S U M M E R
E d i t i o n
Trades
Today
Volume 2 Edition 2
Ontario supports College’s
Public Register
Recent Ipsos-Reid poll reveals
College is on the right track
Skilled trades a way of life
for Hamilton family
Preston, Justin and Andrew talk
about their passion for skilled trades
From Kabul to Toronto
How a military veteran built a career in the trades
WESTbound for greatness
Women in Windsor-Essex joining the skilled trades
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From Kabul to Toronto
After a tour in Afghanistan, military veteran builds a career in the trades
He spent the better part of 2012 in Kabul doing ‘force
protection’; his team was in charge of security for NATO
convoys doing supply runs, or making trips to and from
the airport.
“I got lucky on that tour. We were outside the wire every
day, so we got to move around. It was a good time,” says
Agius, “It wasn’t a combat tour, but we were very active.
We weren’t down south in Kandahar, and it was later [in
the war]. It was a good experience, and it was nice to be
able to employ what I learned in training. You miss home,
though.”
Upon returning to Canada, Agius decided to leave the
Army and pursue a career in the skilled trades. “I applied
to Helmets to Hardhats…and within a few days I was on a
job site here in Toronto,” says Agius. The in-school training
he received at the Interior Finishing Systems Training
Centre, led him to a job placement with Torino Drywall.
Helmets to Hardhats is a non-profit organization that
provides apprenticeship training and employment
opportunities for Canadians who have served, or are
currently serving in either the Regular or Reserve Force
Components of the Canadian Forces.
J
oshua Agius is a man of action.
The 27-year-old Toronto resident is a registered
apprentice in the drywall, acoustic and lathing
applicator trade, at Torino Drywall, a unionized contractor
with the Interior Systems Contractors Association of
Ontario and he knows that certification in a skilled trade
won’t leave him stuck behind a desk in an office.
“Throughout my whole life I’ve wanted to develop new
skills, and now that I’m nearly finished my apprenticeship,
I’ve got these trade skills in my pocket. I’m superemployable, and I can work anywhere.”
Not that his work experience hasn’t already taken him to
exotic locales.
Agius is a military veteran who served a tour of duty in
Afghanistan. After basic training in Quebec, he was sent to
Meaford, Ontario where he completed speciality training in
the infantry.
Several years later, Agius was able to put some of his
training to use.
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“Helping the dedicated men and women of the Canadian
Armed Forces like Joshua, find a rewarding career in the
skilled trades is what Helmets to Hardhats is all about,”
says Greg Matte a retired Brigadier General who now
serves as the National Executive Director of the Helmets
to Hardhats Canada program.
There are a number of skills one picks up in the military
that are transferable to the skilled trades, according to
Agius, and that makes the transition to a civilian career
that much more smooth.
“Employers know that someone in the military is going to
be punctual, and that they will bring the right skills and
the right attitude to the worksite. That sets you apart,”
says Agius.
Matte couldn’t agree more.
“Going from military service to a career in the skilled
trades is a natural fit,” adding “that’s why Helmets to
Hardhats works closely with organizations like the Ontario
College of Trades to promote a career in the skilled trades
to our members.”
Trade Equivalency
Assessment (TEA)
process
Former and current members of the Canadian Armed
Forces with QL5 proficiency plus a corporal rank in nine
specified trades may use the College’s Trade Equivalency
Assessment (TEA) application to apply and challenge the
certification exam to the corresponding civilian trade in
Ontario.
The TEA is for Canadian and international experienced
workers, who have not completed an Ontario
apprenticeship, but want to obtain Ontario certification in
their trade.
To find out if TEA is right for you, visit the College’s
website at collegeoftrades.ca. Here you will find the TEA
Application Guide and easy step-by-step information.
