Humber centre 'makes it right': Holmes.
Celebrity home renovator Mike Holmes chats with student John Forman at Humber College’s newly opened Centre for Trades and Technology. The centre celebrated its opening Nov. 2.
Staff photo/ IAN KELSO
Teaching more than 2,000 skilled trades students a year, like former Canadian champion cabinet maker Yarek Wawrow, in a job site-like environment with state-of-the-art tools and equipment could help put a dent in Canada's looming skilled trades crisis.
Humber College opened its Humber Centre for Trades and Technology on Monday morning during the official launch of Skilled Trades and Technology Week in Canada 2009.
The 95,000-sq.ft. Carrier Drive facility boasts two full-sized framed townhouses, large welding, woodworking and cabinet making shops, as well as labs dedicated to construction, home renovation, plumbing, electronics, motors, controls and instrumentation.
Humber invested more than $16 million in the centre, including $7 million from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
A 10 per cent spike in enrolment in Humber's skilled trades programs in the past year is, in part, a credit to the new centre, Humber College President John Davies said.
Meanwhile, Canada is facing a critical shortage of skilled workers.
The Conference Board of Canada forecasts a shortage of more than 1 million skilled workers in Canada by 2020. At that time, an estimated 40 per cent of all new jobs will be in skilled trades and technology industries.
Still, outdated 1950s attitudes toward the trades persist.
"I find it surprising that attitudes toward work in the trades remain as it was 50 or 60 years ago; still regarded by many as heavy, strenuous, dirty and unpleasant..." said Terry Cooke, president of Skills/Competences Canada, which hosts skilled trades and technology competitions at provincial, national and international levels for thousands of young Canadians.
"Well, I've got news for those with a 1950's attitude - 'Get with it.' The advances that have occurred did so because of trade and technology innovation. Today, trade and technology occupations are cool, sophisticated and deserve the interest of talented, passionate young people."
Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley said the Conservatives are investing up to $40 million per year in a new apprenticeship completion grant, granting students who successfully complete their apprenticeship training and become certified journeypersons in a designated Red Seal trade up to $4,000.
"I really sense a mood change in this country. There is becoming a new importance, a new perspective, on the trades and technologies," Finley said. "Young people are beginning to see the trades as real, viable occupations. Just as importantly, parents are now starting to see the trades and technologies as viable career options for their kids."
Wawrow is living proof.
In 2006, he won the national gold medal in cabinet making at the Skills Canada competition in Halifax, NS.
"I feel like I won - twice. Once to represent Humber at Skills Canada. The second is to land this wonderful job as a Humber instructor," Wawrow said.
Humber is home to many Skills Ontario and Skills Canada medalists.
This year, Jonathan Arbour is the best cabinet maker in the world.
The title comes courtesy of his gold medal win over 20 competitors at the 2009 WorldSkills Calgary competition in September.
"My objective was to show the world that Canada has good cabinet makers, and that when a Canadian wants something, he can get it. That means a gold medal," said Arbour, who elevated Canada's cabinet-making status from 10th to first place.
Arbour trained seven- to 10-hour days, three times a week. Six months prior to the competition, he increased his training to six days a week.
"Make it Right" is Canadian professional contractor Mike Holmes' trademark.
Best known for his TV show, Holmes on Homes, the 46-year-old learned electrical, plumbing, drywall and construction from his father starting at age six. He finished his first basement, his uncle's, at age 12.
Trades and technology times are a-changing in Canada, Holmes agreed.
Change in the industry from hourly rate to piece work resulted, Holmes argued, in contractors chasing money rather than pursuing their passion.
"That's why we ended up getting a bad name in the construction industry," said Holmes, adding when he met Prime Minister Stephen Harper three years ago, the PM didn't know about Skills Canada.
"But (Harper) started paying attention to that and to do something about it...Let's continue to 'make it right.'"