Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 16/05) - Aurora College is making sure it's ready if the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline is built.

College president Maurice Evans partnered with the South Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) last week to share programs and faculty.

Maurice Evans, president of Aurora College, looks on as Irene Lewis, president of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, signs an agreement to share programs and faculty. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

"It's an opportunity to plug into training on the most recent pipeline information in Canada," Evans said after making the deal public.

With a small population and booming economy, Evans said that "the needs for education and training are far more than we could ever offer in the North."

Several students at Aurora College are already enroled in the pipeline operators training course at SAIT.

The school also offers power engineering and pipefitting.

With the partnership, Northern students at Aurora's three campuses will be able to travel to the Calgary school, or instructors will come North to teach.

Irene Lewis, president of SAIT, said the institution has more than just pipeline technology to offer.

Aboriginal groups settling land claims can take a course on managing the paperwork that comes with self-government.

Groups like the new Tlicho government could benefit from the course, said Evans.

"It could be useful, as First Nations are taking over their own governments," he said.