Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PotashCorp) today announced a $500,000 donation to the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre (STSC) to equip youth and adults with job-ready skills to enter Saskatchewan’s workforce. Bill Doyle, President & CEO of PotashCorp, made the announcement from the Centre’s 8,300 square-foot industrial training facility – which has been renamed the “PotashCorp Learning Lab” in honour of the donation.

“Growing a new generation of skilled trades people is important to us,” explained Doyle. “Right now, PotashCorp is investing more than $5 billion to expand our mining operations across the province and we’ll be looking to fill hundreds of permanent jobs in our company. If we’re going to meet the challenge of feeding the world, we’re going to need talented and skilled people to make it happen.”

A partnership organization between educational institutes and First Nations and Métis organizations, STSC works with industry partners to offer short-term training programs and skills courses to meet market demand and prepare young adults for careers in the trades. Approximately half of the Centre’s students are Aboriginal and about 15 percent are new Canadians. When these students complete STSC programs, they are skill-ready for jobs in the mining, manufacturing and construction sectors among others. On average, 80 percent of STSC students successfully complete their programs, representing between 200-250 people each year.

“For many of our students, their STSC experience is transformative,” explained George Rathwell, Board Chair for STSC. “When they leave us, they have a renewed sense of hope and direction and the skills and self-confidence to step into the work world.”

Rathwell expressed appreciation to PotashCorp for its support of the Centre: “We sincerely thank PotashCorp for its significant contribution and confidence in our programs. The partnerships that we have built with industry are strong and we’re encouraged that one of our province’s industry leaders sees value in our work.”

Headquartered in Saskatoon, PotashCorp is the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity, producing the three primary crop nutrients – potash, phosphate and nitrogen. With five potash operations in Saskatchewan, and one in New Brunswick, it is responsible for about 20 percent of global capacity and is the world’s leading potash producer. Its operations and business interests span seven countries, making PotashCorp an international enterprise and a key player in meeting the growing challenge of feeding the world.

For more information contact:

PotashCorp Saskatoon Trades & Skills Centre Rhonda Speiss
Manager, Corporate Philanthropy
Phone: (306) 933-8544
E-mail Corporate Philanthropy Donavon Elliott
Manager
Phone: (306) 385-3501
E-mail: donavon.elliott@saskatoontradesandskills.ca