A program that aims to get people interested in the trades is launching in Saugeen Shores.
“It’s generally targeting the youth who are preparing to go into an apprenticeship,” says Rob Stanley, Executive Director of Partnerships of the Saugeen Sparks Training Centre.
It’s a not-for-profit introductory and re-skilling training centre that’s set to begin this fall at Saugeen District Senior School.
A launch event was held on Friday (22nd) in Southampton in conjunction with a Tools In the Trades Boot Camp, which had about 72 people register to try out trades at different booths, working with things like faucets and plumbing to get a feel for it.
Stanley says recruiters from six labour unions were also on site at the event.
Stanley says later this fall, the goal is to run free classes one night a week for eight weeks, taught by experienced volunteers, at Saugeen District Senior School and to hold a grand opening in the spring.
He says the target demographic will typically be high school, adding, “But once we post, I’m guessing we’ll get some folks who are looking at re-skilling and just picking up some skills, probably some folks who are in different jobs in the community and want to try an apprenticeship in one of the skilled trades.”
He says, “Our role is to spark interest in the trades. To show the kids what the difference is between a boilermaker, a millwright etc and to give some hands-on training.”
“The plan is, if we spark interest in grade eight, the ones who– in high school if they’re not going into a STEM program will choose the high-skills major program and will graduate with a lot of credits in the trades and then go on to an apprenticeship, which is a ten-year journey from grade six to a red seal endorsed person,” says Stanley.
He says the population is growing, and more growth needs to be prepared for if Bruce Power’s application to build another nuclear operating plant is approved in the coming decade or so.
“There is a strategic plan to provide some of these skilled trades in ten years from now. It’s a long-term project. It’s not something that’s being planned for a two year, or three year horizon,” says Stanley.
He adds, the hope is to keep some youth from moving out of the area, explaining, “For workforce development, that’s one of our goals is to develop a local workforce.”
The provincial government says there’s a need for more people in skilled trades, noting at least one in three workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship or trade certificate is aged 55 or over and nearing retirement.