Memories...

Highlights of the 2010-2011 from some of our Liaison staff!

The main part of our job as Liaison Officers is to deliver presentations in schools so that students are aware of the opportunities available in skilled trades and technologies.  We are often asked “doesn’t it get repetitive, doing the same presentation over and over?”  The short answer: yes and no.  The other programs and events we plan and assist with break up the school year.  And more often than not, the schools and the kids are game changers.  To celebrate the end of the school year, and the beginning of summer, we've put together a few examples.

Jessica Murphy, Thunder Bay:

It was the last day of a week long road trip that saw me going to places that few roads travelled beyond. My first stop of the last day brought me to Hudson, Ontario and a one-hallway school with only about 4 rooms in it. I arrived a bit early, so the teacher asked if I’d like to come with her to the breakfast room.  I followed her down to the breakfast room – which was exactly that....a room where all of the students from the entire school sat and ate breakfast together.  There were only about 20 students in the entire school and they all sat at 4 different tables eating breakfast together.  One table had the K- grade 2 students, then there were the grade 3 & 4 students, the 5 & 6 students and finally the table of grades 7 & 8 students.  When they were all finished they were told to bring their dishes to the back sink which they all did – even the little wee students, the “big kids” helped them reach to get their dishes in the sink.  Once everyone was back in their seats, a teacher turned around, hit Play on the tape player and on came Oh Canada. When it was time to go to their classroom, the youngest students all held hands and made their way their room. Eventually the grades 7 & 8 students made it back to their room at which point I got to present to four fantastic students.

All the students had their eye out for the others and there was such a feeling of admiration and respect among all of the students.  As I left the school, my eyes watered a little bit, as it was just announced in March that this school would be closing at the end of this school year.  I can’t help but feel as though these kids are forever changed with the experiences they had at Hudson School, and I can definitely say that I am forever changed and that Hudson School has definitely left a lasting impact that I will always carry with me.  Thanks for the memories Hudson!

Mauricio Ospina, Sudbury:

Something that surprised me from my first Cardboard Boat Race was that the biggest smiles of the day came when the boats sank!  That surprised me because, after all, when the boat sinks is when you’re done the competition... you’re out!  So when I saw the huge smiles I was blown away and noticed how much fun this event really is for all the participants.  They work hard on their boats, want to win the race and paddle as hard as they can, want to have the most weight for 90 seconds, but at the end of the day they HAVE FUN and laugh when the boat sinks!  Wonderful to see!

Shannon Skinner, Toronto:

In early June, I was scheduled for a day of presentations at a high school.  Part of the way through one of my afternoon presentations, the fire alarm went off in the building!  Apparently, the system will react to very high temperatures – whether or not there is smoke or fire.  This one definitely wins an award for being one of the stranger mishaps that has occurred during one of my presentations.  Just goes to show, our in-school presentation is too hot to handle!

April Albano, Kitchener:

I am new and most of the moments thus far have been memorable.  One of the moments that stands out to me was at the Closing Ceremony for the Ontario Technological Skills Competition.  I was carrying the various medals, scholarship notices and awards to the winners from backstage.  I went on stage to hand out the School Board Award (given to the Board that achieves the highest combined score during the OTSC).   The gentleman I gave it to started tearing up and hoisted the trophy in the air.  I learned later that this man was the main contact for his school board - the Halton District School Board - and after many years of competing, his board had finally won the big award.  He was so thrilled!  It opened my eyes to the dedication of the individuals that are involved with Skills Canada-Ontario, and how important our programs are to so many schools, school boards and individuals across Ontario. 

Devon Turcotte, Woodbridge:

Over the years, I have planned and supported a number of “Skills Work! for Women” Networking Dinners.  But this year,  I had the challenge of establishing this amazing event in brand new territory – Durham region.  After piles of emails and hours of phone calls, and the assistance of countless teachers and school board connections, I finally managed to scrape together 24 students to attend the dinner.  As these girls went through the evening, I could almost see their eyes opening more and more and more.  One student approached me at the end of the evening and said “this is amazing!  I really think I could do these jobs!”  And then in one of my last presentations of the year, a student approached me and told me she had attended the dinner.  She is interested in becoming an auto service technician, and had been for a long time, but she was really amazed to find out how many other doors would open for her once she obtained her license.  What a great treat!  I was thrilled to hear that she was even more inspired to continue on her path, and connected her with another woman who had been a mentor in past, but wasn’t able to attend this particular dinner.

Scott Verhoeve, Kitchener:

In the weeks that I have been a Liaison Officer, the date that stands out to me is May 9. It was a seminal day for me:  I formally hit the road for a week of training with my fellow new cohort, April, in the shadow of a more experienced Liaison Officer, Brieanna Holm.  The Ontario Technological Skills Competition had left me feeling more a part of the staff team, and we headed to present in my home town and at the school where I had just completed several months of practice teaching as a student teacher.   Although I wasn’t presenting that morning – I had the good fortune of watching Brie do her job – I knew many students in the audience after teaching in several grade 10 classes over the last two semesters. And the combination of listening to the presentation and knowing many of the students really crystallized for me the importance of our role and the fact that these students are real people with huge potential and big decisions ahead of them. Although I am still working at doing this well, that day motivates me to try to connect with my audience as though they are all students that I know personally.