Department of National Defence trades and their Red Seal counterparts:
Military Trade Name
Marine Engineering Technician
Red Seal Trade Name
Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
Machinist (for Naval Machinists)
Ontario Trade Name
Industrial Mechanic Millwright
General Machinist
Electrical Technician
(formerly Marine Technician)
Vehicle Technician
Industrial Electrician
Industrial Electrician
Material Technician
Refrigeration and Mechanical Technician
Electrical Distribution Technician
Plumbing and Heating Technician
Construction Technician
Cook
Automotive Service Technician
Automotive Service Technician
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
Truck and Transport Mechanic
Truck and Coach Technician
Welder
Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Mechanic
Construction Electrician
Plumber
Oil Burner Mechanic
Carpenter
Cook
Welder
Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning Systems Mechanic
Electrician Construction and
Maintenance
Plumber
n/a
General Carpenter
Cook
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From left to right: Andrew, Justin and Preston White.
All in the Family
F
or Preston, Justin and Andrew White, the trades are a
family affair.
It is late afternoon on a warm spring day, and the
Whites are gathered around a table in a kitchen bathed
in sunlight, describing why they so eagerly decided to
embrace a career in the skilled trades.
Indeed they were.
More than a decade after soaking up that advice, Preston,
Justin and their cousin, Andrew, a certified electrician, are
thriving in their respective skilled trades: Andrew is head
electrician at his organization, Preston is an auto body and
collision damage repairer at a busy Hamilton Mountain
“To be successful you have to be willing to get a little dirty,
but you also have to be technologically inclined.”
“Our grandfather and our dad worked at a steel mill.
I remember dad coming home and saying: ‘get into a
trade, boys,’” says Preston White, certified auto body and
collision damage repairer.
“That’s because there will always be a job out there
for you. People are always going to have to go to the
bathroom,” adds Preston’s younger brother, Justin, a
plumber apprentice. “I guess we were listening.”
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shop, and Justin is completing his plumbing apprenticeship
with a large construction company.
Each member of the tight-knit east Hamilton clan
attributes their success to the passion they developed for
their trades as teenagers.
“My friends and I were always working on cars when we
were young. I always enjoyed it, always had fun with it,”
says Preston.
“We weren’t going to sit behind desks. We’re all pretty
hands-on guys. Why not do it for a living?”
Andrew has a similar story.
“I was going into Grade 9 and we were finishing our
basement. A bunch of my dad’s friends were electricians
and they would come
over and help us do
the electrical. I was
fascinated by it…I really
fell in love with the
work.”
What sustains their
interest, though, is the
opportunity to tackle new
and different challenges
on an almost daily basis.
“For the new F-150s
that came out, I had to
go take an aluminumwelding course so I could
be certified to do welding
on those. And then I
had to take a structural
repair course, and all the
different stuff with air
bags and those modules.
They put more and more
computers into cars, and
the guys on the bench
need to know how to fix
them,” explains Preston.
“Once you’re in the
trades you have so many
opportunities to be able
to keep evolving. The
trade evolves and you
evolve with it,” adds
Andrew.
Like Justin says of plumbing, “to be successful you have
to be willing to get a little dirty, but you also have to be
technologically inclined.”
But the College is doing far more than modernizing the
skilled trades; it is helping diminish the underground
economy, too.
“The benefit
of the Ontario
College of
Trades is that
it keeps away
those guys who
haven’t put in
the time and
effort to get
certified.” Justin White
The Ontario College of
Trades is mandated to
modernize the skilled
trades, and part of that role includes updating the training
and curriculum standards for the next generation of
apprentices, so they come out of training programs upto-date with the latest technologies like contemporary
automotive diagnostic programs or plumbing design
software.
“The benefit of the Ontario
College of Trades is that
it keeps away those guys
who haven’t put in the time
and effort to get certified.
[Uncertified workers] can
give you a bad name, and
potentially steal work from
you, taking food from the
plate of my family,” asserts
Justin.
“The whole point of the
College is to elevate the
industry, and show that
tradespeople are educated,
hard-working people.”
Preston, Justin and Andrew
White each enjoy careers
in which they are paid
well, and intellectually
stimulated. Preston and
Andrew have some advice
for young people who might
be on the fence about
choosing a career in the
skilled trades.
