1. Research Institutes
ALBERTA
Van Horne Institute for International Transportation and Regulatory Affairs
(University of Calgary, Calgary, AB; University of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB;
and SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary, AB)
The Van Horne Institute was federally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1991.
It was granted affiliation with the University of Calgary in 1992, the University of Alberta in 1998 and SAIT Polytechnic in 2000. Its Board of Directors brings together the experience and knowledge of a broad base of individuals representing carriers, shippers, government and academia.
The Institute’s mission statement says it will “contribute positively to education and the development of public policy in the areas of transportation and regulated industries.” It has established a solid reputation for producing vital and objective research work, and providing recommendations on current policy issues through workshops and forums. Two certificate short courses were recently put on by the Institute at Calgary’s Sandman Hotel. They were Logistics and Supply Chain Challenges: Harnessing Your Potential (October 23-24) and Current Advances in Transportation Engineering and Planning (October 30-31).
Website: http://vanhorne.info
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan Centre of Excellence for Transportation and Infrastructure
(University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK)
Housed within the College of Engineering on the U of S campus, the Centre was only launched in 2008, and is a partnership involving the province’s governing Saskatchewan Party and the U of S. The Centre’s goal is to position Saskatchewan as a North American leader in the application of new highway and road construction technologies. It intends to bring together innovators from the private sector, academia and government to develop transportation solutions that greatly benefit Saskatchewan’s citizens and the economy in a significant way while establishing environmentally sustainable technologies.
A number of factors make Saskatchewan an ideal site for developing and testing new road construction technologies. The province has one of the largest road networks in North America with infrastructure ranging from high-traffic urban thoroughfares to lightly traveled rural roads that provide access to remote communities. Saskatchewan also has direct links to global supply chains that serve ports on the west coast and within the Great Lakes and the US. The U of S is also home to strategic resources such as the Canadian Light Source Synchrotron that will advance state-of-the-art road materials research and innovative structural systems.
Upon the announcement of the launch of the Centre, Al Rosseker, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Trucking Association, says, “Saskatchewan’s growing economy will grow more roads and more jobs. It’s refreshing to see the Province and the U of S taking the lead on such an important component of the economy. This initiative is certainly on the right road as far as the trucking industry is concerned.”
Erwin Siemens, President of Kindersley Transport sits on the Centre’s Board of Directors, which is chaired by Dr. Janusz Kozinski, Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan.
Website: www.usask.ca/research
MANITOBA
University of Manitoba Transport Institute
(University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB)
Since 1966, the Transport Institute has played a leading role in transportation and logistics research. The Institute is now a unit of the Department of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the I.H. Asper School of Business.
The Institute’s mission is to facilitate prosperity, sustainability, and mobility through research and education that links businesses, governments, not-for-profit organizations, educators, students and the community. Its mandate is to: (1) conduct rigorous and relevant research in transport and logistics; (2) train transportation researchers, policy makers and practitioners; and (3) disseminate research results and policy implications at conferences and workshops (see sidebar), and through reports and white papers.
Motor carrier studies have included an assessment of competition between Canadian and US carriers in transborder trucking. UMTI has also conducted studies on inter- and intra-provincial trucking and on issues such as cabotage and vehicle weights and dimensions regulations. In partnership with the Province, the MTA and the Centre for Sustainable Transportation; UMTI is administering the GrEEEN (Economically and Environmentally Efficient) Trucking Program.
UMTI has collaborated with a number of transport-related NGOs (non-government organizations) including the MTA. The Institute played a leading role in the City of Winnipeg’s successful proposal to Transport Canada’s Urban Transport program called WinSmart.
Website: www.umti.ca
1. Research Institutes
ALBERTA
Centre for Transportation, Van Horne Institute
(University of Calgary and SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary, AB)
The University of Calgary and SAIT Polytechnic have collaborated to develop a four-year transportation degree program. This unique initiative allows a student to access a program in Supply Chain Management and Logistics at SAIT for two years and choose to either join the workforce upon completion of the first two years or to “ladder” into an additional two years studies at the U of C leading to a Major degree in transportation within the Faculty of Management.
Website: http://vanhorne.info
Keyano College
Fort McMurray, AB
Keyano College offers a four-week (180 hours) Truck Transport Class 1 Certificate program at its Suncor Energy Industrial Campus. Students receive 30% classroom instruction and 70% practical instruction over the four-week period.