2011 Glenn Beatty Award Winner - Bob Tone

Where would we be without volunteers?  At Skills Canada-Ontario, we rely on the support of literally hundreds of people who work tirelessly, without pay, to help make a complex, multi-day event such as the OTSC run smoothly. 

While we value and appreciate every single one of our family of volunteers, it is our pleasure to honour one individual each year at the Closing Ceremony for the Ontario Technological Skills Competition with a special award to recognize their outstanding contributions to our organization.

This award is named for Glenn Beatty, a competitor in the Precision Machining contest at the 1997 OTSC.  Glenn earned a gold medal at that year’s OTSC, then went on to achieve the same stellar level of success at the Canadian Skills Competition in Red Deer, Alberta.

Glenn Beatty’s talents in Precision Machining not only earned him top marks at these provincial and national skills competitions; they also landed him a job at ATS Automation Tooling Systems in Cambridge, despite his young age.  Energetic and big-hearted, Glenn decided to give back to our organization by becoming a volunteer, so in 1998 Skills Canada – Ontario was the beneficiary of his enormous help at that year’s OTSC as a Marshal. 

Tragically, this kind and vibrant young man was taken from us in a motor vehicle accident in January 1999.  That same year, the Board of Directors of Skills Canada-Ontario created the Glenn Beatty Award in his name, as a way to pay tribute to his memory and to honour other exceptional volunteers who embody the same generous spirit that was such an integral part of who Glenn was.

This year’s recipient of the Glenn Beatty award is a gentleman who has become a fixture and familiar face in the Robotics contest.  It is our great pleasure and privilege to honour Bob Tone, Technical Chair of the Robotics Contest, as this year’s recipient of the Glenn Beatty Award.

 

Robotics is one of the most labour-intensive contests hosted at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition and Bob has embraced this role as the Technical Committee Chair at the provincial level.  The dedication he has to this contest is second only to the passion he has to the field of robotics.  He has ensured that Robotics is one of the most successful contests at the provincial and national Skills competitions, and has recently been approved as a World Expert who will be contributing to Worldskills 2011. 

On top of facilitating the Robotics contest, Bob also coordinates the registration of all students competing on behalf of the Toronto Catholic District School Board.  This is no small feat with a school board that size.

Passionate, hardworking and organized ― before the 2011 OTSC was complete, he had already begun preparations for next year’s provincial and national Robotics contest ― you can’t ask for anything more from a volunteer!

Click here for a full list of past recipients, and visit our website for more information on our awards and scholarships!

Skills Work!® for Women – Sheila Brown, Computer Tamer

Sheila Brown’s career path looks something like a patchwork quilt.  She worked in nursing for many years, then in volunteer management within Ontario hospitals, then onto retail management with a large department store chain.  After becoming disabled in 1986, Sheila adjusted her work so that she could work sitting down.  And that’s where she got her first introduction to computers.

The company she worked for at the time was Canada’s first company to connect the public to the Internet.  Immediately, she saw a need for skills development with computers, particularly among women.   

Around the same time, her son was becoming interested in computers through school.  As a widowed single mother, Sheila felt that it was important to gain a good understanding of what he was getting into, so she went out and purchased her first computer in 1984 and took to it immediately. 

In 1994, before most of us even knew the Internet was a thing, Sheila had already designed her first web page.  She created a business out of her passion for computers, which started part time in 1999, and flourished into a full-time gig in 2004.

“I train many women and seniors, as well as helping younger people, to learn how to use their computers, and how to be safe online. I also train people in how to create or maintain their own websites, and am pleased when they can do so on their own, or with little guidance and help.”

One of the biggest skills Sheila uses on a daily basis is patience.  Sometimes she has to explain a process or task several times before a client understands.  She also has to stay ahead of the curve on new technologies.

A significant barrier to Sheila starting her career was “male attitudes to females in technology.”  She remembers that she wasn't given good service when buying her first computers, and was not always taken seriously in discussions with male tech support personnel.  She is happy to see these attitudes changing, but can still be a challenge for women, even today, despite the prevalence of computers in our society.

“Women are capable, women are strong, and women can do whatever they want to, despite the problems and challenges we encounter,” is her advice to young women seeking work in technologies.  With such a positive attitude, she is sure to see her business expand in the coming years!

Sheila is a returning mentor to our Networking Dinner program.  She mentored at the Ottawa “Skills Work!® for Women” Networking Dinner on April 12, 2011.

