In partnership with the School College Work Initiative (SCWI) and the Far Northeast Training Board (FNETB), Northern College is preparing to host the Go to College Trades and Technology Symposium on Monday, April 8 in an effort to educate and cultivate a new generation of skilled tradespeople in Ontario.
Special guest Mike Holmes, host of Holmes Makes it Right on HGTV, will address attendees and discuss how youth can attain successful and rewarding careers in skilled trades, especially in light of Ontario's labour shortage.
Students in the SCWI catchment area in Grades 10 to 12, throughout Timiskaming and Cochrane regions will be attending, along with high school staff, industry and community representatives. Local industry partners will be available to discuss the current and projected shortage of skilled tradespeople and highlight the opportunities and benefits of a career in trades and technology. The symposium will include hands-on tours of shops and labs in a variety of technology disciplines and will end with a keynote address from Mike Holmes.
A Conference Board of Canada report alone predicts Ontario will face a shortage of more than 360,000 workers by 2025.
“We must inform our younger citizens of the incredible career opportunities in our region and across the country,” said Fred Gibbons, Northern College president. “Through this symposium, Northern College is creating a platform where our youth are encouraged and empowered to make vocational and educational choices that will lead to viable, well paying skilled trades careers.”
