BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Wayne Cormier has long been an advocate for the Parry Sound area and is a firm believer in supporting the local community, rather than watching it struggle.
Cormier, owner of Cormier Adjusting Ltd. and chair of the business development team for the Parry Sound area, has stepped up to bat in an effort to attract local training programs relevant to the Parry Sound area business community needs.
"I feel it is something we have to do," says Cormier.
In the mid 80s and early 90s Cormier was involved with economic development in the area and helped form a futures committee and the community industrial training committee. These efforts were carried out by passionate volunteers in conjunction with the local college and high schools, he says.
The federal and provincial government supported economic development by providing partial funding for staff.
"In 1991-92 we trained over 600 people, but then the partnership dissolved and since then we have not had any training in the Parry Sound area," Cormier says.
People received training in the areas of masonry, carpentry and computers to name a few.
Cormier's interest has always been in silskills and workplace training.
"Nobody has taken the lead and I feel it is something we need to do on a local basis," says Cormier. "We have to find a local solution to our problem."
Cormier, who is in the insurance adjusting business, has traveled across the area and talked to local businesses and found one common need - skilled labour.
"With the work that I do, I come across all these trades that are in desperate need for skilled workers."
With the four-laning of Highway 69, there is a need for heavy equipment operators in the area, but there is also a need for skilled tradespeople like carpenters and welders, Cormier says.
"In the area we have Found Aircraft and steel boat construction and they are always telling me there is a shortage of trades," says Cormier.
"This is why it would be nice to get something going on a local basis and keep our young people in the area."
Cormier has rallied local businesses, the Parry Sound Area Community Business and
Development Centre and Georgian College to design and deliver training programs.
"It is difficult getting everybody to the table because our area is made up of seven different municipalities," says Cormier.
The concentrated effort identified three areas for training: heavy equipment operator, basic carpenter and a welder/fitter. The heavy equipment operator course began March 24 and the basic carpentry is expected to begin early spring. There has been no date set for the welder/fitter program. Training for heavy equipment operators will take place at Hall Construction in Parry Sound. Cormier is looking at the local high school as a possible site for the carpentry and welder programs.
In order for the initiative to be successful, training costs need to be addressed, particularly since young people tend not to have a lot of money, he says.
"What we are trying to do is to involve the various businesses to come up with solutions to bring costs down," says Cormier. "There has been no exact cost of the training determined yet."
Course candidates will be pre-selected for the programs by a selection committee comprised of trainers and employer groups to ensure people interested in specific training can succeed at the course.
The training programs are expected to benefit local employers.
"It gives them employees who have the skills and knowledge that can take them beyond just doing the same thing over and over again," says Cormier. "They will get a better employee with the training and be able to produce a better product."
Cormier sees the initiative as worthwhile.
"We are working at it and I sure hope we can succeed," says Cormier. "I have been successful in bringing various employers to the table to look at the way and means we can train the young people at an affordable price."
