As Conestoga builds the profile and capabilities of its new campus in Waterloo, the College is adding programming consistent with its goal of making Waterloo a centre of excellence for trades education associated with the construction industry. This industry is not only booming regionally and across southern Ontario, but also keen to add new workers in order to meet demand and to address the coming skills shortage when veteran workers retire.
Beginning this fall, Conestoga will introduce a new full-time program at Waterloo. Titled Welding Techniques, the program consists of 30 weeks of post-secondary training that combines skills at both the technician level and the apprenticeship level. Students who successfully complete the program therefore have sound theoretical knowledge associated with the welding trade, plus plentiful practical experience in applying and perfecting that knowledge. In addition, program graduates will be able to write the exams that can result in exemption from the first two levels of in-college apprenticeship training.
Among the areas covered in the program are technical math, technical communications, appropriate computer applications, electrical fundamentals, trade practices, welding quality and inspection, and a number of welding techniques, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and semi-automatic welding.
The program is open to applicants who have an Ontario high school diploma or equivalent, including appropriate math and English coursework, or who are age 19 or older.
Conestoga is also pleased to announce that its successful Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) Pre-Apprenticeship Carpentry program will start up again in the fall at the Waterloo campus. Funded through the Ontario Womens Directorate, WIST Carpentry is a 38-week full-time program consisting of 28 weeks in-college followed by ten weeks of on-the-job learning. Participating women must be at least 16 years of age and must have successfully completed at least Grade 10.
The program deals with a range of essential knowledge and skills applicable to the carpentry trade, such as estimating, computer literacy, workplace communications, interior finishing and trim, framing/exterior finishes/structures, existing buildings and renovations, health and safety, hand and power tools, and computer-aided design/drafting.
Potential applicants interested in either program can contact the Conestoga College Information Centre for more information by calling 519-748-5220, ext. 3656 in Waterloo Region and surrounding area or 519-763-9525, ext. 3656 in the Guelph area.
CONTACT:
Brenda Gilmore (Welding Techniques), 519-824-9390, ext. 122, bgilmore@conestogac.on.ca
Tanja Gancevich (WIST Carpentry), 519-885-0300, ext. 252, tanjag@conestogac.on.ca