• Order your free 'Skilled Trades' posters and brochures
• Download June 2004 conference presentations and photos
• Share your thoughts about the Accessibility and Barriers report
• Use the new 'Information Finder' searchable apprenticeship database

The Promotion project gears up for launch

The Promotion of Apprenticeship project – Skilled Trades: A Career You Can Build On campaign is gearing up for a September 8 launch in Toronto at the Carpenters’ Union Training Centre. After this date, the public will have the opportunity to view the campaign which demonstrates to youth the potential of a career in the skilled trades. Beginning in September television campaign ads will air on MuchMusic and MusiquePlus channels and in Famous Players movie theatres. Campaign print ads will also appear in key magazines such as MacLean’s, L’Actualité and other trade magazines. Lastly, campaign radio spots will run on youth-friendly radio stations.

In addition, the Promotion project web site also offers free campaign brochures and posters in limited quantity to those who request them. Log onto http://www.careersintrades.ca/materials/ and fill in the online order form. These materials can be displayed and distributed in schools, offices, work sites and at apprenticeship or skilled trades-related events. Later in the campaign, an Apprenticeship Tool Kit for employers will also be made available to encourage small to medium-sized business to take on more apprentices. Throughout the campaign, a team of Skilled Trades Champions, who are active or well-known supporters of the skilled trades will continue to spread the message to their peers and to the public via presentations and public addresses.

For further information, contact Beverlie Cook at: (613) 235-4004 ext. 208 or e-mail: bev_cook@careersintrades.ca.

The Apprenticeship Summit “Building on Commitments” ‘An invaluable opportunity’

The 2004 Apprenticeship Summit 'Building on Commitments' conference at the Westin Nova Scotian from June 6 to 8 in Halifax, Nova Scotia was a huge success. A sold out crowd of over 400 delegates from across the country attended the 3-day conference. Most notably, delegates thoroughly appreciated the plenary sessions, speaker presentations, trade show exhibits, access to an Internet café, and the prospect of signing up for and operating a crane simulator. As one delegate stated: "(This conference) is an invaluable opportunity to get the Canadian view from all stakeholders".

Of course, the 2004 conference also provided many networking opportunities. Conference delegates thoroughly enjoyed the opening banquet dinner featuring comedian Bill Carr; special lunchtime apprentice presentations from Ironworker Margaret Horne, Automotive Service Technician, Eric Doucette, and Machinist Apprentice Lesley Arsenault. The Kitchen Ceilidh celebration featuring musical entertainment from the Goodonya Trio at Pier 21was also a huge hit.

Accessibility and Barriers Report – Consultations are Underway

The ‘Accessing and Completing Apprenticeship Training in Canada’ report (January 2004):

• Focuses on some of the perceived barriers that apprentices may face when accessing and completing apprenticeship training in Canada;
• Looks at some recommendations and next steps for overcoming some of the common barriers;
• Is for anyone who is currently involved with an apprentice or an apprenticeship program; or anyone who is considering

Over the past few weeks, the CAF-FCA staff and committee members have been consulting with apprenticeship stakeholders across the country to obtain feedback on the report findings. We anticipate a follow up report on these consultations to be available in early 2005.

We invite you to share your thoughts and perspectives about the report by completing our on-line survey.

For further information, contact Allison Rougeau at: (613) 235-4004 ext. 202 or e-mail: Allison_rougeau@caf-fca.org

The Inventory project goes live

After three years of research, development and testing, the Inventory Information project has launched a new website. www.apprenticetrades.ca is designed to be a one-stop source of Canadian apprenticeship information. It currently contains over 6,000 web links to 300 different apprenticeship information web sites across Canada. Not only does the site provide basic information about apprenticeships, it also provides links to Provincial/Territorial government apprenticeship web sites and features such information as: The Cost of Apprenticeship, Tips for Employers, and the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program. Furthermore, an Information Finder searchable database allows the web visitor to access apprenticeship-related information by selecting certain criteria such as province, trade category, or by audience type (youth, parents, guidance counselors, employers etc.).

Into the future, there are plans to add even more web links and information to the site. Since its June launch, the apprenticetrades.ca web site is enjoying steady web visitor growth. These visitors wish to be referred to reliable, current sources of information. Thus, this fall a reciprocal web link exchange program with all major apprenticeship, educational and other related skilled trades organizations will enable the CAF-FCA to collaborate with many solid regional partners.

For further information, contact Nicole Herod at: (613) 235-4004 ext. 209 or e-mail: Nicole_herod@caf-fca.org.