The Northern Manitoba Mining Academy hopes to solve its student-housing shortage in a fitting way: by setting up a mining camp.
Elizabeth Andres, administrative officer at NMMA, shared the plans with Greg Selinger when the NDP leader and incumbent premier visited the academy last week.
She said NMMA hopes to purchase a 24-person camp, which consists of portable buildings currently disassembled and in storage in Lynn Lake, to use for accommodations for students enrolled in classes.
Andres said the camp would include an industrial kitchen and most of the supplies needed to be operational as a residence.
In addition to providing affordable accommodations for students, she said the camp would expose students to “experiential learning” on what it’s like to live in a mining camp, an important part of life for those entering the field.
Andres said NMMA’s first choice for a location would be adjacent to the academy, but nothing has been finalized.
She briefly laid out her business plan for purchasing and running the facility, and incorporating housing costs into course fees for out-of-town students.
Selinger commented that Andres seemed to have a business proposition for the investment. He said the NDP would commit to supporting the project.
The Manitoba Liberals issued a news release saying their Flin Flon candidate, Leslie Beck, would also advocate for bringing the camp to NMMA.
Beck, who works as a service provider for NMMA, said three intakes have been cancelled in the past year due to high cost and lack of student housing.
In an interview with The Reminder last month, Rob Penner, executive director of NMMA, said student accommodations “remain a pressing issue.”
More than one-third (35 per cent) of NMMA students come from outside the Flin Flon-Creighton region.
At one point there was speculation the Manitoba government would purchase the former Flin Flon Hotel to use as student housing for NMMA and the adjacent UCN. While Selinger previously said “consideration” was given to this idea, he made no mention of it as he unveiled a string of campaign promises at NMMA last week.
– With files from Jonathon Naylor
