Oakville MP takes a real and virtual tour of training facilityThe institute graduates around them can be done night or day, OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF35 students each year.seven days a week and we dont Young said he was impressed.have to wait for decent weather. Oakville MP Terence YoungThe Operating Engineers are Thats a big, big plus.got the opportunity to try out,doing fantastic training here. The Operating Engineers what he called, the ultimate videoThere are small classes. The Training Institute has been opera-game, Tuesday, during a tour of teacher to student ratio is one to tional since April 2010 and is said the Operating Engineers Trainingfour and thats fantastic, he said.to be the first of all the Knowledge Institute on Speers Road.These students will be going Infrastructure Program projects The visit allowed Young to seeout and building our bridges and across Canada to be completed.the results of $1.2 million inskyscrapers and its fantastic they The Knowledge Infrastructure funding, which had been given toare getting their training right Program is part of Canada's the Operating Engineers throughhere in Oakville.Economic Action Plan and pro-the Harper governmentsMcBride said the federal gov-vides up to $2 billion to support Knowledge Infrastructureernment gave the Operating deferred maintenance, repair and Program. Engineers $1.4 million through expansion projects at post-second-During his tour, Young took athe Knowledge Infrastructure ary institutions across Canada.seat in a special simulator used toProgram, however, $200,000 of Investments made through the train the institutes students andthose funds were used at the program are intended to generate lifted a 4,425-pound virtual reali-Operating Engineers Morrisburg KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER economic benefits and support job ty weight with a virtual realityfacility.creation, while enhancing research TEST DRIVE:Oakville MP Terence Young tried his hand at a crane simula-crane.McBride said the $1.2 million capacity, support the attraction of tor during a tour of the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario onWhats great about this is if was spent strictly on the Oakville new students and provide a better Speers Road.you do something wrong thefacility and not the simulation educational experience for the machine will tell you and you candown in work occurs mostly in the allowed for the building of a newequipment inside.highly skilled workers of tomor-try again with no consequences,winter, said McBride.maintenance shop within theWe can certainly train more row.said Harold McBride, the insti-This facility gives us that abil-training facility.operating engineers now. We have Its all about jobs and its about tutes executive director.ity, to train people for our clients Before all maintenance had tothree classes running at one time. education and training for jobs, Young also toured the insti-Wthe employers. Space is not an be carried out in the field, some-ere providing safety courses for said Young.tutes classrooms where studentsissue anymore and that was the times under very adverse condi-our clients the employers. That These are high paying jobs and could be seen laboring away inbig need for this facility.tions, said Healey.takes a lot of scheduling and you important jobs. These are the peo-preparation for the day when theyhNow we have a state-of-the-artave to have space available andThe Director of Training and ple that create work for other will rejoin the Canadian work-Operations at the Oakville Campus, maintenance shop so we can bringyou need the space available at people when they are doing their force as skilled workers.David Healey, said the funding also our cranes in and the work oncertain times of the year, the slow jobs.LEASE FOR *1.9% APRfor 48 monthsMonthly Payment $258with $0 down payment**Calling this deal a steal is an understatement. Hurry in to the MINI OakvilleSpring Sales Eventtoday and get into a brand new MINI Cooper ClassicLimited with lease rates from only 1.9% and payments from as low as$258/month. But dont wait, this deal is skipping town March 31st. 2454 South Service Road, Oakville 905.469.6220 minioakville.comThe MINI Cooper Classic Limited is available while quantities last. Inventory may vary by Retailer. Vehicle shown with additional options. Total list price of a 2011 MINI Cooper Classic Limited with manualtransmission is $25,775.12, which includes base MSRP ($23,600), freight & PDI ($1,595), A/C tax ($100), PPSA registration fee ($52.76), OMVIC fee ($5), Tire Stewardship ($23.36) and Administration fee ($399).HST and licence fee are extra. Lease rates are those offered by MINI Financial Services Canada only on approved credit (OAC). *Lease rate of 1.9% available for 48 months. Lease example: MSRP of $23,600;at a lease rate of 1.9% APR for a term of 48 months, with $0 down payment, monthly lease payment is $258. **$2,292.12 amount due on signing which includes: first months lease payment ($258), security deposit equivalent to one months lease payment ($258), freight & PDI ($1,595), A/C tax ($100), OMVIC fee ($5), Tire Stewardship ($23.36), and PPSA ($52.76). Total obligation is $14,418.12 plus tax. Options,taxes and insurance are extra. Annual kilometres limited to 20,000: $0.15 per excess kilometre. Excess wear-and-use charges may apply. Retailers are free to set individual prices and charge Administrationfees which may change the APR or the price of the vehicle. Offer expires March 31st, 2011. Delivery must be taken by March 31st, 2011. Offer is subject to availability and may be cancelled or changed without notice. Certain conditions apply. See your local MINI Retailer or www.MINI.ca for full details. New 2011 MINI vehicles purchased from an authorized MINI Retailer in Canada are covered by a no-charge scheduledmaintenance plan for three years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first. Certain limitations apply. Contact your MINI Retailer fordetails. 2011 MINI Canada. MINI, the MINI logo, MINI model designations and all other MINI related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and/or trademarks of BMW AG, used under licence.5 Friday, March 18, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com