Conestoga news

Archives: Apprenticeship

March 22, 2024
Conestoga students turn welding robots into 3-D printers of large steel objects

Recent graduates from Conestoga’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Welding & Robotics program had their capstone project highlighted in a national...


March 22, 2024
Conestoga students compete in provincial cabinetmaking competition

Students from Conestoga's Woodworking and Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship programs competed in an all-day provincial event held at the Woodworking Centre of...


March 20, 2024
Female skilled trades students, staff spotlighted in national awareness campaign

A national campaign focused on advancing workforce diversity features female Conestoga faculty and students in the skilled trades....


March 7, 2024
High school carpentry program teaching in-demand trades skills to blind students

A dual-credit program at Conestoga is exploring uncharted territory by welcoming visually impaired high school students into a carpentry course...


March 1, 2024
Conestoga graduate and Olympian on mission to promote skilled trades to women

Two-time Olympian and Conestoga 2016 Conestoga Alumni of Distinction recipient Mandy Bujold’s new challenge is promoting the skilled trades, in...


January 3, 2024
Second phase gets underway at skilled trades campus on Reuter Drive

Work is underway on the second phase of the Conestoga Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge....


November 9, 2023
Tradeucation highlights skilled trades pathways

Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship welcomed more than 100 secondary school guidance counsellors on October 25 to the Cambridge...


July 23, 2023
Networking event supports wood manufacturing industry

On June 21, Conestoga’s Woodworking Centre of Ontario welcomed members of the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario (WMCO) to the...


June 28, 2023
Young women explore skilled trades careers at Jill of All Trades

Close to 270 young women in Grades 9 through 12 participated in Conestoga’s Jill of All TradesTM event on May...


June 9, 2023
Trades & Apprenticeship Awards celebrate student success

The Conestoga community gathered to celebrate the Trades & Apprenticeship Awards on June 7. Held at the college’s new skilled...


June 1, 2023
Conestoga student earns bronze at national skills competition

Conestoga Brick and Stone Mason (Apprenticeship) student Cameron Krause earned a bronze medal in Bricklaying at the 2023 Skills Canada...


May 4, 2023
Conestoga students earn 12 medals at Skills Ontario Competition

Conestoga students finished with 12 medals at the 2023 Skills Ontario Competition, held May 1-3 at the Toronto Congress Centre....


March 12, 2023
TradeUcation offers insight into skilled trades careers

On March 2, Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship welcomed 150 secondary school guidance counsellors, educators and administrators as well...


November 23, 2022
Industry partnership offers experiential learning opportunity

Conestoga's Welding and Fabrication Technician program has partnered with steel construction company Walters Group to offer students a unique paid...


November 11, 2022
Jill of All Trades introduces young women to skilled trades careers

Close to 240 young women in Grades 9 through 12 participated in Conestoga's Jill of All TradesTM event on October...


October 26, 2022
Conestoga alumna among Canada’s most powerful women

Conestoga alumna of distinction Brandi Ferenc has been named among Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 in 2022 by the...


June 9, 2022
Trades & Apprenticeship Awards recognize student success

On June 8, the Conestoga community gathered virtually to celebrate the annual Trades & Apprenticeship Awards. The event recognized outstanding...


May 5, 2022
Conestoga students receive 13 medals at Skills Ontario Competition

Conestoga students finished with 13 medals at the 2022 Skills Ontario Competition. Winners were announced during the virtual closing ceremony...


April 8, 2022
Event series focuses on women in skilled trades careers

Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship hosted a virtual Talk2WomenInTrades session on April 6 to provide an opportunity for individuals...


March 8, 2022
Bursary will support women in the skilled trades

In celebration of International Women’s Day, digital home renovation platform bidmii has announced the launch of an annual bursary supporting...


June 17, 2021
Conestoga students earn medals at national skills competition

Conestoga students earned three medals at the 2021 Skills Canada Virtual National Competition on June 15. The event is the...


June 9, 2021
Winter Weston Family Scholars announced

Fifteen additional trades and apprenticeship students have been named recipients of the Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades for...


June 3, 2021
Trades & Apprenticeship Awards celebrate student success

On June 2, the Conestoga community gathered to celebrate the twelfth annual Trades & Apprenticeship Awards. The event recognized outstanding...


May 14, 2021
Conestoga students receive 11 medals at Skills Ontario Competition

Conestoga students were among the competitors at the Virtual Skills Ontario Competition on May 12. The event is the largest...


April 30, 2021
Conestoga celebrates first agricultural equipment training cohort

On April 30, the Conestoga community celebrated the first cohort of 16 students from the college’s Agricultural Equipment Operator pilot...


