New HRAC programs at Loyalist College answer industry calls to narrow skilled trades labour gap

Belleville, Ontario, September 28, 2021 – Loyalist College has launched a new two-year Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (HRAC) Technician Ontario College Diploma program to prepare graduates for in-demand jobs in this evolving sector. Rising fuel costs, indoor air quality concerns, and climate change are all contributing factors in raising awareness of the true cost of energy.

Employers in the skilled trades have voiced their need to hire more trained professionals – Loyalist College is answering that call. The College’s new Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Techniques and Technician programs are designed to directly address the critical shortage of HRAC Technicians employed by companies working in the Residential and ICI sectors. Students will earn solid skills through hands-on experience in Loyalist College’s labs, working on furnaces, air conditioners, refrigeration equipment and other appliances, including the latest sustainable heating and cooling technology. Significant investments are also expected to retrofit many industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) buildings, including long-term care homes, hospitals, schools, manufacturing plants and food processing facilities, to upgrade HRAC systems in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To provide more learning options for its students, Loyalist has also launched a one-year Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (HRAC) Techniques Ontario College Certificate program. The HRAC Techniques and Technician programs follow common curriculum for the first two semesters. Graduates of the HRAC Techniques program may continue into Semester Three of Loyalist’s HRAC Technician program or seek employment in the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning field.  Graduates will be prepared to take the examinations administered by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) to become certified Gas Technicians (G3 and G2) or pursue an apprenticeship to become a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic. They may seek careers in a variety of roles related to the installation, maintenance and repair of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems in residential, institutional, and light commercial settings.

“As the hub of the Bay of Quinte region’s workforce development, Loyalist College and the College’s Indigenous Circle on Education, are mapping out the path for our community’s economic recovery and future growth. Given our close relationships with industry partners, we know that addressing labour market shortages across various sectors will be critical to triggering economic development by ensuring our industry partners are able to operate at full capacity,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO of Loyalist College. “To address the changing demographics of the region and increasing demand from employers in longstanding and emerging industries, the College is investing heavily in developing innovative new programs and renewing and expanding our existing program offerings. The new HRAC programs will provide students with an opportunity to develop the knowledge and practical skills they need to make an immediate impact for employers through experiential learning facilitated by industry leading faculty and delivered in a purpose-built facility in Tyendinaga, close to employers and Indigenous partners from the Mohawk Nation.”

Visit loyalistcollege.com for admission details and to apply to start this January.

About Loyalist College

Loyalist College is located on the territory of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee people. We acknowledge our shared obligation to respect, honour, and sustain these lands and the natural resources contained within. Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2018-19 Loyalist graduates, 88.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kate Gardner, Communications Specialist, Office of the President & CEO
Loyalist College, kgardner@loyalistcollege.com