Calendar
November 2015 Newsletter
In this issue:
- Upcoming Events
- Real Talk: New Career Resource App
- Sponsor Update
- Skilled Trades Profiles: Tyler Magri & Joel McLeod
- YWI Update
- Cardboard Boat Race Update
- St. Clair Scholarship
- Skills Ontario in the News
- OTSC Alumni Interview: Jessica Nelson
November 26, 2015: Skills Work!® For Women Career Exploration Event, Port Elgin
December 1, 2015: Secondary Cardboard Boat Races, London, Sturgeon Falls, Toronto
December 8, 2015: Secondary Cardboard Boat Race, Ottawa
January 12, 2016: Elementary Workshop Registration Opens Online
January 20, 2016: Skills Work!® Summer Camp Registration Opens Online
January 26, 2016: Elementary Cardboard Boat Races, Brantford, Ottawa, Sturgeon Falls, and New Market
January 27, 2016: Elementary Cardboard Boat Race, Toronto, and Ottawa (second day)
Real Talk: New Career Resource App
The Learning Partnership has released a new career resource app: Real Talk. The app was created using Canadian students’ feedback about what they need to help them make choices about post-secondary options. The Learning Partnership used the feedback to create this exciting career app, designed to provide high school students with the opportunity to gain "peer to peer" perspectives, tips and advice from young people who have recently made the school to work transition. Students can bookmark, like, and share on social media the careers that interest them, while building a digital “to-do list” of resources to help plan “life after high school.”
The app has a special need for more skilled trades and technology profiles, so if you or someone you know would like to contribute to this great initiative by sharing your experience, please click the this link and fill out the questionnaire to be featured in the app.
Skills Ontario is pleased to announce that Milwaukee Power Tools has increased their support and has stepped forward as our newest Platinum sponsor. Milwaukee will be the power tool supplier for the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and involved with a number of Skills Ontario initiatives as we work together to ensure youth across Ontario know about the benefits of pursuing a career in the skilled trades.
Skilled Trades Profiles: Tyler Magri & Joel McLeod
We are thrilled to have launched two of our very own videos in October – two trades profiles featuring OTSC competitors in welding and CNC machining! Joel McLeod, a past medalist in welding, and Tyler Magri, a WorldSkills 2015 competitor and past OTSC gold medalist, talk about the path to their trade and get students excited about the possibilities of a fulfilling career in the skilled trades and technologies!
| “We see the product of welding every day – a table, a chair -- welding is used everywhere. A welder picks up a torch and produces something that they can be proud of. We’re creators, we’re making products.” – Joel McLeod | |
| “A lot of doors that the skilled trades have opened for me – especially Skills Ontario and Skills Canada – is that there are other companies that have heard about me, other companies that want to talk to me. I don’t really need to go off and look for a job. Having Skills Ontario and Skills Canada on your resume really gives you that added edge.” – Tyler Magri |
The Young Women's Initiative Program has already had some successful events in Timmins, Thunder Bay and Peterborough. Each event presented an increase in attendance since last year, with Peterborough doubling in size, indicatinng a growing interest in the trades among young women.
Our Mentor Build on November 23 saw Alyssa Light leading the workshops for the mentors, while the girls rotated between their own workshops on tools, carpentry and food processing. The Guelph event consisted of the workshops, whicher were soon followed by the afternoon of mentor panels.
The 2015-2016 Cardboard Boat Race season is underway with registrations, and our first races in Thunder Bay happening November 17 & 18 for both Elementary and Secondary schools. We are set to have 15 races this year, which if all races fill up, could see over 1,500 students racing boats! Also, an exciting add this year at the Secondary Level is the new “Team Spirit Advancement”, which awards 1 team with the highest points in the Teamwork and Team Spirit category from each Secondary location, in order to advance to the Provincial Championships in Waterloo. Team Spirit points are based on costumes, team cheers, communication between team members, and overall engagement.
