Camosun takes over marine training centre near industry

Camosun College has expanded to Songhees territory with the opening of a satellite facility that will provide a variety of marine-related training, including programs for First Nations.

The Camosun Coastal Centre, which used to be known as the Industry Marine and Applied Research Centre, is on Songhees land close to the Esquimalt Graving Dock.

Camosun takes over a site that was previously run by non-profit company SkillSource. “It’s a training centre that’s been focused and will continue to be focused on marine-industry training, which is also something that SkillSource was doing,” said Geoff Wilmshurst, Camosun’s vicepresident of partnerships.

“So training with industry in the harbour area — for example, in the Esquimalt area, companies like Seaspan, Babcock Canada, etc., who are all interested in using that for training for their staff.

“Department of National Defence has been involved, as well.”

Proximity to the ocean is a key part of the operation, Wilmshurst said.

“The industries that are in and around the graving dock, for example, are really pleased because they like to be able to have their [staff] going for a half-day workshop, but not be far from work.”

He said Camosun assumed its new role there on April 1, and some previously arranged training will continue under the Camosun banner.

“We made a $200,000 investment to take it over from SkillSource, and that’s based on the equipment that they put in there and the curriculum that they developed over time and the brand,” he said.

The centre also comes with a $91,000-ayear lease from the federal government, he said.