April 14, 2021
Event series focuses on women in skilled trades

On April 6, Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship hosted a virtual Talk2WomenInTrades session. The event was third in a...


March 23, 2021
Vehicle donation supports hands-on learning

Ford of Canada and Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln in Guelph have donated a 2020 Ford F-150 to Conestoga's School of...


January 21, 2021
New Weston Family Scholars named

Forty-five Conestoga skilled trades and apprenticeship students have been named recipients of the college’s Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled...


July 9, 2020
Conestoga graduate appointed to Skills Ontario board

Conestoga alumna of distinction Clarice Ward has been appointed to the Skills Ontario board of directors, a province-wide organization helping...


April 16, 2020
Conestoga grad company to help with respirator mask production

Eclipse Automation has announced an exclusive agreement that will see equipment from Harmontronics Automation in China needed to produce N95...


April 8, 2020
Networking event focuses on women in skilled trades

Conestoga’s Engineering, Technology and Trades for Women (ETT4W) welcomed more than 50 students and mentors to the college’s Doon campus...


March 10, 2020
Additional Weston Family Scholars announced

Nine additional Conestoga trades and apprenticeship students have been named recipients of the Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades...


February 19, 2020
Provincial investment supports trades and apprenticeship training

Monte McNaughton, Ontario's Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, visited Conestoga's Woodworking Centre on Friday, January 31 to announce...


December 12, 2019
Free pre-apprenticeship programs accepting applications

Conestoga is now accepting applications for tuition-free pre-apprenticeship programs beginning April 2020. Funded by the the Government of Ontario, the...


December 5, 2019
New Weston Family Scholars named

Twenty-five Conestoga skilled trades and apprenticeship students have been named recipients of the Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades...


November 19, 2019
Conestoga welcomes CNC educator network

The Conestoga community welcomed the Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC) Network on October 25 for the Ontario Canada HTEC CNC...


November 11, 2019
TradeUcation welcomes school board representatives

Conestoga hosted its first TradeUcation event at the John W. Tibbits campus in Waterloo on October 23 where teachers, guidance...


September 18, 2019
Engineering, technology and trades welcome new executive dean

Conestoga recently appointed Tony Thoma to the role of executive dean to the Schools of Engineering & Technology, Trades &...


September 7, 2019
Conestoga graduates compete in annual bricklaying competition

Three Conestoga graduates were among the province’s top stone masons and tenders competing for the title of Ontario’s best bricklayer...


May 31, 2019
Young women explore skilled trades careers at Jill of All Trades

On May 30, approximately 245 young women in grades nine through 12 participated in Conestoga’s Jill of All Trades at...


May 23, 2019
Student success celebrated at Trades & Apprenticeship Awards

More than 220 awards valued at over $343,000 were presented to students at Conestoga’s tenth annual Trades & Apprenticeship Awards...


April 18, 2019
Conestoga's Weston Family Scholars team grows

Three Conestoga apprenticeship students were recently named recipients of the Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades. Since the launch...


March 27, 2019
Cabinetmaker apprentice advances to national competition

Jennifer Norman, a level 2 student in Conestoga’s Cabinetmaker Apprenticeship program, placed first at the 2019 Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association...


November 27, 2018
Conestoga grads honoured at 2018 Premier's Awards gala

Two Conestoga alumni joined the ranks of Ontario’s most distinguished college graduates on Monday, November 26, when they were named...


October 6, 2017
Amazing 50 celebration visits Conestoga

On October 5, the Conestoga community welcomed the arrival of the Amazing 50 trailer. The unique 42-foot trailer has been...


November 23, 2017
Conestoga graduates nominated for Premier's Awards

Six Conestoga graduates have been nominated for the 2017 Premier’s Awards. Established in 1992 and presented annually, the awards honour...


June 6, 2017
Conestoga students win two Skills Canada medals

Conestoga students Tim Deslauriers and Sam Todd have finished this year's Skills Canada National Competition with silver medal wins. The...


April 18, 2017
Minister Matthews announces provincial investment in pre-apprenticeship training

Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, was joined by Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, and Kathryn...


March 27, 2017
Top employers and students honoured during National Co-op Week

In recognition of National Co-op Week, Conestoga’s School of Career & Academic Access, Department of Co-operative Education, and Corporate Training...


January 17, 2017
Applications open for free pre-apprenticeship programs

Conestoga is now accepting applications for tuition-free pre-apprenticeship programs. Funded by the Ontario government, the programs are part of a...


February 18, 2016
Applications open for new pre-apprenticeship programs

Conestoga is now accepting applications for new, tuition-free pre-apprenticeship programs. Funded by the Ontario government, the programs are part of...


January 8, 2015
New government program supports apprenticeship training

A new federal government program launched today by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in...


