www.ecao.org 14 APPRENTICESHIP K Kevin Christie feels very lucky to be trained and mentored by the best in the business. “My apprenticeship has been a very rich and rewarding experience,” says Christie, a fifth term apprentice with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 353. When it comes to electrical work, he has learned how important proper training and oversight is to ensuring work is done safely and correctly. Not only does the apprentice benefit from developing the necessary skills but for contractors, businesses and taxpayers, it pays off as well. That’s why the contractors in the Greater Toronto Electrical Contractors Association (GTECA) have invested so much in the Toronto Joint Apprenticeship Council (JAC). The program, operated by GTECA and the electricians of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 353, ensures each apprentice receives the most complete education available anywhere. “The young men and women that graduate from the JAC six-year electrical apprenticeship training program are the ‘best of the best’ in their trade,” says Kelly Burke, President of Ampere Ltd., a GTECA contractor company. “The precision, workmanship, and the level of pride of JAC graduates is far superior.” “I’ve talked to a lot of non-union apprentices at trade school about the level of support and the learning opportunities I’ve had, and I get amazed stares,” agrees Christie. “The non-union apprentice is set up more like a lone ship at sea. Trade school is a port in the storm, but the rest of the time that individual has to do a LOT of leg work and be very proactive to get anywhere close to the same exposure.” Better Process, Better Results IBEW Local 353 has four dedicated training facilities in Toronto, Mississauga, Barrie and Oshawa. These buildings contain classrooms, shops and computer labs for apprentices and also licensed members who want to upgrade their skills. The skills taught include programmable logic controllers (PLC), computer operations, network cabling and green technologies. Kevin Christie says he has no shortage of learning opportunities. “We get a course catalogue, with a lot of courses that you don’t need to be a journeyman to take. I feel like I’m really ahead of the game, because I’ve been able to take courses on things like solar technology, for example.” Erik Hueglin, Director of Apprenticeship for the Toronto Joint Apprenticeship Council (JAC), oversees the program that trains apprentices. “Our apprentices are very well supported from beginning to end with our program,” Hueglin says. “We have six full-time counsellors here in Toronto. The counsellors look at each apprentice, tailor the training program to their strengths and weaknesses, and remain as their dedicated contact throughout the apprenticeship.” The apprenticeship begins with an 1,800-hour pre-apprenticeship program, including two weeks of safety and orientation training APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING Critical to Ontario’s Future Article provided by Powering Communities