Canadian Natural Resources Limited is investing $500,000 in Lakeland College to support training for careers in trades and energy.

The funding was announced Sept. 18. It will help modernize classrooms and labs across the college’s trades facilities in Lloydminster and Vermilion.

The announcement doesn’t specify how the money will be split between campuses, or name which upgrades it will fund.

“Canadian Natural’s continued support of Lakeland is meaningful and transformative for our students,” said Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Lakeland’s president and CEO.

“Investments like this help us create learning environments that turn education into opportunity.”

Lakeland’s existing facilities show the range of practical training already available in the region.

Its Vermilion campus houses the Trades Centre, where students train as electricians, carpenters, welders, heavy equipment technicians, automotive service technicians, parts technicians and steamfitter-pipefitters. The college also runs pre-employment programs in automotive service, carpentry, electrical work and welding for people entering the trades.

In Lloydminster, Lakeland’s Energy Centre includes two power labs, boilers, steam turbines and a control room for hands-on power engineering training.

The two-year process and power engineering diploma combines classroom instruction, lab work and industry practicums. It prepares students for fourth- and third-class power engineering certification exams, covering the operation and maintenance of boilers, turbines and engines. Career options extend beyond oil and gas into power generation, chemical plants and hospital power plants.

Julie Woo, Canadian Natural’s vice-president of corporate affairs, technology and innovation, said the company is proud to support that training.

“We are proud to partner with Lakeland College to create opportunities for students to explore careers in the oil and natural gas industry through hands-on learning experiences,” she said.

Canadian Natural previously helped fund a classroom at Lakeland’s Lloydminster campus. The college later named it the Canadian Natural Resources Limited Lecture Theatre in recognition of that support.

The company’s latest gift adds to a partnership that’s now spanned two major investments, with the trades centre and energy centre continuing to feed skilled workers into the region’s job market.