Niagara College is helping strengthen Ontario’s emergency preparedness while creating new opportunities for students to serve their communities through a first-of-its-kind partnership with Ontario Corps.
On July 13, the College welcomed The Honourable Jill Dunlop, Ontario’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, to the Welland Campus to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that makes NC the first post-secondary institution to partner with Ontario Corps, the province’s emergency preparedness and response initiative.
“As the first post-secondary institution to partner with Ontario Corps, Niagara College is pleased to expand meaningful opportunities for students to make a difference in the communities they serve,” said President Sean Kennedy. “This partnership builds on Niagara College’s expertise in emergency management and gives our students, who are already making a meaningful impact across Niagara, another way to step forward when their community needs them most.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a future-ready and resilient Ontario by advancing emergency preparedness through community resilience, a strategic network of capabilities and a corps of dedicated volunteers who can support communities before, during and after emergencies.
Minister Dunlop highlighted NC’s expertise in emergency management and noted that, by signing this MOU, the College is joining a strategic network of partners dedicated to building a future-ready and resilient province.
Minister Dunlop inspects a drone during her tour of NC’s Defence Systems Engineering Technology labs.
“I am thrilled to be here alongside the Niagara College team who shares a common goal of protecting Ontario, to announce that Niagara College is becoming our newest Ontario Corps partner,” said Minister Dunlop. “The College has an impressive emergency operations centre and incident management team that is ready for anything when an emergency strikes … thank you once again to everyone at Niagara College for joining our efforts to protect Ontario.”
Among those attending the signing ceremony were members of NC’s Executive Team, Steve Pinsonneault, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Welland Mayor Frank Campion, a representative from MPP Sam Oosterhoff’s office, and students from the College’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) program.
Through the partnership, NC will encourage students, faculty and staff to register as Ontario Corps volunteers while participating in information sessions, community engagement initiatives and activities that strengthen emergency preparedness. As a leader in emergency management education, the College will also contribute institutional expertise and best practices that support emergency preparedness and community resilience across Ontario.
Following the MOU signing, Minister Dunlop toured NC’s new Defence Systems Engineering Technology labs. She learned about the College’s new Defence Systems Engineering Technology and Technician programs, which are launching this fall in direct response to provincial priorities and evolving labour market needs. Minister Dunlop also heard about the important role students and graduates of these programs can play in supporting emergency response efforts.
During the visit, President Kennedy showcased some of the drones from the Defence Systems Engineering Technology program, the first program of its kind in Canada, noting that drones play an increasingly important role in many situations.
“This program will equip graduates with the skills to build, refine, troubleshoot, repair and maintain aerial, terrestrial and marine drones,” said President Kennedy. “The technology can be integrated directly into emergency response, making it a great example of the synergies that can be achieved through this partnership.”
Read the Province of Ontario’s press release here.
