Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture (Co-op Optional)

at Fleming College - Frost Campus (Lindsay) Canada

Contribute to healthy, inclusive, and sustainable communities through environmental land management and planning. This is the only post-grad program of its kind in Ontario.

Program Highlights
Our graduate certificate will turn your passion for creating more liveable, sustainable communities into a career in Canada’s environmental sector.

Throughout this intense program you will gain:

• Expertise in supporting the planning development of lands according to municipal, provincial and federal legislation and industry standards/procedures
• Practical experience in conducting environmental assessments and environmental impact studies
• Knowledge of industry standards for collection and analysis of water and soil samples in the field to aid in the study and modelling of environmental problems
• The ability to present spatial information using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications
• Project management skills as well as negotiation, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills to achieve goals within land use development projects and associated plans

This high demand skill set will prepare graduates for a wide variety of settings in the public, private or non-profit sectors. This program is specifically designed to support students transitioning into the Canadian environment.

Prepare to become a compliance specialist in worker health and safety, as well as environmental protection. Employment opportunities exist in both the public and private sectors.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The new Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance program focuses on workplace compliance, including labour, inspection and auditing, public and worker safety, and environmental protection. The program provides a unique, comprehensive combination of training in all aspects of health and safety as well as environmental compliance - a definite hiring asset.

• Acquire knowledge, expertise and professional skills in inspection and investigation relating to occupational health and safety legislation and environmental law
• Develop the ability to plan and implement training to create a safe work environment
• Learn the legal aspects and procedures of inspection, monitoring, investigation and enforcement across a wide range of industries
• Put your new skills into practice through applied learning
• Graduate job-ready

In Ontario, the Ministry of Labour sets, communicates and enforces workplace standards regarding worker protection. Additionally, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change protects and improves the quality of the environment to keep it healthy and protect human health and safety. Private industry and municipal governments also employ compliance specialists.
Graduates will be prepared to find employment in a wide range of jobs, within provincial and federal enforcement, or the private sector, ensuring that legislative obligations in occupational safety and environmental protection are met.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Upon successful completion of this certificate, graduates will be able to:
  • Plan and perform workplace inspections and audits for compliance with occupational health and safety and environmental legislation.
  • Develop and evaluate health and safety programs for a variety of industries to promote the health and safety of workers.
  • Facilitate legal compliance, reduce accidents and train and lead others in creating a safe work environment through the application of health, safety, and environmental policies and practices.
  • Conduct investigations of workplace injuries, fatalities, work refusals, occupational illness or complaints related to unsafe work conditions and hazards.
  • Develop and propose recommendations to address audit findings and verify compliance.
  • Prepare investigative briefs and other documents for the prosecution of infractions of occupational safety and environmental legislation.
  • Inspect facilities for possible contraventions of health, safety and environmental legislation and prepare control documents to resolve identified issues.
  • Investigate environmental incidents, spills or complaints and determine remediation for health and safety of the surrounding environment and persons.
  • Manage and/or defuse potentially difficult situations by applying conflict management skills and strategies.

Optional Co-op
Students entering the program in September may apply to participate in an optional paid co-op. The deadline to apply is at the end of November, where students must submit an Application Form (including a resume) to the Co-op Office. Students must achieve a 70% (2.5 GPA) average, and pass all courses in Semester 1 in order to be enrolled in the Co-op Option. All students in the program participate in a Career Preparation course. Students who are accepted into the Co-op Option must complete 450 hours of co-op, following semester 2. Generally this takes place between May and August, but start dates and total number of weeks may vary according to the employer. The Co-op Option provides the opportunity to:

• Integrate classroom learning with work-based learning
• Explore the variety of careers available in the field
• Network for future job opportunities

The Co-op Option is not available for students who begin the program in January, as they attend classes over the summer.

Through the Geographic Information Systems - Cartographic Specialist program you can become a proficient GIS practitioner, visual designer and communicator - creating a variety of customized maps and other products for the many users of geographic information.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Cartography - known as the art and science of making maps, has come a long way since the efforts of early mapmakers who worked with pen and ink. While cartography still relies on many of the traditional principles, mapmaking now requires incorporating the best of modern research and technology. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows today's "cartographer" to store geographic data in an organized way, to allow for quick access, correlation, and analysis. This system also facilitates the development of cartographic displays. By using GIS, cartographers are able to collect, store, and combine data about a given area, subject, or region being researched. GIS helps planners working on environmental, public health, municipal planning, and natural resource projects (to name a few uses) monitor change, predict trends and manage resources using current relevant data.