October 23, 2014
Changing the face of skilled trades

When people think of professions like mechanics and welders, we all have the picture in our minds of the stereotypical...


December 4, 2013
New programs provide free training and work experience for youth

Conestoga, in cooperation with the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin and Employment Ontario providers, will offer two new...


October 25, 2013
Go ENG Girl inspires young minds

Go ENG Girl, held at Conestoga’s Engineering and Information Technology campus in Cambridge on Saturday, October 19, was all about...


June 13, 2013
Ontario College of Trades talks about apprenticeships

Conestoga Program Advisory and Consortia Committee members met at Conestoga’s Information and Engineering Technology campus in Cambridge on Wednesday, June...


May 2, 2013
WIST celebrates a decade of success

On May 1, representatives from the Ontario Women's Directorate, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and Skills Canada...


March 1, 2013
Conestoga hosts woodworking competition

A group of Conestoga College students showed off their woodworking skills at the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada’s provincial...


January 31, 2013
Free pre-apprenticeship program opens new doors

When Rob Hanna graduated from Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute in 2005, he didn't have a specific career goal in mind....


November 13, 2012
In the news: Carpentry programs for women

The Globe and Mail has a story about skilled trades programs that prepare women for new careers through an initiative...


October 2, 2012
Conestoga woodworking grad has bright future

Combining technology with traditional craftsmanship is achieving results for recent Woodworking Technology and Architectural Millwork program graduate Marcel Daigneault....


July 31, 2012
Conestoga skilled trades students benefit through industrial partnership program

A new partnership with one of the world’s leaders in high technology cutting equipment will provide Conestoga students and apprentices...


December 16, 2011
Renovation guru visits Conestoga

Jim Caruk, one of Canada’s leading experts in homebuilding and renovation, visited Conestoga’s Waterloo campus Dec. 13. Caruk, a Toronto-based...


December 12, 2011
Conestoga grad excels at international skills competition

Jonathan Sinke, who graduated from Conestoga’s cabinetmaking apprenticeship program in November 2011, was awarded the bronze medal in cabinetmaking at...


November 22, 2011
Tuition-Free Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs

Conestoga College is accepting applications for two new Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs which will give participants insight and experience with regard...


June 10, 2011
Conestoga Students Excel at National Skills Competition

Congratulations to Conestoga students Andrew Elg of Listowel, Marshall McPherson of Kitchener , Petro Prymak of Kitchener and David Roberts...


May 30, 2011
Students and Donors Honoured at Trades & Apprenticeship Awards

On May 18th, Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship hosted its second annual Awards Presentation and Barbeque in the Roofing...


March 15, 2011
Conestoga gets pre-apprenticeship training boost

Unemployed young people with few marketable skills continue to struggle to find jobs in the wake of the recession, Guelph...


March 2, 2011
WSIB Students Succeed with Courage & Support

Being forced to make a career change is not easy under any circumstances, but needing to re-train because of an...


November 26, 2010
Guelph Hydro Supports Conestoga's Powerline Technician Program

Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. has announced the endowment of the Rick Lane / Corrie Bridgman Memorial Academic Grant which...


October 23, 2009
First Hardware Technician Apprentice sign-up!

Over the past year, Conestoga Waterloo Campus Job Connect Program worked with CAPTEC Americas Inc. in Kitchener to support an...


September 16, 2008
New Trades Programs

There is no substitute for practical education when it comes to developing and implementing the skills necessary to support...


May 29, 2008
Conestoga Students Win National Skills Medals

Six Conestoga entrants in the 14th Canadian Skills Competition have come home from the Calgary event with medals that testify...


May 22, 2008
Learning starts early at Conestoga College...

Tucked among the requisite library building and the science and technology labs at the Doon Campus is a small building...


April 30, 2008
Annual ECE Conference

Southern Ontario’s largest professional development event for early childhood educators returned to Conestoga on March 28 and on March 29....


April 15, 2008
Conestoga Offers Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship education is an excellent career pathway, because it combines earning, learning and doing. Apprentices develop, apply and perfect practical...


March 4, 2008
Girl Guide Skills Day

On January 19th, 75 Girl Guides between the ages of 12-16 participated in a program that was developed in co-operation...


February 20, 2008
We've Come a Long Way, Rosie!

For decades, women have played a role in the welding industry. During World War II, millions of women found employment...


February 13, 2008
Try the Technology: Welding Showcase and Open House

Welding is dirty, noisy and dangerous, right? Wrong! The world of welding has far outgrown the usual stereotypes. Modern industrial...


February 7, 2008
Trades and Technology Days Set at Conestoga

Local Grade 7-8 students link up with technology at three campuses. Employers, our economy and our society need technical skills...


