The Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles obtains GWO certification for new wind turbine maintenance training courses

The Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles has become the first academic institution in Quebec to offer wind turbine maintenance training certified by the Global Wind Organization (GWO), an international training standard created to ensure the safety and proficiency of personnel working in the wind energy sector. 

Training courses will be offered at the Centre québécois de formation en maintenance d’éoliennes (CQFME) through its mobile training unit or at third-party sites. They will be available in various locations throughout eastern North America, based on demand, as well as elsewhere in the world, such as Dakar, where the Cégep offers a wind turbine maintenance attestation of collegial studies. 

The Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles thus becomes the 12th certified training center in Canada, offering courses that meet the highest global standards in terms of safety and technical skills in the field of wind energy.   

“Obtaining the GWO certification means offering world-class training in our region. It reinforces our leadership role in developing skills related to the energy transition and addresses a significant demand from the industry. Until now, many went to the United States to complete the GWO training. Going forward, these individuals will be able to take GWO training courses closer to home,” explains Geneviève Milot, Coordinator of Continuing Education.  

The new GWO-certified courses include three safety courses (identified as BST, or Basic Safety Training, by GWO):  

• Working at Heights and Manual Handling  

• Fire Awareness 

• First Aid 

Core technical training modules (known as BTT, or Basic Technical Training, in the GWO community) 

• Electricity 

• Hydraulics 

• Mechanics 

• Bolting 

• Installation 

These courses will be offered separately or as a package, depending on demand. They complement the Cégep’s already extensive range of wind turbine maintenance courses. Those who complete these modules will receive a GWO certificate that is recognized worldwide, ensuring them greater employability in a rapidly growing market. 

GWO-certified training courses are required by the largest players in the wind energy industry and are an essential professional qualification for anyone wishing to work in the installation or maintenance of wind farms in Quebec, Canada, and internationally.  

This new offering of GWO-certified training courses represents a major step forward when it comes to training accessibility in remote areas, making it possible to certify technicians at the CQFME, in communities, or directly at wind farm facilities, without compromising the quality or standards required by the industry.   

This announcement is part of the government’s commitment to making the Gaspé Peninsula a strategic hub for wind power development in Quebec, with new wind farm projects and major investments planned to start in 2026. 

The Centre québécois de formation en maintenance d’éoliennes 
The CQFME operates out of the Gaspé campus of the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles. It is a LEED-certified facility specializing in training wind turbine maintenance technicians. Since its inception in 2012, it has been training skilled workers to meet the needs of the wind energy industry in Quebec and internationally.

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