Trades in the News

People

Congratulations to John Vickery who was awarded the Skills Development and Training Award by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce at their annual Peter Perry and Business Achievement Awards Dinner. Vickery Electric was established in 1939 and has been training apprentices for over 20 years. The company has supported students through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and John was instrumental in developing both the training and curriculum for the network cabling program, and managing the Local Apprenticeship Committee. It was with his help that the Network Cable Specialist officially became recognized as a trade. The company also works with internationally trained trades people on issues related to program development and qualifications.

Simon Manintveld of Simon’s Caddy Shack (Oakwood, Ontario) was acclaimed as the Canadian Technician of the Year 2007. Simon was among dozens of technicians from across the country to be nominated for the annual award, organized by Canadian Technician magazine and sponsored by numerous sponsors. The award recognizes working technicians who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the shop, active in their industry and their community and dedicated to improving the public’s perception of automotive service technicians. Simon has mentored many apprentices over the years and one of his apprentices won the skills competition at his school and went on to become the Skills Ontario champion and finally the Skills Canada national champion in the bodyshop division. Congratulations!

Elaine Copestake was presented with a $1,000 scholarship award for a student in a trade or apprenticeship program. The scholarship was award by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce at their annual Peter Perry and Business Achievement Awards Dinner. The Chamber of Commerce offers three different scholarships to students of a chamber member or a chamber member employee. It's a way for the Whitby Chamber of Commerce to provide a significant benefit to their students who will be the leaders of their community in the future. Elaine is currently an apprentice at Valentino's Grande Salon in Whitby.

Marissa McTasney of Brooklin launched Tomboy Trades Ltd., which boasts a work apparel clothing line that is designed specially for women working in the trades. For more information visit: www.tomboytrades.com

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Training

Oshawa Central Collegiate Institute offers a unique learning experience referred to as the “Oshawa Construction Co-op Internship” program. This program is open to Grade 11 and Grade 12 students who live in Oshawa or Whitby and have completed their Grade 9 and Grade 10 credits. If a student is accepted into this program they can earn 4 credits towards their diploma, each year, plus gain valuable experience and insight into a number of the construction trades including framing, drywall, painting and decorating, plumbing, vinyl siding, bricklaying, home insulation and concrete finishing.

Grade 11 students rotate every 3 weeks between trades and this allows the student time to explore the different trades and make an informed decision on their career choice. Grade 12 students can continue to explore the different trades or specialize in one area.

Prior to their placement students participate in a 2 week training session where they learn more about construction related health and safety, employer expectations and are trained and certified in fall protection and WHMIS. For more information on this program contact Oshawa Central Collegiate at 905-723-4678 or www.occi.info.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is an apprenticeship program aimed at providing secondary school students with opportunities to complete credits towards a secondary school diploma while beginning an apprenticeship with an employer in the local community. Apprenticeship Preparation Programs available in Durham include:

• Automotive Service Technician
• Cook/Chef
• Early Childhood Educator
• Electrician (new offering)
• General Carpentry
• General Machinist
• Hairstylist
• Horticultural Technician
• Information Technology Support Analyst
• Small Engines Mechanic
• Welder

CARSability is a cost-effective, easy to use web based skills assessment tool designed to identify training gaps for participants in automotive related occupations. CARSability does the following:

• Assesses users to identify skills weaknesses within
  various occupations
• Provides detailed assessment results
• Locates training specific to assessment results
• Can assess all employees in a shop and provide owners with
  detailed results

CARSability assesses an individual for a particular occupation then pin-points exactly what weaknesses are found. CARSability then suggests training specific to the identified weaknesses by searching through a comprehensive database of automotive training. Training is matched exactly to the results of the assessment. For more information on how to access this assessment tool visit: www.carsability.com

Master Chef Designation - Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) has announced that Humber College Institute of Advance Learning will design the Canadian curriculum for the Master Chef designation and will be the first institution to pilot the initiative. Master Chef is the highest and most sought after designation in the culinary field and currently only exists in the United States, parts of Europe and Australia. For more information visit www.humber.ca/humbertoday/index.php?page=13

Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Training is currently being delivered in Whitby by Seneca College. For more information contact Employment Ontario at 1-800-461-4608.

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