Tuesday, March 17, 2026

CLAC-Edvance Workshop Introduces Skilled Trades to Students from Independent Schools

By Mike Kamminga, Jobs Coordinator

On March 6, our CLAC Cambridge Member Centre welcomed more than 50 students from independent high schools for an OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) Construction Education Workshop. It was great to work with Edvance to give students and teachers hands‑on activities, teach them about skilled trades, and explain how apprenticeship pathways work in Ontario.

During the day, students got to try activities related to HVAC work and also learned what it’s like to operate heavy equipment by using a mini excavator model. We also spent time talking about the importance of health and safety on job sites, including how to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the basics of working at heights.

I built a special “Try‑A‑Trade” activity where students could cut, shape, and install a piece of round steel duct between a floor vent and a take‑off. It was a simple project, but it gave me the chance to explain different HVAC and sheet metal trades. We discussed how to properly use common tools like metal snips and a pipe crimper. I shared my own experience with becoming a licensed G2 Gas Technician.

We’ve run this event six times now, and every year students really enjoy it. Their interest motivates us to keep offering these experiences and to find new ways to make them even better. In the future, I hope to introduce more hands‑on activities, like learning to use a pipe threader for steel pipe or practicing how to cut and bend rebar. There are so many skills we can teach, and we’re always looking for opportunities to expand the program.

As more schools join the OYAP for Independent Schools Program, we’re hopeful we’ll continue receiving support from the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario through the Skills Development Fund (SDF). This ensured we can keep offering workshops and helping students explore careers in the skilled trades.

In 2025 alone, we supported more than 100 students from independent high schools with co‑op placements and helped guide them toward apprenticeship pathways through our partnership with Edvance and the OYAP for Independent Schools Program.

We also had the chance to visit students at Guido de Brès Christian High School in Hamilton and Woodland Christian High School near Kitchener to talk about CLAC, the services we offer in the construction sector, and how students can get started in apprenticeships—especially through OYAP.

CLAC continues to look for more partners, including independent schools that need support and employers who can offer co‑op placements. If you want to learn more about the OYAP for Independent Schools Program, visit www.clac.ca/oyap.

CLAC-Edvance Workshop Introduces Skilled Trades to Students from Independent Schools

You might be interested in