Tuesday, November 20, 2018

CLAC ON Jobs, PAT Help Member Launch New Career

Changing careers can mean a more fulfilling work life but it’s never easy, especially when that change means starting an apprenticeship.

Jason Walsh decided to do just that in 2017. After working for nearly 20 years in concrete forming construction, he decided to become an electrician.

Jason was introduced to CLAC in 2011. He went to work for North American Construction on the Detour Gold Mine in Northern Ontario, after being unhappy with his representation by LIUNA. When that job shut down, the CLAC Jobs team quickly got him back to work with KS Zyp Ltd. As seasonal layoffs approached at KS Zyp, Redline Structures Ltd. heard about it and hired Jason the same day. Jason eventually moved to Horizon Concrete Construction Ltd.

During a seasonal layoff from Horizon in 2017, Jason decided to look into an electrical apprenticeship. He had heard about CLAC’s association with the Pre-Apprenticeship Training School (PAT) through his representative, so he called the CLAC office, which set up a meeting for him at PAT. During his interview with PAT, Jason was advised to look into Second Career financial assistance through the provincial government. After receiving that assistance, he began at PAT in July 2017, taking morning classes in electrical and network cabling.

Horizon Concrete generously offered Jason afternoon work while attending school, which would relieve some financial pressure. Jerry Postma, the owner of Horizon, wanted to help Jason improve himself even if it didn’t help his own company in the long run.

In April 2018, Jason finished his PAT schooling and went back to work full time at Horizon while he looked for an electrical apprenticeship. The CLAC ON Jobs Team helped Jason by sending his resume to all the CLAC electrical contractors in the area and Jason began cold-calling contractors himself.

One of those connections was with O’Connor Electric, which took the time to answer Jason’s questions, even though the company wasn’t hiring at the time. But that connection paid off in September, when Jason was offered a job with O’Connor. He now works at a jobsite in Guelph—the same site where he had previously worked with both KS Zyp and Redline.

Jason is looking forward to learning his new trade, and is grateful to CLAC, PAT, Horizon, and O’Connor Electric for all their assistance in his successful transition to a new career.

CLAC ON Jobs, PAT Help Member Launch New Career

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