Another exciting aspect of this season's Cardboard Boat Races is the 2 new racing locations, at Thornlea Secondary School in Markham and North Huron Community Centre in Wingham. All of these races are also looking for help with Judging for each day of the event. If you are interested in volunteering in this position, you can check out this event or learn more abour Skills Ontario by contacting Natasha Oliver at noliver@skillsontario.com.
At the 2015 OTSC, competitors received a financial boost from St. Clair College: the college presents $1,000 scholarships to grade 11 and 12 students who competed in the 2015 OTSC, whether they placed or not. The scholarships are applicable at St. Clair College.
For more information, please contact Ann Hetherington, Director of Marketing at St. Clair College, by phone at 519-972-2775 or by email at ahetherington@stclaircollege.ca.
Bring Skilled Trades And Technologies To Education Discussion
Toronto Star / unionizedlabour.ca - September 24, 2015
New Generation Of Skilled Trades Workers In Demand In Ontario
Toronto Star / unionizedlabour.ca - September 24, 2015
Acclaimed Timmins welder breaking barriers
Timmins Press - October 19, 2015
CHEX Daily - Wednesday Oct. 21, 2015
CHEX Daily Show - October 21, 2015
Proving your skills: Ryan Green, Transportation, and the Skills Canada Competition
Centennial College Blog - October 21, 2015
Women account for just 14 per cent of skilled-trades apprentices
iPolitics - October 26, 2015
Girls explore trades career options at Fleming College event
Peterborough Examiner - October 29, 2015
Girls learn about skilled trades at Guelph event
Guelph Mercury – November 23, 2015
OTSC Alumni Interview: Jessica Nelson
Introduction
While looking back, Jessica Nelson determines that she first became interested in Graphic Design in her last two years of high school in her Communication Technology class. Now she has become a Graphic Design intern at Blurt Marketing, and is currently attending St. Clair College as a Graphic Design student. And as she continues in her skilled trade, she’s striving towards a career that she will look forward to going to every day.
About Graphic Design
“It’s a very interesting field of work and definitely keeps you busy,” Jessica states. “I never get bored and always have a new project to work on.” But what does it take to become a Graphic Designer? “[Blurt Marketing is] looking for someone who works well under time sensitive projects, who listens to directions, and someone who can take a good idea and make it into a great idea,” says Jessica on her internship. Students who are seeking experience in the work field, but still have enough experience to complete given tasks are an asset to this trade. Her interest in traditional art and digital art also made this program an ideal fit for her. She also notes that “[t]o become successful in this field it is essential that you stay on top of all of your assignments and projects, and that you do them to the best of your ability. In this program, school projects aren't just school projects, it's the work that all of your potential employers are going to see in your portfolio and the work that defines you as a designer.”
The OTSC
Jessica also competed in the Ontario Technological Skills Competition Design contest in 2015, an opportunity which was initially brought to her attention by her Studio Productions teacher. She used the competition as a chance to compete against many other people in Ontario, and to see if she could create something truly amazing. And she did. Jessica became the winner of the 2015 OTSC Pin Design contest, her design displayed all over the Ontario Technological Skills Competition. She became exposed to many different ideas and design styles, which truly inspired her future.
How the OTSC Helped
Jessica feels that the OTSC contest helped to boost her credibility; it made Blurt Marketing aware that she had the skills required to win a province-wide design contest, and made herself aware that she had the skills to become successful in this field. "Participating in the pin/medal design contest was a no-brainer for me. I didn't only do it because it was assigned as a class project, I did it because I was interested in seeing how far I could go with something that I put my best effort into, and I was very pleased with the outcome! There is nothing to lose, but so much to gain from this experience."
The Future
Jessica’s third year class is starting to look at second semester internship opportunities, where she will continue to study as a graphic designer. “If I didn't join this program, I would have no idea of the things that I am capable of,” she concludes. “If you have a passion for it, go for it.”
