Both vehicles will offer hands-on learning opportunities for students 

Niagara College students enrolled in the college’s motive power programs will be getting a lesson in ‘Built Ford Tough’ with the donation of two 2020 F-150 trucks from Ford Canada.

On July 14, 2021, Niagara College took possession of the two vehicles from Eastgate Ford which will be used for hands-on training in the motive power technician program.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous donation from Ford Canada and for all the hard work from the team at Eastgate Ford to make this a reality,” said Jeffrey Murrell, associate dean, School of Trades. “The new technology in these vehicles will allow us to offer first-class hands-on learning experiences to our students that will help prepare them for their future careers.”

The two F-150 trucks will join Niagara College’s fleet of cars utilized for hands-on training and will feature state-of-the-art automotive technologies which will allow students to work with the new technology available in new vehicles on the road today.

This donation was made possible by the hardworking team at Eastgate Ford who worked closely with Niagara College to organize and arrange the donation and delivery of the vehicles.

“Working with the team at Eastgate Ford has really highlighted the passion that industry pros have for the next generation” said Murrell. “They are committed to providing first-class, real-world experiences for our students and we look forward to partnering with them on more initiatives in the future.”

“We’re proud to provide the next generation of automotive technicians the tools and knowledge that will help them excel in their careers,” said Robert Fricker, Service Manager, Eastgate Ford. “Ford Canada and Eastgate Ford have long been supporters of Niagara College and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for the students our partnership has impacted.”

Ford Canada has been a strong supporter of Niagara College’s motive power programs for many years. Ford also supports Niagara College through the ACE (Automotive Career Exploration) program.

The ACE program provides training to Niagara College students and provides valuable knowledge of Ford/Lincoln vehicle systems, which offers students an advantage starting their career in the automotive industry after graduation as an entry level automotive service technician at a Ford/Lincoln dealership. The ACE program online courses are a subset of the same courses taken by current Ford dealership technicians.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our students a unique mix of practical, experiential training that accurately reflects the technology and tools currently available in the automotive industry,” said Murrell. “Eastgate Ford’s ongoing support of Niagara College and our School of Trades ensures our students have a bright future ahead of them.”

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

Eastgate Ford has served Niagara and Hamilton residents since 1957. As Hamilton’s oldest and largest Ford Motor Company Dealership, Eastgate Ford takes pride in providing outstanding service to all its customers. With a strong tradition of customer satisfaction, Eastgate Ford is proud to be the 2021 recipient of the North American Customer Excellence award in recognition of outstanding customer satisfaction and operating standards. It is the highest award Ford Motor Company can bestow on its dealers.

Photo caption: The two F-150 trucks will join Niagara College’s fleet of cars utilized for hands-on training and will feature state-of-the-art automotive technologies which will allow students to work with the new technology available in new vehicles on the road today