Skilled trades trailer visits as students show more interest

A skilled trades truck visits St. Anne’s high school to get students interested in the trades. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco explains.

The push to lure younger people into skilled trades careers continues in Windsor-Essex.

Karlo Rome, a grade 12 student at St. Joe’s, says he wants to be a carpenter but a visit from the Skills Ontario travelling Trades and Tech trailer opened his eyes to other trades.

“This culinary stuff, this was my first time doing it. I thought it was awesome. I was here the whole time. Even the hair hairstyling, I was, I was really into it.” Rome said.

Villanova student Taylor Gemus has figured out what she wants to do but appreciated what the trailer had to offer. “I like that you could try a bunch of different things, even though you’re not actually doing them with the right materials.”

Students received access to a big machine and spray-painting simulator, learned how to create a cake and make a pony tail.

“We show them that there’s over 140 skilled trades in Ontario, over 300 in Canada.” said Randy MacKenize, a co-ordinator with Skills Ontario.

His teammate Jesse Fram says because of size, the trailer is always a work in progress. In commission since late last year, the trailer has changed with the additions of service sector trades.

There is also talk of adding plumbing, which is in demand. “We’re trying to open their minds to whatever your passion might be now, there’s probably a way to turn that into a profession one day.”

Lisa Costante is an entrepreneur and soon to be graduate of the University of Windsor as a cosmetology trade study teacher. She was in the trailer guiding students through the beauty and culinary trades.

“Traditionally when we went to school many, many years ago, it was only automotive and manufacturing and construction,” Costante said. “Now we have opened up the doors to so many different avenues.”

During the two-day tour, close to 300 students learned about nine different trades with more inside the St. Anne Trades and Tech Academy and Learning Centre.

The school currently has close to 200 students enrolled from five different schools. In January, seven of the graduates returned for an open house.

“They got to speak to students that came through that are second, third, fourth or Red seal journey persons at this point in their career in their early 20s.” noted Cory McAiney, a consultant with the Catholic board.

There are plans to expand the curriculum, “We’ve talked about electrical, possibly Hvac, another titan, perhaps manufacturing at some point too. That seems a logical place for us to go and expand upon. We’re always open to plans and expansion.” McAiney said.