Saskatchewan Polytechnic has received a donation of $5 million from Cameco towards the Time to Rise Campaign and the construction of the Joseph A. Remai Saskatoon Campus.

Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel says the donation will support innovative mining education.

“As part of the donation, the new Joseph A. Remai Saskatoon campus will be home to the new Cameco Virtual Reality Mine Lab. What we’re interested in is what goes on in that mine lab, that’s inside the lab where students can learn the operations of an underground lab virtually, safely.”

He says that alongside innovative virtual reality mining education, the funding will also support a program for Indigenous women in the north.

“Part of our gift will support piloting an Industrial Mechanics Certificate Program for northern Indigenous women. This program is going to be through the P.A. campus and it’s going to provide an opportunity to train and be a millwright, while also providing support and mentorship.”

Sask Polytechnic President and CEO Larry Rosia says that the donation will benefit both organizations as the institution trains more students to work in the mining industry.

“It’s leadership understands the symbiotic relationship that exists between our institutions. Saskatchewan Polytechnic powers the workforce that supports Cameco as they help power the world.”

The donation brings the Time to Rise Campaign to three quarters of its $100 million funding goal.