Orano Canada invests $1M to increase enrolment and supports for women in technical trades at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Uranium producer Orano Canada’s gift aims to help expand support for trades training mentorship and hands-on learning for women living close to mining operations.
February 14, 2023 –Orano Canada is empowering the future for women in technical trades with a $1 million gift to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) program. This generous investment will increase awareness and promote training opportunities for women in trades across Saskatchewan.
WITT works with instructors, employers, professionals and non-profits to build curriculum for camps, workshops and mentorship programs that teach women valuable skills, encourage women to think about different career options and address barriers that may limit women in trades and technologies.
“We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer. Orano is committed to hiring more women at our McClean Lake operation, ensuring pay equity and advancing women to more senior and supervisory positions,” said Jim Corman, president and CEO of Orano Canada. “Supporting the WITT program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic will help to increase the awareness of career opportunities for women in the mining industry, as well as provide job links to trades that are accessible near their home communities. Orano Mining globally has a target of increasing the number of women in senior roles by 10 per cent annually between now and 2025. We need to be a part of that change.”
The partnership will bring expanded accessibility to WITT programming, including mentorship opportunities, customizable presentations and workshops and exploratory training sessions. Thanks to Orano Canada, WITT will be able to provide additional programming in rural and northern communities, helping to break down barriers and promote gender diversity in the mining industry. In recognition of Orano’s gift the program name will become WITT – Powered by Orano.
“Thank you to Orano Canada for your generous gift in supporting women entering the technical trades,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, president and CEO. “This contribution will enrich the awareness of training and career opportunities in trades and technology for women in Saskatchewan. Our goal is to inspire and encourage the next generation of women and girls to consider trades careers, overcome limitation barriers and ultimately bridge the employment gap between men and women in these sectors.”
The $1M Orano gift, disbursed over ten years, includes an annual scholarship to an exceptional female student enrolled in a trades or technical program at Sask Polytech. This scholarship will help build a diverse, inclusive and qualified workforce for Saskatchewan’s trades mining industry.
“Women account for 47 per cent of the Canadian labour force, but represent only 5 per cent of the most in-demand trades across Canada,” says Allison Zerr, WITT program head. “Jobs in these sectors are high paying. This significant contribution from Orano Canada will enable Sask Polytech’s WITT programming to support our female students in meeting their education and career goals. This partnership will open up doors to women interested in trades and apprenticeship training, and provide the supports to help ensure successful outcomes.”
The Sask Polytech WITT program has been offering camps and programming since 1991. Sask Polytech’s WITT program has evolved over the past 30 years, but the goal remains the same: encourage and assist women interested in trades and technology careers.
To learn more visit saskpolytech.ca/witt.
About Orano Canada:
Headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Orano Canada Inc. is a leading producer of uranium, accounting for the processing of more than 18 million pounds of uranium concentrate produced in Canada in 2022. Orano Canada has been exploring for uranium, mining and milling in Canada for more than 55 years. Orano Canada is the operator of the McClean Lake uranium mill and a major partner in the Cigar Lake (40.453%), McArthur River (30.2%) and Key Lake (16.7%) operations. The McClean Lake joint venture is owned by Orano Canada (77.5%) and Denison Mines (22.5%). Orano toll mills the ore from the Cigar Lake mine at the McClean Lake mill.
The company employs about 420 people in Saskatchewan, including about 300 at the McClean Lake operation where over 49% of employees are self-declared Indigenous. As a sustainable uranium producer, Orano Canada is committed to safety, environmental protection and contributing to the prosperity and well-being of neighbouring communities.
Orano Canada Inc. is a 100% subsidiary of Orano Mining, part of the multinational Orano group. As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. With uranium mines in operation in Canada, Kazakhstan and Niger, Orano is one of the world’s leading producers of uranium, with competitive production costs and extraction techniques at the cutting edge of innovation. Every day, the Orano group’s 17,000 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow. Visit Orano at www.oranocanada.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @oranocanada
About Saskatchewan Polytechnic:
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 Territories and the homeland of the Métis. Learning takes place at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
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