Loyalist College in partnership with Skills Ontario, industry and communities from across the region will host a skills summer camp for students entering into Grades 7, 8 and 9. As skilled trades and technology professionals are in demand, introducing youth to the viability and opportunities in these careers is essential.
Participants will engage in hands-on exploration of careers in skilled trades and technologies by completing projects in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, service and technology sectors. Through various interactive games and activities, campers will be encouraged to develop communication, problem solving, teamwork and other employability skills as identified by the Conference Board of Canada.
Sponsored in part by the East Central Ontario Training Board, the camp at Loyalist College will run Monday, July 17 through to Friday, July 21 from 9 am to 4 pm. Campers will participate in several half-day skill development workshops hosted by College faculty and local professionals. These include welding, electrical, woodworking, biosciences, automotive and machining.
In addition, tours of local industries have been arranged at Magna International Belleville, Research Castings International, Donini Chocolate and 8 Wing Trenton, Royal Canadian Air Force. These visits will enable students to see firsthand the careers available within the community and to get a glimpse of an average workday in the skilled trades sectors. The program will also introduce campers to The W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellowship at Loyalist, a unique program that supports students in skills and technology programs.
A schedule of the activities taking place throughout the week is available by request.
About The W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellowship
In 2013, Loyalist and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation announced a three-year pilot project at Loyalist College providing financial support to students entering skilled trades programs. The Fellowship program offers tuition and bursary incentives to help students train for and succeed in this growing labour market. What began with a total commitment of $240,000 has since grown to over $520,000 in student funding from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to provide financial support for 150 students entering skilled trades programs.
During the course of their studies, recipients who maintain a specified minimum average may receive up to $4,000 in bursaries from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and tuition credits from the College. The Fellowship provides incentives for students to go beyond a one-year certificate to earn a diploma or complete apprenticeship training, enabling them to turn a job into a career. The goal for both the Fellowship’s post-secondary and apprenticeship option is 100 percent completion. This program at Loyalist will be one that leads other colleges forward in building a stronger workforce. Read more at westonfoundation.org.
The deadline for students beginning post-secondary programs during the 2017 Fall semester (September start) is August 22, 2017.
About Loyalist College
Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, Loyalist College is a close-knit community where students and their success come first. Loyalist provides personalized attention in small classes, rewarding field placements and superior student services. To prepare students for in-demand careers, Loyalist offers more than 65 full-time programs; apprenticeships; and hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, as well as opportunities for continuing education through more than 70 university transfer agreements. The College’s wide selection of advanced diplomas, diplomas and certificates aligns with market-driven disciplines including applied sciences, biosciences, building sciences, business and management studies, health sciences, human studies, justice studies, media, arts and design, and skills and technology. In Ontario, the College’s new Digital Media Centre and The Bay of Quinte Skills Centre, which is LEED® Silver certified, are training centres of choice for students, as well as College business and industry partners. The College is a key driver of the social and economic health and prosperity of the area and contributes 5.4 percent to the Gross Regional Product. This represents an overall effect on the regional economy of $530 million annually – based on a 2014 Report by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI). For more information on the College’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit loyalistcollege.com.
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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director of Marketing, Communications & Recruitment,
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536