The GIS Cartographic Specialist program is an advanced post-graduate program, building on your existing, related skills.

• Fleming's leadership in this field has been recognized by industry, government and business through their support in establishing the Geomatics Institute at Fleming.
• These strong partnerships offer students access to the latest software packages and data resources as well as unprecedented learning and employment opportunities.
• Most GIS programs focus on geographic analysis and application - but the Fleming Cartographic Specialist program is based on a dual approach which is truly unique.
• You will become a proficient GIS practitioner, as well as a visual designer and communicator - using GIS data and software to create a wide variety of customized maps and other products for users of geographic information.

Participate in more hands-on fish and wildlife field experiences and related work placements with a third year of study in the Fish and Wildlife Technology program.

Expand your career horizons. Through building on what you've learned in the Fish and Wildlife Technician program, and adding more in-depth studies into the science of fish and wildlife management, you'll be prepared for even greater career success in the field.

You'll take part in more hands-on field experiences and related work placements, training in advanced laboratory techniques, data compilation and analysis, and report writing. An exciting, four-weeks of field placement provides you with the opportunity to further explore your career options - and make valuable employment contacts. Two, week-long field camps in the fall and winter will round out your more intensive experience and extensive skill set.

• Fleming is the only college in Ontario offering a third year specialization in Fish and Wildlife Technology.
• Program graduates are eligible for advanced standing into Trent University's Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology or Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Studies and can complete their Honours degree with just two years of study at Trent.
• Program graduates are eligible for advanced standing entry to Wilfrid Laurier University, Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies and can complete this degree with two years of study.

Why Choose Fleming
The Fish and Wildlife Technology program benefits from the expertise and enthusiasm of faculty with extensive real-life experience in the field, and from hands-on, experiential learning. We also help you secure your future, as many governmental and private employers are looking for graduates from this program. Our contacts are a valuable resource in your career development.

The Geographic Information Systems Application Specialist is the "wizard" who provides technical expertise to produce effective and useful plans and project reports through the applied use of technology.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
GIS Application Specialists help various agencies and government do effective planning to manage all aspects of the environment and community life. For example, you might work on natural resources, agriculture, or community health projects. You'll be collecting information, and then distilling it to be put into a form that specialists and technicians can use.

• In this post-graduate, intensive GIS program you will use current, high-end technology tools to collect, store, manipulate, analyze, interpret, and communicate geographic information within a variety of disciplines.
• Fleming's leadership in this field has been recognized by industry, government and business through their support in establishing the Geomatics Institute at Fleming.
• These outstanding partnerships offer students access to the latest computer hardware, software, data resources and field technology used in the industry today, as well as unprecedented learning and employment opportunities.
• You will have plenty of opportunities to practice your skills in a work-like setting, with a student to computer ratio of one-to-one.

Be a part of the solution - as an Ecosystem Management Technician, you contribute to the health of ecosystems, minimizing the negative impact we have on the environment. Through careful consideration of the needs of society and the environment, you'll help governments, conservation groups, and wildlife organizations do environmentally sustainable planning for the future.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Fleming's Ecosystem Management Technician program highlights a holistic approach to the management of human activity within ecosystems. We will prepare you for an exciting career that can take you where YOU want to go, either in your home community, in a wilderness environment, or across the globe. You will study ecosystem composition, structure and function in wilderness, rural, and urban landscapes, and acquire a broad range of technical skills, as well as the flexibility to adapt to changing job requirements. Throughout this program, you will:

• Learn the principles of experimental design and research, and how to apply them to a project of your own
• Participate in the monitoring and assessment of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, conduct resource inventories and environmental sampling, and develop plans for the management of public and private landscapes
• Conduct field research in partnership with a variety of organizations and analyze data generated by this work
• Learn to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to analyze ecosystems at a variety of scales.