December 17, 2007
Exciting Things are Happening at Conestoga College

Since its doors opened to students in 1967, the small community college has grown to become one of the leading...


November 27, 2007
Conestoga rolls out pre-apprentice programs

Like other repair shops, Royal Stainless Steel Tank and Truck has a tough time attracting mechanics. "It does take a...


October 12, 2007
Tuition-Free Pre-Apprenticeship Programs to Start at Conestoga

Governments and employers are giving more attention to the important economic role and the many opportunities apprenticeship education offers to...


August 22, 2007
Technical careers promise good money and a strong demand

Dylan Mitchell could well be the poster boy for apprenticeship programs in Canada. This spring, Mitchell moved from Richmond Hill...


June 1, 2007
New Welding Program in Line for Waterloo Campus

As Conestoga builds the profile and capabilities of its new campus in Waterloo, the College is adding programming consistent with...


May 14, 2007
18th Annual Skills Competition

What a sight! Nearly 20,000 visitors and more than 600 entrants filled RIM Park to capacity April 30 and May...


May 8, 2007
First Ever Truck and Coach Event for the Technological Skills Competition was a Huge Success!

The School of Trades and Apprenticeship at the Guelph Campus of Conestoga College hosted the first ever Truck and...


April 20, 2007
Motive Power Sector Growing at Conestoga

Starting in September 2007, Conestoga College will offer two new programs in the motive power sector at the Guelph Campus....


February 23, 2007
Try the Technology Welding Showcase in Guelph

The world of welding has far outgrown the usual stereotypes. Modern industrial welding is computerized, robotized and definitely high-technology. Those...


December 8, 2006
New Truck and Coach Pre-Apprenticeship in Guelph

Starting February 5, Conestoga College will offer a new Truck and Coach Pre-Apprenticeship program at its Guelph campus. The...


December 8, 2006
New Pre-Apprenticeship Program

The School of Trades and Apprenticeship at Conestoga College is pleased to announce a NEW initiative at the Guelph...


November 16, 2006
New Truck and Coach Centre Opened at Guelph Campus

More than 100 industry and association representatives, Conestoga College officials and faculty, and currently enrolled apprentices gathered at the Guelph...


July 14, 2006
Award-Winning Program Will Move to Waterloo

In the fall of 2005, the Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) pre-apprenticeship program of Conestoga College was named outstanding technical...


July 11, 2006
New Programs Highlight Launch of New Campus in Waterloo

Conestoga College begins operations this fall at its new, larger location in Waterloo -- 108 University Ave. E. This new...


May 9, 2006
Minister Endorses New Approach to Trades Education

During a visit to the Guelph campus of Conestoga College today, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley strongly...


April 28, 2006
Conestoga Earns Funding for Technical Trades Opportunities for Women

Conestoga College will receive $256,655 in fiscal year 2006-2007 to provide continued opportunities for women to pursue education related...


June 11, 2003
Conestoga Racing Car Rolling Again

The Conestoga College racing car, pride and joy of the Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship program at the College's Guelph...


April 25, 2003
General Motors Vehicle Donation Aids Apprentices

Waste not; want not, because there are always opportunities for learning. When Mark Cullen, General Manager of Barry Cullen...


March 26, 2003
Three Conestoga Welding Students Earn Prestigious National Awards

Three Welding Engineering Technology students at the Guelph campus of Conestoga College are recipients of R.M. Gooderham Bursaries, presented...


March 18, 2003
Conestoga Gains $1.5 Million to Advance Apprenticeship Education

Conestoga College is one of Ontario's largest suppliers of apprenticeship education. In recognition of its achievements and an increased...


June 13, 2002
Two Conestoga Students Win National Skills Canada Medals

Conestoga College students Grant Habermehl of Wallenstein and David Pallen of Kitchener are winners of Canadian bronze medals for...


February 28, 2002
Automotive Apprentice Earns National Association Scholarship

Allen Jantzi of Wellesley, who is an advanced-level apprentice in Conestoga College’s Automotive Service Technician program, has won a $700...


January 24, 2002
Conestoga Chosen to Lead Apprenticeship Program Development

Conestoga has been chosen to lead a team of Ontario colleges in the development of two new, regulated apprenticeship...


December 15, 2001
Sowa Tools Recognizes Apprenticeship Student Excellence

Kitchener-based Sowa Tool and Machine Co. Ltd. believes in the importance and value of education in the skilled trades, especially...


September 19, 2001
Conestoga Shares in Provincial Apprenticeship Grant

Conestoga College, one of Ontario’s largest community colleges in the field of apprenticeship education, will receive $360,356 as its portion...