A Flin Flon business has donated to help keep a northern vehicle technician program going this year.
Seven engines were donated by Alexander’s Auto Ranch to the University College of the North (UCN) automotive technician program earlier this year. The engines, each 2.2 litre General Motors Ecotec engines, are valued at around $1,800. In a press release issued by the school, a UCN spokesperson said the donated motors would “help create a hands-on learning environment for students.”
“I am proud of it,” said Rod Alexander, Auto Ranch part owner, about the donation.
“It’s going to a good cause, to help people get a trade. If you don’t have a trade, it’s hard to get a job. It’s important to learn and get a good start in life.”
Alexander sent the engines after being contacted by Riley Wlasichuk, a UCN instructor who was looking for engines that could be fixed for his engines theory and practical course.
“I feel the donation will benefit students as we now have enough modern engines to accommodate one for every student,” he said.
“With this donation, students get to experience every aspect of hands‐on engine training. In the past, either the engines available were not modern or multiple students needed to share an engine and may not have gotten the full experience.”
The engines will go to the UCN campus in The Pas, where the engine theory and practical course is taught. Earlier this year, the program received a pair of vehicles from a dealership based in The Pas.
