APTA donates $20K to bolster heavy duty truck and transport program in Nova Scotia

by Truck News

DIEPPE, N.B. – The Nova Scotia Community College Foundation received a $20,000 donation from the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) Jan. 6, which will benefit four campuses in the province that offer the heavy duty truck and transport program.

“Colleges needed to upgrade some equipment in order to effectively train the students to be ready for the job market when they graduated,” said Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the APTA. “The equipment they were using was too outdated; therefore, once they got on the job market, there was a huge learning curve. Now they can actually get trained on the latest equipment the market has to offer.”

The APTA said the trucking industry is desperate for technicians, and that the course offered at the four Nova Scotia campuses – Marconi in Sydney, Kingstec in Kentville, Pictou in Stellarton and Akerley in Dartmouth – was vital, making the decision to donate the funds an easy one.

“We are very lucky to have members that are extremely involved with the colleges and our industry,” said Picard. “This is a great initiative by all the suppliers and carriers that make up our membership.”

Left to right: Wayne MacPherson, heavy duty equipment repair faculty, Akerley Campus; Owen Sanford, heavy duty equipment repair faculty, Akerley Campus; Gord MacKenzie, academic chair, trades & technology, Akerley Campus; Jean-Marc Picard, executive director, APTA; Barry Saunders, chair of the NSCC Foundation Board.
Left to right: Wayne MacPherson, heavy duty equipment repair faculty, Akerley Campus; Owen Sanford, heavy duty equipment repair faculty, Akerley Campus; Gord MacKenzie, academic chair, trades & technology, Akerley Campus; Jean-Marc Picard, executive director, APTA; Barry Saunders, chair of the NSCC Foundation Board.


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