St. Clair College in Chatham is expanding.
The college has officially opened its new $2.1-million National Powerline Training Centre.
The 6,500-sq.ft. facility will allow students to apply practical experience right on campus.
This from program co-ordinator Doug Bendall who tells CTV News the centre will help fill a void that is in high demand.
"The infrastructure in Ontario is getting older and so are the people that maintain it," he says. "The people that are going to retire, the baby boom generation, are starting to step into the twilight-years and all the students are looking for a chance to backfill."
Entegrus Powerlines' Steve McAllistar says it's another positive step for an industry where the average worker is 55 years old.
"Compared to where we were 15 years ago when we took them right out of high school, they come to us now with a lot of skills a lot more knowledge and that's going to make a much safer and productive environment for our companies," he says.
The program is a legacy for student Dave Johnstone.
"Got into it because my older brother went through the same program here at St. Clair College and he really loved it and I like working on heights and being outdoors and it's a great job to do that for," he says.
There are close to 150 first and second-year students training in Chatham and staff believe they will be able to find work anywhere in the country after graduation.
St. Clair is the largest post-secondary trainer for powerline maintenance.
— with files from CTV Windsor's Chris Campbell