In recognition of a generous gift and ongoing support from TransX Group of Companies, Red River College unveiled a plaque today naming a classroom in the organization’s honour at the Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre (HETC).

The newly-named space symbolizes the long-standing partnership between TransX and RRC, which includes support of alumni and student success, and a $100,000 pledge.

TransX joins a host of other industry partners that have supported HETC by providing opportunities for students who graduate from a variety of RRC programs.

“Support from industry partners like TransX assists Red River College in creating opportunities for students that align with industry needs,” says RRC President David Rew. “TransX’s financial and advisory support allows the College to create a state-of-the-art learning facility designed with industry in mind. Our students are the ultimate beneficiaries of their support, and we are grateful for this ongoing partnership.”

Located at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus, HETC boasts 60,000 square feet of classroom and lab space in which students can work on large vehicles representing a variety of industry sectors. Offering modern transportation technology, the facility meets the LEED silver standard in energy efficiency, and is home to four RRC programs: Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic, Outdoor Power Equipment Technician, Transport Trailer Mechanic Apprenticeship and Transport Truck/Bus Apprenticeship.

“We are proud to support a first-class training centre at Red River College that helps promote, attract and train heavy duty technicians for the transportation industry,” says Mike Jones, Vice-President of Operations at TransX. “Our industry relies on highly skilled graduates and we’re proud to partner with RRC to continue to provide these types of opportunities.”

RRC’s partnerships with the transportation industry help to stimulate development of new vehicle technologies through applied research in alternative fuels, emission testing and cold weather environment testing. HETC’s capabilities help to further support this research program, providing enhanced electrical and mechanical infrastructure, an overhead crane, chassis and engine dynamometers, emission testing equipment and an environmental chamber.

Headquartered in Winnipeg, the TransX Group of Companies employs 2,500 people across Canada, and has a fleet of approximately 1,500 tractors and 4,000 trailers and containers. Its network includes freight terminals in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Saskatoon, Red Deer, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Minneapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee.

(Above photo, from left: Christine Crowe, Interim Vice-President Academic and Research, RRC; Neil Cooke, Chair of Transportation and Heavy Apprenticeship Trades, RRC; Cindee Laverge, Acting Vice-President, Student Services, RRC; Mike Jones, Vice-President of Operations, TransX; Derek Quinn, Shop Manager, TransX; Trent Siemens, Director of Maintenance, TransX; and David Rew, Interim RRC President)