“The first few years can be
a challenge because you’ve
got a lot to learn, but the
reward at the end of it is
huge. While you’re doing
your apprenticeship, you’re
earning while you learn. And
when you finish, there are
lots of jobs out there and
you can work anywhere in Canada,” says Preston.
Andrew’s advice is simple.
“If you’re on the fence, you have to jump the fence. It’s
worth it.”
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Chelsey Rae Hooker (née Des Roches) at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition
Skills Competition a springboard to
success, says College Board member
Former contestant, Chelsey Rae Hooker, urges young people to aim high
C
helsey Rae Hooker is a busy woman. The highachieving 28-year-old works in food safety at a large
food company, sits on the Ontario College of Trades
Board of Governors, and served as a mentor at this year’s
Ontario Technological Skills Competition’s Young Women’s
Conference.
It’s an impressive set of accomplishments, made even
more so considering the circuitous route she took to get
there.
“It just wasn’t my thing. It wasn’t the right fit. My dad is a
skilled tradesperson. He’s a sprinkler fitter in Ottawa and
he suggested a skilled trade might be a better option for
my learning style,” says Hooker.
So she gave carpentry a try.
“I got involved in the women in skilled trades preapprenticeship carpentry program. After graduating
from that, I worked in a couple of different positions
“I applied for a position on the spot because I always wanted
to work in a bakery. After two weeks working there, the owner
said ‘You seem so happy working here. You should be my
apprentice.’ And the rest is history.”
Fresh out of high school, Hooker decided she wanted to be
a veterinarian. She enrolled in the University of Guelph’s
wildlife biology program, but left the school before
graduating.
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in carpentry. But that was in 2009 and there was a
recession.”
The day her carpentry contract ended, she left the job site,
walked down the street and into a bakery.
“I applied for a position on the spot because I always wanted to work in a bakery. After two weeks working there, the
owner said ‘You seem so happy working here. You should be my apprentice.’ And the rest is history.”
Hooker sees her story as a potential template for young women interested in a career in the trades.
“I like to tell young girls that they don’t have to commit at 18 years old to what they want to do with the rest of their
lives. I encourage them to consider some non-traditional paths, and maybe that can help you choose what to do with
your life,” says Hooker.
Some of Hooker’s most positive experiences as an up-and-coming skilled tradesperson came from her participation in
the Ontario Technological Skills Competition’s college baking contest.
“I was doing my apprenticeship at Niagara College when I was asked to take part. It was the first time I participated in
a competition of this style. I placed sixth, and it was one of the best experiences that I’ve had in my career in pastry,”
insists Hooker. “It’s great preparation for the future.”
Though her days as a competitor are far behind, she still remembers the experience fondly.
“I think it’s a testament to the program that there are so many people who came back to volunteer after having
participated in the Skills Competition. Sometimes afterwards students get really upset if the competition doesn’t go
the way that they want. But even a competition that doesn’t turn out the way you want can be an amazing learning
experience. You learn a lot about who you are and how far you can push yourself.”
She encourages anyone thinking of a career in the skilled trades to visit the Ontario College of Trades website
www.earnwhileyoulearn.ca.
“For any young people considering a career in the trades, this site is the best place to start; it’s got information on all the
different trades so you can find what works for you,” she adds.
Student competitors prepping their creations at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition
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T
he annual Ontario
Technological Skills
Competition (OTSC)
demonstrated once again that the
future of Ontario’s skilled trades
industry is a bright one. Over a
three-day stretch from May 4-6,
elementary, high school and postsecondary students from across
the province descended upon RIM
Park in Waterloo and competed in
more than 65 contests, including
welding, carpentry, baking,
electrical and hairstyling.
The competition, organized
by Skills Ontario, was a great
success.
“We drew more than 20,000
spectators. To me, that says that
there are a lot of kids realizing
how many careers are available in
the trades. More and more, young
people are realizing that they
want to work with their hands
as well as their heads,” said Gail
Smyth, Executive Director of
Skills Ontario.
Brittany Pignotti is a 17-year-old
Grade 12 student who competed
in the baking competition.
