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Skills Ontario and ORIGIN harness power of virtual reality for career exploration in new video series

'Day in the life' series aims to draw more people to skilled trades
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ORIGIN and Skills Ontario have created a series of videos highlighting a 'day in the life' of a skilled tradesperson, which are now available for viewing.

ONTARIO — March 1, 2022: Skills Ontario and ORIGIN have launched their virtual reality (VR) "Day in the Life" tour videos on YouTube and through the Skills Ontario app. Using ORIGIN's ImmersiveLink technology, the organizations are providing viewers with a free look at what careers in skilled trades and technologies are all about through virtual reality.

The 25-part series explores careers in HVAC, construction, forestry, heavy equipment and more by giving viewers a look at what a typical day in each field looks like. Skilled professionals not only speak about but also illustrate their daily tasks and the skills needed to be successful in their career.

“There are amazing opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies, and by offering learning tools like these, we’re proving it to youth,” says Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “It’s been fantastic working with ORIGIN and we at Skills Ontario are thrilled to see what students and educators think about this new video series.”

“In today’s world, we’ve all had to pivot/change the way we do things, whether it be for business, education and/or pleasure. Virtual reality has become the ‘go to’ for obvious reasons,” says Melissa Hardy-Giles, owner and operator of ORIGIN.

“These VR tours offer the user to experience and be immersed into ‘a day in the life’ of a particular trade. This gives the user the clearest opportunity to see what it is like to actually be ‘on the job’. These tours will not only give you an experience, but it will help you make informative decisions on what career path students would like to pursue.”

All 25 videos can be found at this link or through the Skills Ontario app, found in the Apple and Google Play app stores.

About Skills Ontario     

Skills Ontario has been delivering programs and events since 1989 with an aim to inspire youth to explore skilled trades and technologies, and the organization applauds the government’s continued emphasis on skilled trades. Skills Ontario has found great success through its initiatives and continues to deliver programs for many audiences, including young women, Indigenous youth, new Canadians, persons with exceptionalities, and more, in order to connect education, experience, and employment. To see how you can partner with Skills Ontario and help make a difference in the lives of Ontario youth, visit skillsontario.com/get-involved.     

About ORIGIN

ORIGIN is an Indigenous-owned and -operated company with a mission of connecting purpose to career since 2009. We aim to increase Indigenous participation in the workforce through innovative VR technology, workshops, 360 productions, and training. Our ImmersiveLink system creates a learning environment for all learning styles that allows for career exploration and cultural education. Additionally, we facilitate a variety of workshops and trainings to improve work readiness. To learn more about ORIGIN, visit immersivelink.ca.