NORCAT‘s ongoing expansion plans into northwestern Ontario and the world have entered a new phase with the opening of its new office in Thunder Bay.
The Mooney Avenue location, right behind the Greyhound bus station on Fort William Road, had a soft opening in May and is already up and running, according to CEO Don Duval.
"There were two reasons for the location: central location and also expanded facilities to meet our needs," Duval said. "This is all part of our acquisition of Workplace Training and Safety First, which was completed in October of last year."
The expansion, he said, exemplifies NORCAT’s commitment to continued growth, and maintains their status as one of Canada’s leading skilled labour training and development organizations.
"Our Thunder Bay office is fully integrated and complements our other offices in Timmins, Onaping and Sudbury, and our international operations," Duval said. "It is offering similar programs to serve the skilled labour industries in northwestern Ontario."
Out of the Thunder Bay office, NORCAT will offer a full range of classes and programs, including supervisor training, working at heights, a train-the-trainer program, surface miner common core, equipment operator training, specialty modules, as well as forestry and other common core programs.
This will be in addition to their advisory consulting services.
The facility is compact, but Duval explained there is plenty of growth opportunities around it.
"It meets our needs for the next five years, but there is room to expand the facility as needed."
Since the acquisition of Workplace Training and Safety First, NORCAT has gone through the process of integrating the team into NORCAT’s family. The central location makes it easier for clients to access.
The innovation mill is already a global brand, and Duval explained this expansion is another way to meet needs of their clients.
NORCAT is planning an official grand opening and open house for the fall, most likely sometime in November.
Originally published by Karen McKinley, Northern Ontario Business