Future skilled trades
professionals shine
at the Ontario
Technological Skills
Competition
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“You put in a lot of hard work to
get here, but once you can get
out there it’s all worth it. I think
it’s a great experience,” says
Pignotti.
Ontario College of Trades
Registrar and CEO David
Tsubouchi and the Board of
Governors’ Chair, Pat Blackwood,
were on hand to tour the grounds,
and speak to competitors.
“I’m continuously impressed by
what I see, and this year, the
level of skill and expertise was
phenomenal,” said Tsubouchi,
“Gail and her team from Skills
Ontario should be proud of
putting together such an
impressive event. Student competitors at this year’s Ontario Technological Skills Competition
“It’s great to see so much enthusiasm for the skilled trades from students,” added Blackwood “It’s clear that some of
Ontario’s best and brightest young minds have whole-heartedly embraced skilled, technology-based trades.”
“It’s clear that some of Ontario’s best and brightest young
minds have whole-heartedly embraced skilled, technologybased trades.” - Pat Blackwood
Grade 10 students Kylie and Chelsea from Guelph
Collegiate Vocational Institute, were a case in
point.
“I’m thinking of becoming an electrician when I
finish high school. I’ve always liked working with
my hands, and I like the feeling of satisfaction
when I finish a project,” said Kylie, who is a student
in her school’s Construction Technology course.
“It’s cool to see first-hand all of the options that
are out there,” added Chelsea.
Winners at the OTSC competed in the Skills
Canada National Competition in Saskatoon, May
27–30, and winners of the Nationals are off to São
Paulo, Brazil to compete against the best students
from 53 countries at the WorldSkills Competition
this August.
From left to right: David Tsubouchi, the College’s Registrar and CEO, Pat Blackwood, Chair of the Ontario
College of Trades Board of Governors, the Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Gail Smyth, Executive Director of Skills Ontario.
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W E
All signs point to
S T
Preparing women for success in the workplace helps
fill skill shortages in the Windsor-Essex region
Student participating in the Skilled Trades for Women Program by WEST of Windsor Inc.
Funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Women’s Directorate.
“T
here’s no such thing as a ‘man’s job’ or a ‘woman’s
job’ anymore,” says Toni MacDonald of Women’s
Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST) in
Windsor, Ontario.
The non-profit organization, which has been a staple in
the Windsor-Essex region since 1987, caters to the needs
of women facing significant barriers to employment
opportunities. WEST recently launched the ‘Women
in Skilled Trades and Information Technology’ preapprenticeship training program, which includes skills
enhancement and volunteer placements to better prepare
its clients for entry — and success — in the workplace.
With funding from the Ontario Women’s Directorate, the
program, which started last spring, prepares women for
highly skilled and in-demand trades and IT jobs.
A combination of workshops, in-class, and practical
labs teach employability skills and workplace culture.
Workshops led by women who work in the trades are
designed to build confidence and offer insight into the
industry.
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And their approach to training seems to be working.
“Approximately 80 per cent of women who have graduated
from the training program have found employment, or
have pursued further training or apprenticeships within
six months of graduating,” says MacDonald. “The WEST
philosophy encourages women to take the lead and to seek
information when exploring a new – or first – career.”
WEST works closely with sector employers conducting
labour market research to develop local strategies
addressing current and future labour shortages in the
trades and employment opportunities for women and
youth. The training programs are delivered in communities
where skill shortages have been identified or are projected
by local employers and labour market information.
Starting this August, WEST is launching a 42-week
CNC Industrial Mechanic Millwright Pre-Apprenticeship
Certificate Program in partnership with St. Clair College
and UNIFOR.
For more information on WEST visit:
www.westofwindsor.com
The Red Seal of approval
T
he Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship announced on
June 1, 2015 the official recognition of the “RSE” acronym (Red
Seal Endorsement) for qualified skilled journeypersons.
The Red Seal program allows tradespeople to have their Ontario
designated Red Seal certification recognized in any other province or
territory across Canada.
