Northwestern Polytechnic & Cenovus Energy to Strengthen Power Engineering Training

Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) and Cenovus Energy are celebrating the grand opening of the new Cenovus Energy Power Engineering Bench Lab, supported by a $250,000 commitment from Cenovus Energy.

The new lab provides Power Engineering students with a dedicated, practical learning environment where they can develop technical skills and confidence using leading-edge equipment and processes connected to industry.

“Hands-on learning is at the heart of what we do at Northwestern Polytechnic,” said Dr. Vanessa Sheane, President and CEO of NWP. 

“Cenovus Energy’s investment strengthens our ability to provide students with industry-relevant training and helps ensure graduates are prepared for the workplaces they will enter. We are grateful for Cenovus’s partnership and investment in our students and the future workforce of northern Alberta.”

Collaboration with industry is a defining feature of NWP’s Power Engineering program. From facility design and equipment selection to work-integrated learning, industry partners are helping to connect classroom learning with the skills and experience students will need in the workplace. The Power Engineering Bench Lab, supported by Cenovus Energy, is one example of this collaboration in action, giving students a practical environment to build knowledge and technical skills.

"This investment will deliver industry-relevant training right here in Grande Prairie,” said Jeff Lawson, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Development & Chief Sustainability Officer at Cenovus. 

“The Cenovus Energy Power Engineering Bench Lab will help students develop hands-on skills in equipment operation, instrumentation and more, creating more opportunities for local residents to pursue in-demand careers while supporting the workforce needs of our region's energy industry."

The new lab is located within NWP’s Skilled Trades Wing at the Grande Prairie campus and was officially opened today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by NWP, Cenovus Energy, industry and community representatives.

The partnership reflects the important role industry can play in strengthening post-secondary training and ensuring students have opportunities to learn with equipment and processes relevant to today’s workplaces.

The Power Engineering program is one of the many ways NWP is responding to northern Alberta’s workforce needs, combining classroom learning with practical, hands-on training.

To learn more about rewarding training pathways and first-class facilities, visit NWP.me/PowerEngineering.