Also offered at the Suncor Energy Industrial Campus is a Heavy Equipment Technician program for apprentice technicians.
Website: www.keyano.ca
Lakeland College
Lloydminster, AB
Lakeland College offers Class 1 and 3 driver training for Albert or Saskatchewan drivers at both its Lloydminster and Vermilian campuses.
The college also offers a Heavy Equipment Technician program in coordination with Alberta Apprenticeship and Training.
Website: www.lakelandcollege.ca
Lethbridge College
Lethbridge, AB
Lethbridge College offers a one-year Commercial Vehicle Enforcement program for students who wish to become vehicle enforcement officers. The program is also offered to carrier personnel to keep abreast of current industry regulations.
Website: www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
Medicine Hat College
Medicine Hat, AB
MHC offers a Heavy Equipment Technician program for students interested in a career maintaining heavy equipment, commercial trucks and trailers.
Website: www.mhc.ab.ca
NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Edmonton, AB
In its Heavy Equipment Technician program, NAIT provides students with a solid two-month classroom program followed by a 10-month period learning in the workplace.
Website: www.nait.ca
Red Deer College
Red Deer, AB
The Professional Driver Certificate pilot program offered at Red Deer College over the past three years has wrapped up. In this economic climate, RDC was unable to obtain continued funding for this model. Based on the lessons learned and the program’s successes, RDC is exploring options to continue working with its partners (industry and government) to offer other training opportunities.
RDC’s Transportation Safety Director Program continues to be very popular. Feedback from graduates (and their employers) has been very positive. The Program provides the basics of safety and health for the transportation industry; and focuses on the information and skills needed to become a health and safety representative or the safety director for a company in the transportation industry. This course should be looked at as the starting point with three main components: independent study modules, online assignments and activities, and a cumulative exam. On-line activities cover a variety of topics such as accident investigation, due diligence and developing effective learning skills. This program is offered as a distance delivery and on-line course. Students have six months to complete the course from the date of registration.
Website: www.rdc.ab.ca SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) Polytechnic, Calgary, AB
SAIT offers a one-year Diesel Equipment Technician (DET) program from which graduates enter the workforce as apprentices. The institute also offers a Heavy Equipment Technician Apprentice program.
Website: http://sait.ca
SASKATCHEWAN
SIAST (Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science & Technology)
Saskatoon, SK
SIAST offers a number of trucking-related programs. First is the Heavy Equipment and Truck & Transport Applied Certificate, an 18-week program offered at the Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon. Then there is the 20-week Tri-Trades Heavy Equipment, Truck & Transport, Agricultural Machinery Technician Applied Certificate, also held at the Kelsey Campus. Finally, there is the Heavy Equipment and Truck & Transport Technician program, a 35-week program of studies held off campus in Saskatoon.
Website: www.siast.sk.ca
MANITOBA
Assiniboine Community College
Brandon, MB
ACC offers a two-year diploma program in Business Administration – Supply Chain Management that produces graduates with a well-rounded knowledge of business and administrative functions with an emphasis on SCM.
ACC offers both a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician diploma program and a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Apprenticeship program. Students who graduate from the ACC programs are ably suited for entry level positions in the industry, prepared to repair, adjust and service a variety of heavy duty equipment pieces, including diesel-powered highway trucks.
Website: http://public.assiniboine.net
Red River College
Winnipeg, MB
In conjunction with the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT), RRC offers a Transportation and Distribution Management certificate program that trains students for a management career in the transportation and logistics industry. The program leads to the nationally recognized CITT designation.
RRC also offers a Heavy Duty Mechanic program and specialized apprenticeship opportunities for Trailer Technicians and Truck/Transport Mechanics.
Website: http://me.rrc.mb.ca
University College of the North
The Pas & Thompson, MB
UCN offers a Heavy Duty Mechanics program. Graduates will be able to ably fill positions in maintenance and repair shops, sales, parts departments, and as service writers and advisors.
Website: http://is-8668.ucn.ca
University of Manitoba Transport Institute
(University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB)
Since 1997, the TI has offered a Certificate in Logistics program (CLog.) program in coordination with the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT). The SCM Department offers two majors in the Asper School of Business Bachelor of Commerce program: (1) Logistics and SCM; and (2) Operations Management and Management Science. The Department also has a M.Sc. program in SCM and plans are in place for a Ph.D. program.
Website: www.umti.ca |