WHY CHOOSE FLEMING

• Ecosystem Management is on the leading edge of resource conservation in the 21st century - the future is now.
• The School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at the Frost Campus encourages small class sizes and provides state-of-the-art technology.
• Dedicated, award-winning faculty provide a challenging and dynamic learning environment in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region.
• While you learn about ecosystem science and the current techniques of sustainable resources management, you will also develop essential skills in communications, human relations, facilitation, problem solving, dispute resolution, and cultural awareness.
• This combination of skills and knowledge is transferrable on a global scale.

PATHWAY PROGRAM
If you do not meet the admission requirements for Ecosystem Management Technician, consider the General Arts and Science - Environmental and Natural Resource Studies Option. This pathway program may provide the requirements you need for admission while you earn credit for first semester of Ecosystem Management Technician.

Our School offers the only college program in Canada providing training in Drilling, and we are the only program in the world offering training in so many of the different types of drilling. Numerous sectors rely on drilling skills, so this program opens doors to huge opportunities, many employers, and options to choose which field of drilling you will focus on. Our grads are in high demand. Every year, national and international employers recruit at our on-campus job fairs, and many of our students have employment offers before they graduate.

Currently, these fields offer employment opportunities for drilling careers:

• Construction Drilling and Blasting
• Geotechnical Drilling
• Environmental Drilling
• Water Well Drilling
• Resources Drilling, including minerals and oil and gas exploration
• Horizontal Directional Drilling

In our program, you'll learn the foundational theory, techniques and methods relating to each of these types of drilling, with an emphasis on safe working practices, while you learn to operate a full range of drilling equipment hands-on.

OPTIONAL CO-OP
Students entering the program in September may apply to participate in an optional paid co-op. The deadline to apply is at the end of November, where students must submit an Application Form (including a resume) to the Co-op Office. Students must achieve a 70% (2.5 GPA) average, and pass all courses in Semester 1 in order to be enrolled in the Co-op Option. Students who are accepted will participate in a Career Preparation course, and will do their co-op between semesters 2 and 3. The Co-op Option provides the opportunity to:

• Integrate classroom learning with work-based learning
• Explore the variety of careers available in the field
• Network for future job opportunities

The Co-op Option is not available for students who begin the program in January, as they attend classes over the summer.

WHY ARE DRILLING SKILLS IN DEMAND?
People may assume that resources drilling, such as for minerals and oil and gas exploration, is the sector where most graduates find work. In fact, there are numerous types of drilling required for a variety of industries and projects, with excellent job prospects:

• Geotechnical Drilling is required before any large construction project can begin. This involves subsurface investigations to evaluate property for infrastructure development, drilling for soil samples, determining soil type and depth, and ground conditions.
• Construction Drilling includes drilling foundations and anchoring piles for bridges, roadwork, or for any large building or development.
• Environmental Drilling involves obtaining samples of soil and groundwater, to control or remediate contaminants. Sites such as fuel service stations, landfills, mining operations, or abandoned infrastructures are examined, to either monitor or to reclaim the land for other purposes.
• Drilling skills are essential for water well design, installation and monitoring.
• Horizontal Directional Drilling is used to drill underneath structures such as roadways, foundations, or other properties, or beneath lakes, rivers or streams. The goal is to create a below-ground conduit, providing a transportation solution for waterlines, electrical lines, pipelines, or fibre-optic cables, for example.
• Geothermal Drilling, to install geothermal heating or cooling systems, is another growing field.

THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED
Our well-rounded program provides the courses and hands-on experience you need to begin a career in this exciting and varied sector. A full 80% of the program consists of practical learning sessions - in our state-of-the-art, on-campus Parnham Training Centre, and off-campus in the field. You'll also be challenged to think on your feet and use your problem-solving skills.

• You'll work on a full range of drilling equipment in our five service bays.
• Four specially equipped classrooms/labs feature everything from a drilling simulator to hands-on drilling activities.
• Course work includes an introduction to emerging fields, such as the geothermal industry.
• You'll get industry recognition for your studies. Our grads are exempt from taking the mandatory Ontario Ministry of the Environment 10-day Water Well Constructed Course. (Ontario Regulation 903 requires successful completion of this training for new well technicians.)

WHY CHOOSE FLEMING

• Our unique program offers a rare combination of technical training, theory and hands-on experience. Due to our strong connections with the industry, and our geographical location, the program is well positioned to place graduates throughout North America and globally. Employers know our grads have a good foundation of theory and practice, as well as excellent transferrable skills to draw upon for any challenge in the workplace.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Following your first semester, you'll begin to explore specialized training in drilling. As mentioned, you'll spend most of your time in labs or field classes, putting your education to work and refining your skills. You'll also take part in field assignments in local quarries and job-related activities. Practical experience in semester four is subject to a criminal records check as required by field placement site management.

