Monday, April 4, 2022

Program offers free Intro to Trades dual credits at Canadore College

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is taking registrations for a program that will see re-engaged learners earn up to two credits towards their secondary school diploma and up to two college course credits towards a Trades Fundamentals certificate at Canadore. The program is called Introduction to the Trades.

Alysha Young, NNDSB’s re-engagement lead and a dual-credit teacher, says this course is for adult learners aged 21 and older who have not earned their Ontario Secondary School Diplomas.

Learners will attend the Commerce Court Campus of Canadore College in North Bay from April 25 to June 10 for half days (9 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m.). Students can take an introduction to carpentry and/or introduction to plumbing course. There is no cost to attend the program and students will receive financial assistance with equipment and transportation.

The introduction to carpentry course introduces students to a variety of hand and power tools, with an emphasis on identification, selection and safe operating procedures. Skill building will focus on residential construction.

The introduction to plumbing course introduces student to plumbing theory, safety, tools and materials. Students will work through the Ontario Building Code sections that relate to plumbing. Practical experience will be gained working in the program’s shop.

“This program is an excellent opportunity to attend Canadore and explore the trades as a career while earning high school and college credits,” says Patricia Jackson, project leader at Canadore College. “Past students have gone on to complete the certificate at Canadore, and work in the trades.”

Young says the dual-credit program is a collaborative effort between all four co-terminus school boards, Canadore College and the Ministry of Education. They work with partners in the community and tackle labour market shortages, creating programs that give learners a head start to an education that will address labour needs in the community.

“The objective of the dual-credit program,” she says, “is to aid students who have the potential to succeed.” In addition to the college instructor, students will have the support of a secondary school staff member in the student success role. “The students have more support than they would in a regular college class,” says Young.

“The goal is to help students land jobs,” she says. This is an example of NNDSB’s commitment to Excellence in Innovation, and Excellence in Teaching and Learning, two of the pillars of the board’s multi-year strategic plan.

For more information, contact Alysha Young at Alysha.Young@nearnorthschools.ca or 705-472-5419 ext. 4066.

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Cutline information (Trades-1, Trades-2):

Students in the dual-credit Introduction to the Trades course can earn up to four credits; two towards their secondary school diploma, and two college course credits.

For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca