myLoyalist
Home Alumni Wall of Fame Employer Returns to Loyalist College for more Welding Graduates

Employer Returns to Loyalist College for more Welding Graduates

March 28, 2013

Byron Cox graduated from Loyalist College’s one-year Welding Techniques program in 2009.  This February, Byron returned to the College campus with his employer Denis Curtis, owner and operator of CMR Racing Products Inc., to recruit students to join their team. 

Based in Belleville, CMR is a small company which produces quality reproductions of historic and classic racing motorcycle frame kits and component parts. Within international racing circles, CMR motorcycles are well-known for taking racers to award-winning fame and for being showcased by collectors, such as Jay Leno. 

Byron met Denis during his final semester at Loyalist when Denis spoke to the Welding students about a job opportunity at CMR. While Byron’s peers were preparing to pursue welding careers in established construction, mining, machinery, transportation and aerospace industries, Byron was intrigued by the creative welding work that was being done at CMR. He convinced Denis to hire him. 

Byron Cox, 2009 Welding Techniques graduate

Byron Cox, 2009 Welding Techniques graduate

“I love my job,” said Byron. “It’s not like working from a blueprint. Each job is customized and creatively challenging. Working with Denis has taught me the importance that attention to detail makes in the finished product and the need to strive for perfection. These are racing bikes, so they must handle well and most importantly be safe. Lives depend upon that.”

By hiring Byron, Denis discovered that Loyalist, his local community college, was the perfect place to find skilled employees to help create unique products that meet his clients’ needs. 

“When Denis said that the company’s orders had grown to the point that he needed to hire more people, I was thrilled to return to campus with him to recruit. It feels great to visit the College. The new Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre is a phenomenal facility for students to learn in.” 

“Our primary clients are from Europe, Australia and the United States so initially I looked in those areas for skilled craftspeople to join my team,” said Denis. “Fortunately, I discovered that the expertise I need is right here in Belleville. Byron is proof that Loyalist Welding graduates are job-ready with the knowledge and confidence to work within our complex industry. If I could clone Byron I would.”

Building on the popularity of its current one-year Welding Techniques Ontario College Certificate, Loyalist announced that it will offer a two-year, four semester Welding and Fabrication Technician program for an Ontario College diploma, starting September 2013. Graduates may become welding technicians, fitters, millwrights and inspectors in a number of industries ranging from motor vehicle and equipment manufacturing to construction and metal production. With new technologies such as laser and electron beam, welding results have improved and new opportunities have been created for graduates to use refined techniques in different jobs and industries. Students learn to read and interpret blueprints and welding process specifications; operate welding equipment using diverse processes, and identify and address weld defects. 

Welding Techniques and Welding and Fabrication Technician are just two of the programs that students are eligible to apply to receive tuition and bursary incentives as part of the new W. Garfield Weston Fellowship Program at Loyalist College. The three-year pilot project will provide financial support for students entering Skilled Trades programs, starting in September. A total of $240,000 will be available during the three-year program. Applications for the program will be available online on April 15 at loyalistcollege.com.

For information about the Welding programs, contact Professor John Grieve at (613) 969-1913, ext. 2403 or at jgrieve@loyalistc.on.ca

For questions about the Fellowship Program, contact Joanne Farrell, Awards Officer at (613) 969-1913 ext. 2202 or jfarrell@loyalistc.on.ca

 

 

 

Categories: