Glendale students learn about Trick of the Trades

This group of Grade 10 female students stopped by the LiUNA 1059 booth to find out more information about careers in the trades. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Students at Glendale High School received insight into trade careers at the Trick of the Trades event held at the school on Nov. 26.

Organized by Tillsonburg Multi-Service Centre, the Town of Tillsonburg and Glendale High School, Trick of the Trades was an event for the entire Glendale student body, not just certain grades or segments.

There were 14 different vendors at Trick of the Trades, covering everything from concrete work to plumbing to construction and hairdressing.

Samantha Ton, an employment consultant with the Multi-Service Centre, explained the purpose of the event: “The hope is even after receiving education outside the community, they will hopefully come back and work in Tillsonburg. It’s highlighting what the local opportunities are in the trades.”

From a student standpoint, the incentive for entering the trades is certainly there. If accepted for an apprenticeship, which is available for many trades, students can start being paid after completing school, don’t have to pay for their schooling and finish with a high-paying career that is in demand. Ton added that in many cases the pay for trades is as high as many careers for those attending university, and there are more grant and scholarship opportunities available for trades.

“It’s a needed field,” Ton said.

A unique feature of Trick of the Trades is there are a number of hands-on activities designed to help engagement.

“It’s not just walking around and looking at posters, it’s trying stuff,” said Jen Olcsvary, Fundraising & Community Engagement Coordinator with the Multi-Service Centre.

“It gives them a piece of what the job will look like,” Ton added.

Ontario government figures back this assertion with estimates the province will need 100,000 new trades people in the next decade.

Traditional thinking may be that trade careers are male dominated, more females are entering fields that were historically men only.

“A lot of females students I talked to are engaged,” Ton said.

Trade opportunities are more diverse than many may believe.

Tim Davis, head of co-operative education at Glendale, pointed out there are more than 100 trades. These fall under four general areas: motive power, services, construction and industrial. In more detail, they include a chef, hairdresser, blacksmith, cabinet maker, locksmith, millwright, welder, baker and a variety of careers in agriculture. However, Davis said most students think of traditional trades such as mechanic, plumber and electrician. While he has had many ask about electrical, he has only had one student in the last six years ask about being a millwright.

“We need to do better with things like this (Trick of the Trades) so kids know trades exist,” he said.