CWB reaches out for industry input at Hamilton event

Attendees at Welding Industry Day get a chance to try out new equipment in Mohawk College’s welding shop.

On Dec. 18, 2019, CWB Group held Welding Industry Day at Mohawk College’s Stoney Creek Campus. The event was designed to both encourage young students to consider the trade as a potential future career and be an opportunity for CWB Group representatives to gain feedback on industry needs.

The first session at the event was a roundtable discussion that included industry, government, and college representatives. The purpose of the discussion, according to CWB Group Executive Director Dan Tadic, was to “identify three priorities that [CWB] should address to make the necessary investments to help industry. We have the resources to help and we want to make sure our assets are invested in the proper areas.”

The second component of the day was having 200 high school students from five school boards and 12 different high schools in to teach them about the breadth and depth of opportunities in a welding career. This segment included guest speakers from industry discussing their career paths and what welding has given them. Mohawk College Professor Nicole LeClair was one of three industry speakers.

“It’s important to me to be involved in this type of event because this sort of opportunity wasn’t presented to me when I was their age,” said LeClair. “So it’s important to me to reiterate to them that this is a really viable career and that you make good money doing it. By telling them my story, possibly I give them some encouragement to pursue the trades.”

The day continued with roundtable discussions on standards and why welders should be certified, and how to take a structured approach to mentoring an apprentice.

“Today, industry doesn’t have a structure for how to mentor an apprentice,” said Tadic. “Our organization has developed tools that we are publishing in 2020. One is designed to help employers with their hiring process, providing advice on how to assess a candidate for their practical welding skills. A second explains how to communicate properly with a mentee to ensure they receive effective feedback so they are encouraged to succeed. A third is designed for apprentices; it explains where a potential apprentice can look to find an employer to take them on, where they can look for financial support, and other useful advice. This last document includes lists of helpful websites and other resources.”

The remainder of the day included opportunities for hands-on welding in Mohawk’s welding labs, as well as an update on CSA Standard W47.1, a session on how to prepare for a CWB weld test, and industry supplier presentations.

CWB Group is planning similar events in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Moncton, and Halifax. Watch for opportunities to attend an event in your area on the CWB Group website and offer your industry insight.

Nicole LeClair (left) and Alicia Butty came to share their experiences in the industry with local high school students.