The new Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute (SETI) in east Estevan has achieved a pair of milestones. The first courses to be offered inside the state-of-the-art institution are now underway, and the project has reached the substantial completion phase.

A power engineering course was the first to happen at the SETI. Students who are enrolled in that class moved from the old Energy Training Institute, which is located inside the Southeast Regional College's Estevan campus in the Estevan Comprehensive School, to the new SETI, which is on Bourquin Road.

A first aid course has also happened in the new building.

An office education course will begin in late February or early March, once the necessary technology is in place. Pre-electrical is slated to also begin in March.

The SETI boasts 13 classrooms, three instructional laboratories, an expansive auditorium, a spacious front foyer, administrative offices, meeting rooms, a resource area, a kitchen and other amenities. Each classroom and laboratory is equipped with the latest in technology.

SETI director Keith Madu said a maximum of nearly 600 students can be in the building for courses. The 13 classrooms can each handle 20 students. The three labs could be converted to classroom use. And the auditorium can seat up to 250 for a lecture.

"One of the things we wanted to make sure of is that we do it, we do it with quality, we make sure the students are looked after," said Madu.

Two of the labs boast 2,416 square feet. The larger lab, which will be used for confined space classes, fall arrest training and power mobile equipment sessions, boasts about 4,882 square feet, and its ceiling is about 50 feet off the ground.

The smaller labs will host programs such as pre-electrical. They aren't part of the apprenticeship, but they will allow a student to get a job under a journeyman, and then apply for the apprenticeship. The student will also get credit for the pre-trade hours that they take in Estevan.

A partnership with SIAST will allow the SETI to offer those programs, and that ensures the delivery of high-quality programs.

"When we do build any lab, it's to the SIAST standards," said Madu. "They tell us what they need, and we make sure we meet those standards."

The larger lab will allow for training to take place indoors, so students won't have to venture outside for fall arrest or confined space classes in the winter when the temperature is hovering around -30 C.

The SETI will also be accessible to the community. The boardroom on the second floor can be rented out by businesses for meetings. They also have a smaller meeting room on the first floor.

The expansive auditorium will be rented out for events. Not only can it accommodate large crowds for a lecture, it can seat 150 people for a banquet.

"If it's a community-related event or an industry event, and it's not going to affect regular operations (then it's available)," said Madu.

The auditorium was used for a Southeast Regional College staff event on January 30. The staff marveled at the design and the technology inside the auditorium. Highlights include an enormous projection screen and two 70-inch monitors.

"I couldn't have asked for it to go any more smoothly," said Madu. "The audio-visual (equipment) and everything worked. The biggest challenge we had was deciding which blinds to have up and which ones to have down."

The kitchen was also used for the first time. The caterer was impressed with the kitchen's amenities, and they didn't have a problem while serving food to the 72 people in attendance.

Another event, the annual South East Environmental and Safety Seminar on March 21, has already been booked for the auditorium. Guest speakers will discuss the importance of safety on the job in the oil patch and other industries.

Administrative offices for the Southeast Regional College in Estevan have been relocated from the college's Estevan campus to the SETI. The college will continue to offer classes at its Estevan campus.

The southeast college's main offices will remain in Weyburn.

Marketing coordinator Dave Harazny said the people who have seen the venue have been thrilled.

"They're all very excited about their space, and now that they're all settled, they're just geared up to start having more students come for more classes," said Harazny.

Some work still remains in the building, but the tasks are relatively minor.

"All the furniture is in place, with IT and audio visual equipment very close to being completed as well," said Southeast Regional College facilities manager Wayne Martin. "There is some painting to be completed in one of the labs, plus some other touch-ups and seasonal work, such as curbing and landscaping, which will be completed over the next few months with minimal disturbance."

Madu said he hopes that any problems with the computers, IT equipment and phones can be detected in February, so that when the spring road bans are implemented, and the SETI gets an influx of students from the oilfield, the institution is ready to offer courses.

An official grand opening is expected to take place in the spring. A ribbon cutting and tours would likely be part of the event.

"We're looking at scheduling something in the spring," said Harazny. "It just depends on the schedules of some of our dignitaries and people we want there. We want the weather to be nicer, as well, so that the public can come out and take a look at what it's all about."

The Southeast Regional College announced in June of 2009 that the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute would be located in Estevan. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in November of that year. Construction didn't actually begin until the summer of 2010.

Funding for construction came from the provincial and federal governments through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, which was part of Canada's Economic Action Plan.