable talent pipeline that fortifies Saskatchewan’s mining and energy sectors long into the future.”

Tim Gitzel, Cameco’s CEO, said the company is proud to support the school through the major gift.

“The critical training this institution provides is invaluable to Cameco – we need these highly skilled workers at our northern sites to ensure we are operating safely, efficiently and successfully,” Gitzel said in a statement.

“We are pleased to work with Sask Polytech to develop the workforce of the future that will ensure Cameco, the mining industry and our province continue to prosper.”

According to Saskatchewan Polytechnic, more than 1,800 of its students have joined Cameco since 1988.

“Cameco employees in turn give back to the institution by serving on program advisory committees across technical and engineering programs, ensuring curriculum remains aligned with industry needs,” the school noted.

The gift brings the school’s current fundraising campaign up to $75 million, but it still has a ways to go before it reaches its $100 million goal.