Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Foundation and Apprenticeship students at College of the Rockies (COTR) will gain enhanced hands-on training, thanks to a donation of a diesel forklift and generator from Teck Resources Limited.

Presented by Graham Knipfel, Teck’s Social Performance Specialist, Legacy Properties, the donation reflects Teck Resources’ continued connection to the region and commitment to community support.

“Access to real industrial equipment allows students to train on the same machinery they will encounter in the workplace, building hands-on skills, safety awareness, and job-ready confidence,” said Ranjan Bhattacharya, Dean, Trades and Technology.  “We thank Teck Resources for this donation and for their ongoing commitment to supporting our students, skilled trades training, and our region.”

College of the Rockies’ trades programs incorporate industry-grade tools and equipment to support hands-on learning whenever possible. The newly donated forklift and generator will strengthen students’ ability to practice and master key competencies such as safe equipment operation, diagnostics, maintenance, and troubleshooting, while reinforcing essential safety protocols including inspections, lockout/tagout procedures, and environmental compliance.

“At Teck, we’re proud to sustainably produce the copper and zinc needed for global development and the energy transition, while also responsibly caring for our closed sites. Our work includes strong collaboration with community partners like College of the Rockies,” said James Buote, Sullivan Mine Site Manager.

“At the Sullivan Mine, when our team realized that these high-quality equipment pieces were no longer needed for post-closure work, we wanted them to benefit the community in a meaningful way – especially in hands-on learning. Partnering with College of the Rockies provided an ideal opportunity to support local training.”

The Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program at College of the Rockies prepares students for careers servicing and maintaining large equipment used across industrial and resource sectors, combining classroom instruction with hands-on shop experience. Graduates go on to work across the region as Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians, Truck and Transport Mechanics, Diesel Engine Mechanics, and Transport Trailer Technicians.

Learn more about College of the Rockies’ Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program at: cotr.ca/trades

Lead image: Robin Hicks, Vice President, Academic; Anna-Marie Rautenbach, Department Head, Trades; Graham Knipfel, Teck Resources Ltd., Michael Crowe, College of the Rockies President, instructors Dominic Perry and Robert Makkreel, and Ranjan Bhattacharya, Dean of Trades and Technology during the presentation of a donation supporting hands-on Heavy Duty Equipment Technician training at College of the Rockies. College of the Rockies photo

College of the Rockies

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