Employers, our economy and our society need technical skills now and in the future.
Both the federal and the provincial governments are devoting more time, attention and funding to the importance of technical education for students in secondary school, to enhancing and expanding apprenticeship opportunities, and to promoting technical studies and careers as a key component of future prosperity and productivity.
Examples of this activity are the increasing attention being given to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and the recent Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC), which was presented by Skills Canada - Ontario on May 1-3 in Kitchener-Waterloo and which attracted more than 1,000 entrants and more than 10,000 visitors.
To present the benefits of technical education and careers to local Grade 7 and 8 students, Conestoga College and the local school boards are co-operating to present Trades and Technology Day on Thursday, May 18 at the Conestoga campus in Kitchener (Doon).
Each half-day session will provide participating students and teachers (who have registered to attend through their home schools) with the opportunity to meet with Conestoga faculty in specific technical career areas, ask questions, gain valuable information and engage in some hands-on activities in workshop/lab settings. About 200 students are expected for each of the half-day sessions at Doon.
The activities are in fields as varied as precision machining, wood products manufacturing, electrical and electronics technology, mechanical technology, health sciences, graphic design and computer programming.
Each session begins with a general information meeting. Participants then move in smaller groups to workshops in their areas of interest for a deeper look at technical careers and programs. The morning sessions go from 9:30-11:30 a.m., while the schedule for the afternoon groups is 12 noon-2 p.m.
One of Conestoga's main aims is to forge stronger links with local school boards in the interest of developing better pathways for young people to understand, consider and select technical studies as a first step towards rewarding and productive careers that offer excellent growth and advancement potential.
CONTACT: Jo-Ann McCabe, 519-578-3660, ext. 416