On November 6, Durham College (DC) welcomed president of the Treasury Board, Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, as well as MPP Lorne Coe to its Whitby campus for a roundtable discussing skilled trades and apprenticeship reform.

They were joined by Pam Stoneham associate dean of DC’s School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship & Renewable Technology, Dr. Rebecca Milburn, executive dean and principal, Whitby campus and Dr. Elaine Popp, DC’s vice-president, Academic, as well as faculty from the college’s welding, millwright, crane and elevating devices programs.

Grant Hawkins, a Level 1 apprentices in DC’s Elevating Devices Mechanic program, and Haley Barnes, who is in her second-year of DC’s Welding Engineering Technician program, were also on hand to share their experiences as current students.

Participants at the roundtable discussed areas where they felt changes are needed including streamlining the apprenticeship application process and bringing clarity to the journey of becoming an apprentice.

Reaching out to and promoting skilled trades earlier in a student’s education was also highlighted. Whether through offering exposure to those fields through events, such as DC’s recent Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference, or working with guidance counsellors to advocate for skilled trades, it was emphasized that helping students understand the value, potential and importance of these professions is a key factor in assuring the future prosperity of the trades in Ontario.

“Apprenticeship is so important,” said Stoneham. “Our program advisory committees are indicating they want the college to have more apprenticeships and by extension apprentices but we need to review the current system and address ongoing misconceptions about the value of skilled trades; that is a challenge.”

Carla Carmichael, vice-president, Project Assurance and Contract Management at Ontario Power Generation (OPG), also attended the roundtable, stressing that the skilled trades shortage is very real and impacting businesses both small and large.

As the company responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, OPG is also one of the province’s largest employers however, the biggest threat to its Darlington Nuclear Generating Station refurbishment project is a lack of skilled trades’ workers.

“Our contractors anticipate hiring thousands of skilled trades within the next five years to support the current planned refurbishment activities. This includes boilermakers, millwrights, electricians, steamfitters and carpenters.” she said. “We are working closely with our industry partners such as Bruce Power to ensure the success of the project.”

Of the call for apprenticeship reform, Minister Bethlenfalvy said “the evidence pointing to a skilled trades shortage and issues with the structure of the apprenticeship system is why our Government for the People is taking swift action to transform and modernize the apprenticeship system. There is tremendous value in coming to Durham College today and listening to your feedback. You are on the ground floor of training our next generation of skilled trades’ workers.”

With more than 1,300 students studying in nine apprenticeship programs offered at the college, DC has advocated extensively for apprenticeship reform and welcomed the opportunity to share its thoughts with the minister and MPP Coe.