Members of prestigious professions and accredited groups are
often identified by the use of an official acronym that confirms their
certification and/or accreditation. Now qualified skilled trades workers
can enjoy the same benefit of showcasing their credentials, with the RSE
acronym.
The RSE acronym is to be used by journeypersons who have obtained
a Red Seal endorsement on their provincial or territorial Certificate of
Qualification by successfully completing a Red Seal examination.
The Red Seal is the Canadian standard of excellence for skilled trades
and anyone holding a Red Seal endorsement can begin using RSE on
their business cards and promotional materials today.
There are currently 47 Red Seal trades in Ontario, and four trades that
will become designated Red Seal trades: heat and frost insulator and three heavy equipment operator trades (dozer,
excavator, and tractor loader backhoe). The Red Seal program makes it easier for apprentices to complete their training
wherever they are able to find work, and allows employers to assess skills based on a National standard.
The Ontario College of Trades continues to support the Red Seal program and the Canadian Council of Directors of
Apprenticeship by participating in various National Workshops and Working Groups to develop Red Seal products.
Acting as a host province for a trade means a province like Ontario takes a leadership role in the development of Red
Seal products: National Occupational Analyses (NOAs), Interprovincial Program Guides (i.e. National Curricula), Exam
Banks and the piloted Red Seal Occupational Standards (RSOS).
Of the 57 Red Seal trades, Ontario is the host province for 12 trades, including:
Red Seal trade name
Ontario trade name
Bricklayer
Baker
Landscape Horticulturalist
Tower Crane Operator
Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
Sprinkler System Installer
Construction Craft Worker
Industrial Electrician
Sheet Metal Worker
Machinist
Tool and Die Maker
Automotive Service Technician
Brick and Stone Mason*
Baker-Patissier
Horticultural Technician
Hoisting Engineer – Tower Crane Operator
Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
Construction Craft Worker
Industrial Electrician
Sheet Metal Worker
General Machinist
Tool and Die Maker
Automotive Service Technician
*Ontario became the host province for the Brick and Stone Mason trade as of January 2015.
For more information on Red Seal and the new RSE acronym, visit www.red-seal.ca.
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Ontarians Support the College’s Public Register A
n overwhelming majority of Ontarians want to know if the person they hire to do important electrical, plumbing
and automotive work is properly certified to do the job, according to a recent Ipsos-Reid poll.
A whopping 92 per cent of Ontario residents support the Public Register, an online tool created by the Ontario
College of Trades (the College), which allows anyone in Ontario with access to a computer the ability to confirm if a
tradesperson is a member in good standing with the College, the poll found.
“What this tells us is that people in this province want to feel safe in their homes and where they work,” says the
College’s Registrar and CEO, David Tsubouchi, “and that includes being confident that individuals performing the skills of
compulsory trades have the training and certification required to legally practise their trade in Ontario.”
Highlighting the importance of checking the Public Register, Tsubouchi referenced the senior citizen in London who was
duped by an uncertified worker claiming to be a qualified tradesperson; the worker left the woman thousands of dollars
out of pocket and with dangerous electrical work in her home.
“The reality is that there are unqualified individuals out there willing to take advantage of the citizens of this province,
and steal business from the hardworking certified skilled tradespeople who have put in the time and effort that
certification requires,” says Tsubouchi.
The poll also found that 97% of respondents support the College’s role in ensuring that individuals in Ontario who are
performing the work of skilled tradespeople have the training and certification the law requires.
To access the Public Register, visit the College’s website: www.collegeoftrades.ca.
Do you have any comments or inquiries about Trades Today? Please send them to: [email protected].
Ontario College of Trades
655 Bay St., Suite 600
Toronto, ON M5G 2K4
Telephone: (647) 847-3000
Toll free number: 1 (855) 299-0028
Fax: 1 (647) 340-4332
E-mail: [email protected]
Disclaimer: While Ontario College of Trades makes every effort to ensure that the information in this publication is current and accurate, Ontario College of Trades does not warrant or guarantee that it will be free of errors. The information contained in this publication is not intended to cover all
situations. It is general information only and users/readers are encouraged to seek their own independent advice for particular fact situations.
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