WALKERTON – Participants in the new connect2SKILLS construction training program got to test their skills on the job site at the Neyaashiinigmiing build with Habitat for Humanity on Friday, July 23.
It was the end of the free, six-week training program that saw the participants, staff from Four County Labour Market Planning Board (Planning Board), delivering the connect2SKILLS program, and homeowner volunteers spend the day working together on the four new homes being built on the reserve.
They got to experience first-hand building scaffolding, working at heights while putting up rafters, levelling out the gravel foundation, putting foam moulds into place, and then pouring concrete into the moulds.
Greg Fryer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce and Matt Bryan, construction manager, were pleased to partner with the Planning Board team on the project and supervised the volunteers for the day.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this hands-on learning experience for the connect2SKILLS participants. Our partnership has huge potential for preparing people for rewarding careers in construction,” said Fryer.
The participants enjoyed getting to put their training into practice, demonstrating their skills on the job site, and working together with the volunteers.
“It was nice to see the construction participants putting their training into practice, and finding out how much hard work is involved,” said a program co-ordinator who volunteered for the day.
Gemma Mendez-Smith, executive director of the Planning Board, said, “the connect2SKILLS graduates were happy to be giving back to the community in a tangible way, and enjoyed the sense of accomplishment the project gave them.”
She added, “It was eye-opening for some of them to see how what they learned in the classroom was put into practice on the job site.”
Habitat for Humanity was able to hire from the training program and is pleased to continue partnering with the Four County Labour Market Planning Board in the future.
For more information about the construction program, or the manufacturing or hospitality and tourism training that connect2SKILLS offers, please visit the website: www.connect2SKILLS.ca, check them out on Facebook, or call 519-881-2725 for more information.
