The Timmins region is facing a massive labour shortage in the mining and construction sectors, with over 3,700 mining-related jobs expected to be needed by 2029. In response, Collège Boréal is launching a new Civil and Mining Technician program at its Timmins campus in September 2026 to train the next generation of skilled workers.
This two-year diploma program is designed to prepare students for entry-level careers in mining, construction, and surveying. Melanie Dufresne, director of the Timmins campus, emphasized that the program comes at a critical time: "With the development we’ve been seeing in the region – mining development, infrastructure development – it’s a program that we know is in need."
Success stories from the same program in Sudbury highlight its impact. Gilles Paradis, now superintendent of technical services at Kidd Operations, graduated from Boréal’s Sudbury campus and credits the program for launching his career through a co-op placement. "If you talk to every employer around town, they’re all looking for technical people for surveying and design work," he said.
Timmins city councillor Steve Black, who works for Dumas Contracting, noted that labour shortages are a top concern: "There’s a multi-thousand-person gap in skilled trades and underground mine workers. We’ve known this has been coming for a number of years now, and we’re on the cusp of it now."
The program will be offered in French and includes training to ensure graduates are prepared for both French- and English-speaking workplaces. With the mining sector booming, this initiative is a golden opportunity for job seekers looking to enter a high-demand field.
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