The Materials Joining Innovation Centre in Kirkland Lake celebrated its grand opening in June.
MaJIC, as it is known, was launched in May 2008 at the Kirkland Lake Campus of Northern College. As an independent not-for-profit corporation, it solves problems in materials joining through services such as testing for certification, technical advice, training, procedure development and applied research.
Its new lab facility, stocked with equipment valued at $500,000, complements Northern College’s existing facilities.
Northern College has won national and international recognition for the quality of its Welding Engineering Technology programs and is the first institution in North America to be authorized as an Authorized Training Body to deliver curriculum recognized by the International Institute of Welding.
To date, MaJIC has provided services for a range of industrial partners, including mining companies and suppliers from Kirkland Lake, Englehart, Temiskaming Shores, Timmins, Smooth Rock Falls, Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Rouyn-Noranda.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund contributed just over $1 million in funding for the start-up. The Ministry of Research and Innovation contributed $200,000 and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs contributed just under $300,000 through its Rural Economic Development (RED) program, for a total of $1.5-million from various provincial sources. FedNor contributed just under $500,000 to the $3.1-million project. Contributions from Northern College, the Town of Kirkland Lake and a fundraising campaign topped up the budget.
Additional equipment will be purchased this fiscal year at a cost of $500,000.
“Innovation is the key to developing Northern Ontario’s resource based, transportation and heavy construction industries,” said MaJIC’s CEO Don Dekker. “MaJIC uses technical knowledge to put creative ideas into practice. By commercializing our best ideas, MaJIC will make the North home to the most rewarding jobs, the strongest economy and the best quality of life.”
“Innovation and cutting-edge research are both key to ensuring the present and future prosperity of the Northern Ontario economy,” said Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines. “I am very pleased that our government was able to provide support to MaJIC. I am confident that MaJIC will play a vital role in the local and regional economy now and into the future.”
