(From left): Peter Bjornson, Provincial Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training & Trade; Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC; and Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering for StandardAero.

Red River College will continue to serve as an engine of economic growth in Canada, thanks to a recent donation worth $1.2 million from industry partner StandardAero.

Earlier this month, the company transferred ownership of a GE CF-34 turbine aircraft engine to RRC. The engine will be used as part of the College’s apprenticeship and training programs, in particular the Gas Turbine Repair and Overhaul program, which promotes engine maintenance, repair and overhaul skills.

“Here at Red River College, we pride ourselves on giving students the opportunity to train using state-of-the-art technology and industry-approved equipment,” says RRC President Stephanie Forsyth. “This donation, and our partnership with StandardAero, will allow us to continue to serve as a leader in aerospace training, and to continue supplying highly-trained employees to the workforce.”

The College’s partnership with StandardAero has been ongoing for several years, and has also resulted in the development of the Centre for Aerospace Technology & Training (CATT), a unique industrial campus model that serves as a technology validation site for RRC’s Applied Research and Commercialization department. StandardAero is also an active participant in RRC’s co-op and internship programs.

“Our (latest) donation serves as a key workforce skills strategy, not only for StandardAero, but also for Manitoba’s continued economic sustainment and growth,” says Kim Olson, Senior Vice-President, Helicopters, Energy & Engineering at StandardAero.

“Training on real-world products without incurring capital costs is paramount to the learning and development of a highly skilled workforce in Manitoba. Our partnership with Apprenticeship Manitoba and RRC is nationally recognized as a leading contributor to the growth of the aerospace sector in Manitoba.”