For Todd Bondaroff, the sprawling landscape of northeast British Columbia is more than just scenery. As the president and CEO of Northern Lights College (NLC), he sees a region rich in natural resources that demands a constant flow of fresh talent. From forestry and mining to the leading energy sectors of oil and gas, the demand for skilled workers is relentless.
Bondaroff is the first to admit that the connection between a classroom and a gas plant isn’t always obvious to those outside the region. However, he views NLC as the essential bridge. “We are the only post-secondary provider in the region,” Bondaroff says. “It is such an opportunity to connect with our communities and leaders in industry to design programming that meets their needs.”
Breaking the traditional mould
One of the most significant shifts under Bondaroff’s leadership is the move toward non-traditional curriculum development. A prime example is the college’s recent collaboration with Tourmaline, a major North American natural gas producer. The company was struggling to find field operators to monitor gas plants and production sites.
Initially, the partnership required a period of building trust. “It was (an) industry meeting with (a) college,” Bondaroff notes. “I don’t necessarily know that those relationships happen easily or have happened easily in the past.” By bringing together over a century of collective expertise, the two organizations created a custom textbook and training program specifically for Tourmaline’s operations.
Earn while you learn
The result of this collaboration was a streamlined, 16-week program that moved at the speed of business. Unlike traditional academic paths, Tourmaline hired students before they even started their studies. These students attended NLC as employees, with their tuition fully covered.
This model allowed students to validate their classroom theory with hands-on training on the exact sites where they would eventually work. “They were building them to be ready to go as they were in the program,” Bondaroff explains. After just four months, graduates transitioned directly into high-paying roles, proving that post-secondary education can offer immediate, tangible improvements to a student’s life.
A vision for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, Bondaroff sees agility as the most critical factor for success. The pace of industrial development in B.C. requires a college system that can pivot quickly. He believes NLC’s role is to remain responsive to the “rate at which things are happening.”
By working closely with the provincial government and other B.C. colleges, Bondaroff aims to keep the talent pipeline full. Whether it is through innovative trades training or supporting major resource projects, his focus remains on economic growth. For Bondaroff, the future of the North depends on the ability to turn local learners into the province’s next generation of industrial leaders.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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