Over 300 students at the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board had the chance to explore skilled trade opportunities in Ontario when the Skills Ontario Trades and Tech Truck rolled into town this week.
The truck provides hands-on simulations of trade jobs available in the province.
"We try to incorporate as many skilled trades as we can or at least jobs that will over many skilled trades," said Jesse Fram, program facilitator. "We have a welding simulator in there. It feels like a video game, but it's very much a proper trainer. We also have our heavy equipment simulator, which can run over eight different pieces of equipment."
There are 144 recognized skilled trades in Ontario. The truck offers hands-on demonstrations of 40 trades, including electrical, hairdressing, and cake decorating.
"It's a great way to figure out which tech classes they may be interested in taking. If they're interested in doing a co-op, they can look at what kind of co-op placement they can get into and possibly start an apprenticeship in high school through the OYAP program," said Cory McAiney, with the WECDSB.
The board offers several trade experiences at its construction and other trade academies as well as the St. Anne Catholic Skilled Trades Academy and Learning Centre.
"These are other trades, automotive, service industry, culinary, pneumatics, hydraulics, a lot of different ones that we might have a hard time having students try because it's a lot of money invested in that," said McAiney.
Grade 10 Cardinal Carter student Christiano Antunes tried his hand at the welding simulator.
"It's honestly a great way to learn. It helps students who really like to invest their time within learning in such a hard skill to learn as not only just a person but also a student," said Antunes. "Learning such a hard skill in a fast time could really help someone succeed in a good future."
The Skills Ontario Trades and Tech Truck travels throughout the province to schools and employment centres to introduce residents to available jobs.