Skills Work!® in Partnership - OCAS

In his report, People Without Jobs, Jobs Without People: Ontario's Labour Market Future, Dr. Rick Miner predicts that Ontario's economy will be increasingly driven by knowledge- and skill-based jobs.  There is a shortage of skilled trades people and that shortage is likely to increase and construction workers age and retire.  Occupations will need to adapt to new emerging technologies.

These trends will drastically increase the need for workers with education or certification beyond the high school level. Colleges play a vital role in training our workforce and delivering people with employable skills.

There are thousands of post-secondary programs offered across the province from which to choose, including skilled trades and apprenticeship-related programs.  Information about these options needs to be readily available to help individuals make informed decisions about their future.

Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) is proud to partner with Skills Canada – Ontario to support its dedication to promoting careers in the skilled trades and technologies as a first-choice, viable career option for youth in Ontario. Our shared belief in the importance of promoting skilled trade careers to youth helps address the workforce shortages ahead.

OCAS produces publications highlighting these program choices, at which college they are offered, as well as the benefits of a college education. Through our partnership with Skills Canada – Ontario, these materials are distributed via the “Skills Work!® What’s Out There?” program.

In addition to our support of the “Skills Work!® What’s Out There?” program, OCAS sponsors and has a number of partnership initiatives with Skills Canada – Ontario including the Skills Canada Competitions, Skills at the Park and Cardboard Boat Races.  We are pleased for the opportunity to assist Skills Canada – Ontario in highlighting the importance and value of skilled workers. We look forward to these and other initiatives our partnership will bring.

National Volunteer Week - April 11-17

As a not-for-profit organization, Skills Canada – Ontario relies heavily on the assistance of many volunteers in order to successfully administer our programs to over 100,000 students every year.

SCO is extremely fortunate to have a dedicated base of more than 1000 volunteers, who participate in a variety of ways.  These volunteers act as mentors in our young women’s programs and various judges in our competitions.  They assist with set-up and tear-down of the Ontario Technological Skills Competition, and lend a hand with anything that needs to be done.  Many of them return year after year and have long since been adopted into the SCO family.  A few such individuals are profiled below.

Shane Kennedy, Lead Corporate Trainer for Boston Pizza – Shane had such a great experience as a competitor at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition that he continued his involvement with the OTSC as a Marshal.  Shane has returned every year since 2002 to fill this role.  Marshals are responsible for one of the seven contest areas at the OTSC, facilitating set-up, tear-down and flow of the competition.  It’s a tough job that can involve everything from directing visitors and volunteers, grabbing spare tables and chairs for individual contests, and hauling materials and supplies around.  Definitely not glamourous.  Shane, however, loves it.  “Giving back to the community is important.  It’s part of who we are as Canadians, as human beings.  And Skills is a fantastic organization because you’re supporting the education and growth of students.”

Kitty Runstedler, Co-op and Career Services at Conestoga College – When the job interview component was first introduced at the OTSC (each secondary and post-secondary competitor completes a 5-minute job interview as part of his or her contest), Kitty was one of the volunteers recruited to conduct job interviews.  “Conestoga College has always been heavily involved with the OTSC, and I wanted to support that involvement.  My husband is a skilled tradesperson, and plenty of Conestoga students compete as well.”  Gradually, Kitty’s role changed from interviewer to coordinator of the job interview component, and she continues to serve on the committee, assisting with recruiting volunteers, organizing the flow of interviews on-site and providing support and help to volunteers in attendance.  She returns year after year because she loves working with the staff at SCO, and believes that it’s important to support youth.

Martin Restoule, Coordinator, Transportation Apprenticeship Trades, Algonquin College

After 10 years as Chair of the Automotive Service Technician contest, Martin is just as excited as ever to be involved with the Ontario Technological Skills Competition again this year.  “I really enjoy helping the students and seeing them succeed.  My hope is that the competition will teach them to work hard in their careers and learn new skills.  I learn something new every year being involved in the contest.”  As the Chair, Martin is responsible for designing the project annually, coordinating the technical committee, sourcing equipment, and recruiting judges.  “I like volunteering with Skills Canada – Ontario and would recommend this to my colleagues in education and industry because I feel it helps the industry  grow by promoting the profession, demonstrating the quality of the work being done and encouraging youth to pursue a skilled trade career.”  He is very thankful that his employer for the last 22 years, Algonquin College, is very supportive of his involvement at the OTSC, as well as the National Skills Competition.  “Volunteering with Skills Canada – Ontario is addictive.  You do it once and want to continue to make it better year after year.”

As profusely as we thank them, we never feel it’s enough for the help and dedication we get from individuals like Martin, Kitty or Shane.  In honour of National Volunteer Week 2011, we want to offer our most sincere thanks to all our volunteers – past, present and future.  You will always have a home with Skills Canada – Ontario!

The Ontario Technological Skills Competition is just around the corner!  Click here for more info and come visit us on May 2 and 3!