Building Connections: Engaging Guidance Counsellors in Skilled Trades Pathways

Submitted by School of Trades and Technology 

The Trades and Technology team hosted 15 guidance counsellors from the Renfrew County District School Board last month with tours of the millwright lab, wind turbine lab. The Mobile Training Lab as it was being loaded up and being readied to depart for its Upper Canada District School Board spring campaign. 
  
SLC faculty and staff who took part in the tour included John McGrath and Clint Lawrence, who explained what students and apprentices learn in the Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) and Mechanical Technician program. In the wind turbine lab, the group was joined by Ryan Goff and Wes Kerr, who shared the career opportunities awaiting graduates of the only Wind Turbine Technician diploma program in Ontario, and the advantages of the common first year that ties Wind Turbine Technician to four other technology programs at SLC. 
  
Lastly was a presentation of the Mobile Training Lab by Amy Hamilton and Chris Coupland, joined by SLC recruiter Jaclyn Quail. Three stations were set up for the guidance counsellors to experience the activities that included VR welding, clipboard making, button making and tree prints. Our visitors were quite impressed by how we utilize our Mobile Training Lab along with hands-on learning centered around fun, in engaging youths in remote communities.