News Archives: Ironstone Resources partners with GPRC for research and education expertise
Monday, September 19th, 2016
GRANDE PRAIRIE - Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) is partnering with Ironstone Resources Ltd. to offer students more career choice and research opportunities while building the Peace Region’s economy.
GPRC and Ironstone formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on skills, trades and apprenticeship training as well as research and innovation projects related to product development initiatives at Ironstone’s Clear Hills Project.
“Grande Prairie Regional College has an excellent reputation,” says Barry Caplan, CEO and President of Ironstone Resources Ltd. “We want to ensure the community is aware of the opportunities with the Clear Hills Project and how to take advantage of those opportunities by working with GPRC on the research, training and apprenticeship possibilities.”
Ironstone’s Clear Hills project is northwest of GPRC’s campus in Fairview. There are two development stages in this project, including building a demonstration pilot plant and innovation centre to be constructed near Hines Creek in late 2017 followed by beginning construction of the mine, steel mill and manufacturing centre in 2019 with a goal of being fully operational by 2021.
“This new industry partnership means more opportunity for our students and our region,” says Don Gnatiuk, CEO and President of GPRC. “Ironstone’s Clear Hills Project anticipates hiring upwards of 1,000 skilled workers and we want to ensure our residents are a part of this opportunity with training from GPRC.”
Ironstone also anticipates working with GPRC on research opportunities, development and innovation initiatives.
“GPRC is doing some awesome work with its Pollutants to Products technology,” says Caplan. “We are interested in working with GPRC Research & Innovation to address our carbon dioxide capture needs, as well as work with them to evaluate and develop commercial uses of the lithium and vanadium electric metals found at Clear Hills.”
GPRC’s Pollutants to Products research includes the study of microalgae’s ability to reduce greenhouse gases.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines how GPRC and Ironstone will come together to create the training and research opportunities in the region. Program opportunities could be developed at GPRC’s campuses in Grande Prairie and Fairview.
GPRC is a comprehensive community institution, publicly supported to provide opportunities in post-secondary education in northwestern Alberta. Established in 1966 in Grande Prairie, GPRC now includes campuses in Fairview and Grande Prairie, and learning centres in Edson, Grande Cache, Hinton and Jasper. GPRC offers a wide variety of career certificates and diplomas, pre-employment and apprenticeship trades, university transfer studies, and several opportunities for on-campus degree completion at baccalaureate and master levels through collaborations with four-year universities. For more information, visit gprc.ab.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Mark Evans
GPRC
Corporate Communications
Phone: 780-539-2951
Barry Caplan
Ironstone Resources Ltd.
CEO and President
Phone: 403-640-7977