Ontario school gains CCIL aggregate laboratory certification
By Adam Freill
Asphalt Concrete Construction Construction MaterialsMohawk College has become the first Canadian post-secondary institution to receive aggregate certification from national testing body.
From left: Student researchers Evan Weidner and Tyler Theim. (Photo: Tyler Sowden/ Mohawk College)
Mohawk College’s Construction Materials Laboratory is now certified by the Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories (CCIL) for industry testing. The school in Hamilton, Ont., is the first post-secondary institution in Canada to become certified by CCIL, a non-profit organization representing independent, private-sector testing laboratories in Canada. CCIL offers the largest laboratory certification program in the country.
“This certification showcases how our students and our applied research expertise will meet the highest of quality standards that are demanded by employers and partners of Mohawk College,” stated Jeff McIsaac, dean of engineering technology and aviation at the school. “Hamilton and our surrounding communities are recognized as a hub of innovation for the aggregate industry. As the first and only college in Canada to have been certified, we now can offer the industry the talent and expertise they need.”
The Construction Materials Laboratory at its Fennell Campus is used to support applied research projects with the construction industry and serves as an operational lab used for teaching in the college’s civil engineering technology and architectural technology programs. This certification means the college has met the standardization and interlaboratory testing requirements of the CCIL aggregate laboratory certification program and is qualified for aggregate quality control laboratories (Type C) and aggregate physical property tests (Type D).
“I am proud and grateful to work with this amazing team to make this certification a reality,” said Irene Amog, a faculty member in the college’s School of Engineering Technology and Aviation, who led the certification process along with Tyler Sowden, the technologist for the college’s Building and Construction Sciences programs. “The certification will bring many learning opportunities to the present and future students of Mohawk College. I look forward to working with industry partners on their projects very soon.”
The school expects the newly certified lab to help support growing demand in Ontario for applied research expertise in aggregate materials testing and applied research, saying that the lab will give Mohawk students an advantage when launching careers in the construction sector. Three Mohawk College students also received their individual certifications during the lab certification process.
“This was a tremendous opportunity to further my knowledge in this field,” said Tyler Theim, who along with his classmates Evan Weidner and Oscar Padron Janica, received top marks on the certification exam. “It will assist in jumpstarting my career and I am grateful that Mohawk College is able to provide these experiences to students such as myself.”
Programs using the newly certified lab include civil engineering technology, civil engineering technician, architectural technology, architectural technician and civil engineering technology-transportation. Applied research projects are currently underway in the lab.
