The Ontario Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre is the best place for future workers in the trade to hone their skills, say the centre’s instructors.
Apprenticeship Training
Estimates show 1,875 new bodies needed
The newly minted Ontario Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre is the best place for future workers in the trade to hone their skills, state centre instructors.
“The advantage our guys have here is that the instructors have the experience and expertise to relate to what they are trying to learn,” said Rob Saipe, training centre instructor. “When I am in a classroom with my students, I am 100 per cent there for them.”
The new sheet metal training centre in Oakville already has 20 apprentices within its walls learning about the sheet metal trade. The idea for the centre was first hatched in 1998 after a province-wide study into sheet metal training revealed the need for the facility.
According to statistics from the Construction Sector Council, by 2015 Ontario will need to replace 1,875 sheet metal workers.
Up until now, the trade has been relying on the Ontario college system to provide apprenticeship training.
Jim Bradshaw, provincial training trust fund committee chairman, said the new training centre will provide the highest level of training possible and is the result of unprecedented effort in the sheet metal industry. “The co-operation between the labour and management sides is something I do not think the sheet metal industry has ever seen before,” said Bradshaw.
The $6 million state-of-the-art facility has the ability to teach 80 apprentices at one time. A recent injection of $615,000 of provincial funding for equipment upgrades helps ensure better and more training of apprentices, journey person upgrading and more health and safety training, explained Kevin Rabinshaw, training trust fund executive director.
Greg Rodgers, training centre head instructor, a 30-year veteran of the sheet metal trade, said one of the centre’s best assets is its state-of-the-art the machinery.
“You won’t find a better collection of equipment than what we have here,” said Rodgers.
Apprentices at the centre are required to complete five years of training and 8,000 hours of work in the field. Apprentice Rodney Goodman said the quality of both the machinery and instruction at the centre makes a world of difference for someone learning the trade.
“When you are talking to one of the instructors, they can relate to your situation and questions,” said Goodman.
Chris Bentley, Ontario’s training, colleges and universities minister unveiled Ontario’s $25 million investment for equipment upgrades at trade centres while at the Oakville centre. The funding is based on centres providing 25 per cent of the equipment upgrade costs and the provincial government covers the remaining costs.
“You work with people whose work is to build Ontario,” said Bentley.
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