An estimated 1,500 to 1,700 students in Grades 7 to 12 from the Algoma District School Board, Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board and Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon are getting a hands-on introduction to skilled trades Wednesday and Thursday at The Machine Shop.
Students, instructed by professionals, tried welding, bricklaying, changing tires and other tasks Wednesday.
“I’m enjoying it. I definitely want to be in construction. I like the idea of getting to work with all this equipment,” said Trinity Bonin, a Grade 11 student in the ADSB’s Kina Awiiya Secondary Program.
There were numerous employers on hand with verbal advice for students as well as printed material regarding skilled trades.
“I find it so fascinating that I can read all the booklets at the displays and get to learn about all these jobs and opportunities. I really want to try cement mixing today. I’ve always considered a trade as a job possibility,” said Paisley McDonald, a Gr. 7 student at St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School.
Grade 12 Korah Collegiate students Scott Lambert and Jack Metcalfe, already experienced with hands-on work through high school shop classes, are both considering aviation as their first career choice after high school but are keeping skilled trades in mind as an alternative.
“I like hands-on work instead of sitting in an office,” Metcalfe said.
“I like welding. It’s somewhat calming and soothing and very skill-based,” Lambert said.
“The trades are good because you get paid to learn. You’re without student debt when you’re finished,” said Sudbury-based Anthony Iannucci, United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters, Welders and Apprentices Local 800 training director.
“Why not the trades? We have a high skill level, we’re very professional in our work, we have high wages. College is good. University is good for those individuals who seek that, other individuals like to work with their hands.”
The trades will always be needed, Iannucci told SooToday.
“We will always need plumbers and we will always indeed steamfitters, for example. We’re always building and replacing those buildings. The life cycle of buildings is 30 years or so. That skilled trades knowledge has to be passed on to each generation and we’re encouraging young people to get into the trades and make a good living.”
Iannucci said that students’ Grade 7 and 8 school days are a good time to get introduced to the trades and consider them as a career choice after high school.
Gr. 12 Math and English are required to get into skilled trades training and knowledge of French is also desirable, he said.
“You're probably looking at $24 to $26 dollars an hour for a first year apprentice,” Iannucci said in regard to pay in the trades.
With more hours and experience come wage increases.
A journeyman earns $44 to $46 an hour in addition to benefits and a pension plan, Iannucci said.
Among the many employers with skilled trades people gathered at The Machine Shop for the two-day event are the Ontario Pipe Trades Council, Ontario Masonry Training Centre, TMS Truck Centre, Algoma Steel, Tenaris, Rector Machine Works, Soo Foundry & Machine, Sault College, McDougall Energy and the City of Sault Ste. Marie Public Works and Engineering Services.
Wednesday’s session ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a session for parents and guardians planned for 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday only. The event continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
The two-day event, known as Level Up, was organized by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Level Up tours several communities, the Sault being added to the list for the first time this year.