The Ecosystem Management Technology program builds on the expertise developed from the two year Technician program. You will also gain applied experience while working with community and resource agencies that are dedicated to long term ecosystem health.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
The third year of Fleming's Ecosystem Management Technology program begins with a mandatory four-day field camp in a remote wilderness setting. This experience offers both personal challenge and the opportunity to build effective working relationships with your classmates - essential preparation for the year ahead.

If you are looking for a challenge, are passionate about the environment and want to be a leader, then this program is for you.
Students participate in the unique placement program - Credit for Product - spending one day per week working with a team on a project for an external agency.
Students in the Ecosystem Management Technology program also host an annual EcoHealth conference. The class invites the public, local area residents, community groups and businesses to attend, participate and learn.
If you are interested in continuing your education once you complete the Ecosystem Management Technology program, the university transfer agreements in place with a number of universities are first rate. Alternatively, if you are a university student looking for a program to complement your degree and provide you with a more applied approach to learning, then this program will meet your needs.
Students will attend the Annual National Council for Science and the Environment Conference in Washington D.C. A current passport for this activity is required.

WHY CHOOSE FLEMING

• The Ecosystem Management Technologist program is the only one of its kind at an Ontario community college.
• As a discipline, Ecosystem Management is on the leading edge of resource conservation in the 21st century - the future is now.
• The School of Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences at the Frost Campus encourages small class sizes and access to state-of-the-art technology.
• Dedicated, award-winning faculty provide a challenging and dynamic learning environment in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region.
• Our transfer agreements with universities enable graduates to further their studies and obtain a degree.
• Program graduates are eligible to apply for a Bachelor of Environmental Science degree at Trent or York University and complete it with an additional two years of study at these partner institutions (this would normally take seven years to complete instead of five).
• An agreement with Cape Breton University enables program graduates to obtain their Bachelor of Science (Environment) with approximately one year of study.

The Outdoor and Adventure Education diploma program blends the development of people skills with the technical skills of outdoor pursuits, a dynamic combination that allows graduates to thrive in outdoor education and recreational settings. The program utilizes an experiential learning approach to teaching, allowing students to graduate with a solid resume of outdoor field experiences, certifications as well as other important skills such as facilitation, nature interpretation and adventure-based education strategies.

Trained outdoor leaders and facilitators offer safe, fun and educational outdoor programs and activities. These unique opportunities enable individuals or groups to stretch themselves physically, emotionally and socially in a supportive atmosphere. During this program, you will:

Improve your technical outdoor skills by participating in field courses such as, rock climbing, Nordic skiing, mountain biking, backpacking and bush craft.
Obtain certifications such as ORCKA Flat Water Canoeing Tandem and Solo, Certified Hike Leader, Wilderness First Responder, Ice Safety and Royal Lifesaving Bronze Cross.
Take courses covering diverse subjects including trip planning, risk management, trails design and construction, customer service and leadership.
Improve technical skill competencies in wilderness navigation, menu planning and cooking as well as knots, weather predicting and back country camping.
Increase your nature-based identification skills and improve your ecological and environmental awareness.

Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement is a career that appeals to people who enjoy outdoor pursuits, and who have a balanced approach to consumption and conservation.

In this program, our mandate is to prepare field ready, entry-level conservation and environmental law enforcement officers. You can really make a difference. This is a challenging program with a heavy workload that is intended for serious students entering a competitive field.

Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement is about regulating the use of natural resources, and accountability for activities that have an adverse effect on the environment. Examples of regulated activities include fishing, hunting, logging, aggregate extraction, alteration of fish habitat, the use of public land, and the discharge of pollutants.

This one-year, two-semester post-graduate program will prepare you for a variety of positions in the field, with a well-rounded selection of courses offering a good blend of practice and theory. You will be trained in such areas of study as procedural law, fish and wildlife enforcement, lands and environmental law, investigation techniques, forensics, and conflict management and avoidance. In your first semester, your learning will be enhanced through a fall camp, situated in a wilderness setting.