CAMBRIDGE, ONT. — The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) and apprenticeship sponsor Support Ontario Youth (SOY) have announced a partnership to boost apprenticeships for electricians and plumbers.
SOY is a government-approved apprenticeship sponsor group for the two trades. SOY’s mandate is to advocate for apprentices and support them in their careers, stated a Nov. 6 release.
Statistics have indicated only half of apprentices in Ontario complete their apprenticeships, and confusion within the apprenticeship system was identified as a significant barrier to enrolment and completion during the province’s consultations with the construction industry in 2016, the release said.
“At any given time, hundreds of apprentices are registering, progressing through and completing their apprenticeship programs within CLAC,” said Colin deRaaf, CLAC training director in Ontario, in the release. “We want to ensure they are able to complete their apprenticeships and enjoy rewarding careers in the skilled trades, which is why we’ve partnered with SOY.”
SOY’s apprenticeship sponsor group services include recruitment, registration, administration and continuing support to employers and apprentices. The new partnership means CLAC apprentices can now stay registered as apprentices without having to be sponsored directly by an employer, the release said. They do not lose their spot in line for the in-class portion of their apprenticeship, their OCOT (Ontario College of Trades) membership stays in good standing, and they can still qualify for grants and bursaries.
“An apprentice’s ability to continue learning should not be handcuffed by the employer’s ability to keep them employed,” says Stephen Sell, SOY’s executive director. “These apprentices can now continue learning and preparing for their chosen career versus dropping out because they are between jobs. By sharing resources and aligning our services with like-minded organizations, such as CLAC, we take leaps in helping streamline the apprenticeship pathway in Ontario.”
As part of the arrangement, SOY and CLAC will collaborate with the individual apprentices to ensure they have access to resources and mentorship while they prepare for the in-class portion of their apprenticeship and the certificate of qualification certificate exam.
The release said SOY works with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, government oversight agencies, Ontario colleges, industry supporters, stakeholders and employment agencies among its activities.
“By inserting ourselves into the process, we are able to help address barriers to completion, and hurdles that employers and apprentices face when working through the apprenticeship pathway,” said Huong Nguyen, SOY’s operations manager. “These experiences allow us to provide feedback to the ministry and key stakeholders responsible for apprenticeship learning. With this collaboration of resources, we’re able to stay on top of employer’s wants and apprentice needs with an active, open line of communication.”
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