Economic spinoffs of Moncton job announcement begin

By Brent Mazerolle, Times & Transcript September 26, 2015

The spinoffs have begun. Moncton’s McKenzie College, is responding to Thursday’s announcement of 1,000 new jobs at BMM Testlabs Canada in the Moncton area with an announcement of its own.

McKenzie College was already a local training partner with BMM Testlabs Canada, which serves the global gaming industry ensuring their products meet the laws of their jurisdictions.

The college started its first cohort of software testers earlier this month, and with the increasing demand, will now start another cohort later this fall.

College president Dale Ritchie will also follow up on his meeting with BMM president Martin Storm in Moncton Thursday by travelling to Storm’s home base in Melbourne, Australia, early next month, to further discuss their evolving partnership over the five year period BMM hopes to grow.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” Ritchie said Friday.

Saying the college will be hiring more instructors and support staff because of BMM’s plans, he added, “It’s not just their 1,000 positions. There’s the whole spinoff impact.”

Noting that software systems testing is a growing industry in which Canadian companies enjoy a good reputation, Ritchie predicted the BMM Testlabs expansion will be “a great entry into the IT world” for many New Brunswickers.

McKenzie College’s software tester program is an 11-month diploma program with a six-week internship. Ritchie predicts the college will have 20-person cohorts beginning their studies four times per year.

New Brunswick’s community colleges and the University New Brunswick are also partnering with BMM Testlabs.

Stephen Lund, CEO of Opportunities New Brunswick, said this week, “Any time you can position yourself as good at something, the world stands up” and takes notice.

“If you talk to any company around the world, the first questions are ‘Why would I go there?’ and ‘Who else is there?’ ”

Lund said having a company like BMM announcing a job number like 1,000, “you get attention.” He predicted when other companies ask why BMM is investing in our region, the answers – a good workforce and location as well as a low cost of business – will impress.

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