"EMPLOYER TOOLKIT"

Available in April 2005

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum - Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage (CAF-FCA) and Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) "Skilled Trades" Promotion project is currently developing an "Employer Toolkit" as a key part of the overall strategy. The toolkit explains why hiring apprentices makes good business sense; suggests how to implement an apprenticeship program in your business; features employer success stories; provides tips and tools for setting up and maintaining a successful apprenticeship, and more.

Although primarily designed for employers, many other audiences such as potential apprentices, parents, teachers/instructors and guidance counselors will also benefit from the information it offers. On-line and hard copy distribution is planned for spring 2005. For more information visit www.careersintrades.ca in the new "Resources" section in late April.

FINAL ACCESSIBILITY AND BARRIERS CONSULTATION

Report ready April 2005

Over the past year, the CAF-FCA has been consulting with apprenticeship stakeholders across the country to obtain feedback on the Accessing and Completing Apprenticeship Training in Canada - Perceptions of Barriers report (January 2004). A final Consultation Report discusses the key findings of this project as well as some of the feedback from stakeholders. The Consultation Report will be available on the CAF-FCA web site in late April. More >

JOIN US!

June 4 - 6, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec

The next CAF-FCA Apprenticeship Conference will be held from June 4 - 6, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec. Join us for an interactive mix of showcase and discussion. The 2006 conference program, registration and accommodation information will be available on the CAF-FCA home page in March 2006. More >

COST OF APPRENTICESHIP

CAF-FCA begins work on cost of apprenticeship/return on training investment

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum - Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage (CAF- FCA) is pleased to announce that in January 2005 it took on a new and important project. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has approved CAF-FCA's proposal to develop an understanding of the nature of costs and the benefits associated with Apprenticeship training for various stakeholders such as the apprentice, the employer, unions, educators, equity seeking groups, governments and/or other stakeholders. More >

MEDIA SHED LIGHT ON NEW IMAGE OF TRADES

CTV news feature

In late January 2005, during a nightly news report, CTV news featured a story on the skilled trades. The news report briefly looks at the issues of anticipated shortages in certain skilled trades; what business and governments are doing to head off the anticipated shortages; the "old" image of the trades still held by some parents, and the new reality of the trades as a viable career option.

To view the report in streaming video click on the image below:

Or read the article: "Shortage of Cdn. skilled trade workers: gov't": (Video and article courtesy CTV News/Bell Globemedia Inc., © 2005)

YOUR FAVOURITE LINK

Suggest your favourite trades-related web link

Do you know of an excellent skilled trades or apprenticeship training-related Web site or Web page?

Do you think this Web link should be included in CAF- FCA's one-stop source of apprenticeship information portal at: www.apprenticetrades.ca?

If so, please send your favourite trades-related Web site link suggestions to: info@apprenticetrades.ca .