January 18, 2012                                                                                               

Student Learning Moves into the Fast Lane  

Automotive education at the DSBN is getting turbo charged thanks to a generous donation from General Motors Canada. Transportation technology programs at DSBN high schools are being provided with a total of 19 new car engines for students to learn on. The DSBN took delivery of the engines at Thorold Secondary School on Wednesday, January 18, 2012.

The V6 engines were all produced at General Motors’ local assembly plant in St. Catharines and represent the latest in automotive technology. “This will allow students to work with the components of a state of the art piece of machinery. This knowledge will benefit students whether they are interested in a career as an auto mechanic, engineer or whether they’re interested in learning to maintain their personal vehicles,” says Mike Doyle, DSBN Skills Development Coordinator.

The donated equipment will be used by students in Transportation Technology including Transportation High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. An SHSM in the transportation sector provides students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers, from those focusing on the service, repair and modification of vehicles to those related to the management of transportation services and mass-transit systems.

The engines will be distributed amongst nine secondary schools, West Park, Thorold, St. Catharines Collegiate, A.N. Myer, E.L. Crossley, Fort Erie, Governor Simcoe, Grimsby and Port Colborne High School.

“We certainly appreciate General Motors’ partnership and support in providing our students with innovative and exciting educational opportunities. These engines will be a huge benefit to the classroom,” adds Doyle.