Connecting Coastal Classrooms to Ocean Science Technology
News Release
Federal and provincial government investments of $454,526 provide secondary school students with learning opportunities
January 12, 2018 – St. John’s, NL – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Atlantic Canada’s ocean technology industry is home to world-renowned institutions and innovative businesses, which are creating jobs and helping to grow the region’s economy. With support from the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador, secondary school students will learn about careers in dynamic ocean-related industries through three new hands-on programs being offered by Oceans Learning Partnership Inc.
Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced a non-repayable contribution of $141,098 from ACOA’s Business Development Program for this initiative. The Honourable Al Hawkins, provincial Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, and the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, announced a total contribution of $313,428 from the provincial government.
Oceans Learning Partnership Inc. delivers hands-on ocean science technology and career exploration learning programs to students and teachers in coastal regions. These investments support a summer internship program for high school students, an enrichment program focussed on marine data collection and remote monitoring and, an online mentorship program connecting students to real-world projects.
Through this pilot initiative, Oceans Learning Partnership Inc. will offer educational programs to more students in rural areas such as Clarenville, Harbour Grace, Norris Point and Harbour Breton, as well as to Indigenous students in Coast of Bays on Newfoundland and Labrador’s south coast and in Bay of Islands on the west coast.
This investment supports the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan to build a better Canada where everyone has the jobs, skills and learning to solve global challenges and strengthen communities. The Plan ensures that Canadians have the skills needed to seize new opportunities and succeed in a growing economy.
This investment also supports commitments made by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through The Way Forward: Realizing Our Potential to enhance regional innovation, and develop industries with high growth potential, such as ocean technology.
Quotes
“Oceans Learning Partnership Inc. offers students a unique opportunity to explore science and technology fields through real-world learning activities. This initiative aligns well with our government’s focus on making Canada a world leader in innovation by building capacity and maximizing the potential of our people, businesses and communities.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA“The Government of Canada recognizes that each region of our country has unique strengths, and in Atlantic Canada the ocean technology industry continues to fuel innovation and create economic opportunities. Through this initiative, Oceans Learning Partnership Inc. is helping to meet the growing needs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean technology sector by creating interest in this field at the junior and high school levels.”
- Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East“Newfoundland and Labrador is a world leader in ocean science technology, providing access to world-renowned training institutions with extensive infrastructure and research capabilities, and innovative businesses serving niche markets around the world. This initiative supports our efforts to maintain a highly-skilled workforce by ensuring high school students learn about the exciting educational and employment opportunities available right here in ocean industries.”
- Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour“The Ocean Learning Partnership is a great initiative to expose students and teachers to innovative opportunities in the vast and ever-expanding oceans technology industry. We are striving to build a skilled workforce, improve our global competitiveness and create well-paying jobs. These priorities are also demonstrated as we work with the rest of Atlantic Canada to be the home of a strong ocean cluster. Programs offered by OLP play a role in this, as today’s investment helps to foster, strengthen and develop our oceans education in Newfoundland and Labrador as we make a significant difference in enhancing productivity and competitiveness in many rural communities across our province.”
- Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
“Interns will be engaged in hands-on fieldwork, job shadowing in host companies and working on real-world projects with research scientists and professionals in industries such as aquaculture, ocean technology, shipbuilding and marine tourism. Through these dynamic learning experiences, young people in the province will gain practical and marketable skills and get exposed directly to a range of careers and entrepreneurial ventures in the oceans sector.”
- Leslie Grattan, Interim Chair, Oceans Learning Partnership Inc.
Contacts
Paul McGrath
Director, Communications
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
Paul.McGrath@canada.ca
Ryan Crocker
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
709-729-1795, 709-725-9595
RyanCrocker@gov.nl.ca
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Maria G. Giovannini
Executive Director and Project Lead, Digital Oceans Project
Oceans Learning Partnership Inc.
709-746-4252
mariag@olp.oceansnl.net