Presentation on skilled trades

According to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's Skilled Trades Survey 2003, more than half of the skilled tradespeople are expected to retire within the next 15 years. That retirement statistic, along with shortages of workers in the skilled trades industry, means the demand for people entering the trades is high.

Friday, May 11 at 10 a.m., Jobs Caledon is hosting Shane McCarthy, training director of the Joint Training and Apprenticeship Committee (JTAC) at the Local 787/Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (ORAC) Training Centre. McCarthy will be discussing the mechanical construction trades like the pipe trades, air conditioning and refrigeration, plumbing, pipe fitting, steam fitting, sprinkler fitting, electrical, and sheet-metal trades, as well as providing information about pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs.

McCarthy has taught as a part-time instructor for 10 years and has been full-time training director for more than 10 years. His career in the HVACR trade started in 1973 with an Ontario family business. After attending the apprenticeshiptraining program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, he was inter-provincially licensed in 1982 as an Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. After returning to Ontario in 1982 he joined Local 787 in 1983 and has been a member in good standing since.

For people interested in the skilled trades and apprenticeship this is an excellent opportunity to speak directly to someone who has been involved in the field for over 15 years.

"A skilled trade is as simple as a pen-maker, (but) what people really want to know and talk about are apprenticeship trades … careers in trades through apprenticeships," said McCarthy. "Apprenticeship basically means that you're going to be indentured to an employer and the employer will have you work with a skilled craftsman, and that skilled craftsman will mentor you during your apprenticeship … it is all about learning from the master craftsman."

For more information or to register for this information session, please call Caledon Community Services at 905- 951-2300 or 905-584-9460. Jobs Caledon is located at 18 King Street East, in the upper level of the Royal Courtyards, in downtown Bolton. Jobs Caledon is an Employment Ontario Program which is funded in part by the Government of Canada.