The best unionized carpentry apprentices Ontario has to offer will square off for three days, starting today, at the Carpenters Union Provincial Apprenticeship Contest in Toronto.
The best unionized carpentry apprentices Ontario has to offer will square off for three days, starting today, at the Carpenters Union Provincial Apprenticeship Contest in Toronto.
This year’s Ontario carpentry apprenticeship contest will showcase a total of 24 contestants in three carpentry trades. There will be 12 contestants in general carpentry, seven in drywall, acoustic and lathe and five in floor covering. The contest will be held at the carpenters’ training centre in Vaughan, Ont.
“It is an opportunity for the apprentices to showcase their fantastic skills,” said Cristina Selva, executive director, Carpenters’ Local 27 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Trust Fund Inc.
“More than that, it is an opportunity for the union to showcase the level of skill of its membership so the public can become aware of the union, the training efforts and investments made by it.”
The competing apprentices first have to prevail in in-house competition held across locals in Ontario. The apprentices are either in their last year of apprenticeship or just completed their apprenticeships.
“They have to complete all their levels of schooling,” said Selva. “They do a written exam, much like their certificate of qualification exam, then do an instrument test followed by a practical project that is weighted most heavily.”
The provincial contest follows the same structure as the in-house competitions. Written exams and blueprint reviews occur tomorrow morning.
By the afternoon, the contestants begin working on their practical projects. The winners in each trade are crowned Friday evening and will go on to the national apprenticeship contest set for Quebec City this August.
The provincial contest was held last year in Sudbury, Ont. and the year before in Windsor, Ont. Moving the contest from one local to another helps market the union and its training.
“Basically, it educates people of the opportunities in the industry and specifically in the unionized industry,” added Selva.
The carpentry apprenticeship contest was expanded this year to include the floor covering trade for the first time.
“Floor covering is one of the trades within the jurisdiction of carpenters and it is a growing trade with growing membership,” noted Selva.
Provincial winners at this year’s contest will receive a cash award and tool equipment. Charles Sousa, Ontario’s minister of labour, is expected to visit the apprenticeship contest.
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