Learning about Northern's unique programs

Local Journalism Initiative
·5 min read

An open house at the Haileybury campus of Northern College attracted high energy and interest from about 40 new students and their families April 6.

Students are getting ready for the upcoming 2024-25 school year and some came from as far away as New Brunswick and Alberta to take advantage of some of the unique and specialized programs the college offers.

The college offers an array of courses now, from health care, to animal care, to business and legal clerical skills, and, of course, mining programs.

The college has a 112-year history, having first provided a location as the Haileybury School of Mines to train students in the science of mining. A two-year mining engineering technician program is still active.

Karisma Charlton, an instructor within the mining engineering technician program, says there will be 21 first-year students in that program this year, and the numbers are climbing.

Within the program, students are learning facets of mining including surveying, mineral processing, surface mining, geology, mineralogy and mineral processing, says Tammy Huard, who is a part-time faculty member who also works with instructional design.

The college also offers courses for a practical nursing two-year diploma, personal support worker, social service worker, business and law clerk programs, and the very popular health care management which has been running for the past four years.

VET TECH PROGRAM

At this time, the college is most popular for its veterinary technician program and the specialized third-year programs available through that path, student Shayna Merriam commented.

She was part of a team of first- and second-year students who conducted tours throughout the college.

An interesting stop on the tour is a new addition known as the necropsy wing, which was recently erected at a cost of $3.8 million and will help veterinary technician students better understand the anatomy of animals.

At the wing, veterinarian Dr. Lance Males introduced new students to a life-sized model of a pregnant cow. Students were given an opportunity to try their hand (and arm) at turning a model calf within the body of the cow.

College Dean Doug Clark commented that the Haileybury campus has five veterinary science programs, and the largest is the two-year veterinary technician program.

SOMETHING NEW

This year something new is being added and “Dr. Lance Males and our structural design team have been working to create farm animal micro credentials,” said Clark.

“There's a shortage of veterinary services for supporting the agricultural community, and Northern received some funding,” enabling it to be the first to offer about a dozen specialized courses in areas pertaining to dairy cattle, beef cattle, equine and more.

“Veterinary technicians will be able to take on more tasks as a result of taking on this additional training,” said Clark.

“They can be on site at the farm, and be the eyes and hands carrying out some duties that previously might have required the veterinarian to be on site,” he explained.

The college's wildlife rehabilitation program is also unique in Canada and is one of those programs that has attracted people from other parts of the country, he said.

A companion animal physical rehabilitation program is also unique in Canada, he added. There is also an animal grooming program that can be combined with a veterinary assistant program enabling the student to get a certificate in both areas.

He noted that this spring the college will be running its second spay/neuter clinic with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The college's veterinary team will be volunteering their time over two days to spay and neuter about 50 cats, he said.

FOCUSED ON STUDENTS

The faculty of the small campus is “very focused on making your learning experience a positive one in the essential theory as well as the practical knowledge and confidence in order to launch your career successfully,” he told the gathering.

Temiskaming Shores Mayor Jeff Laferriere added that “it's amazing to see the bonds that faculty have with the students.”

He added that “Northern College does a great job in assisting you after graduating in seeking a job.”

Campus manager Tammy Mackey said that in recent years the college has been graduating 150 to 200 students a year.

She noted that Northern is inviting students back who were not able to experience their graduation ceremony during the pandemic, “if they want to come back and cross the stage.”

She said the college held several career fairs recently, as well as having some of the veterinary clinics in other areas zooming in to meet with the students virtually.

Some of the courses also include training in resume writing, cover letters, interview skills, and more.

Clark added that the college also runs an academic upgrading program in which faculty can provide guidance for adults if they have not yet obtained their Ontario secondary school diploma, and can help them create a path to achieve upgraded skills. That program is funded through the Ontario Ministry of Labour, he noted, and has no cost to the student.

Mackey also oversees the Employment Options service based in New Liskeard where students can get assistance in their job searches.

The college is also looking into a new area called micro credentials, Clark continued, in which the college may meet with an industry or employer and determine if they have a particular need for specialized training.

Darlene Wroe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker

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