EMPLOYMENT CENTRE’S FRESH FACES FOR THE INDUSTRY
BY SAM HOUPT
The auto body and collision damage repair training program is in its 10th operating year at Tropicana Employment Centre as current students gear up to start their placements. Since 2010, the program has invited Centennial College students to take a pre-apprenticeship Level 1 class to gain on-site experience first-hand. The employment centre selects 20 students each year, who then embark on a two-phase plan. Students first go through seven weeks of academic study, which includes WHMIS training and resume writing, then through a 12-week technical training program at Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus, where they receive hands-on experience welding, refurbishing, polishing—all the necessary skills needed to make themselves more marketable to the industry.
That marketability paid off: One August weekend marked a job fair opportunity for this year’s current students at Centennial’s Progress Campus Event Centre where four students were hired on the spot by industry representatives such as TTC, Assured Automotive and CSN Brimell Toyota/Drive Auto Group. CARSTAR was not in attendance, but have been meeting one-on-one with students at their facilities. Two of the students were also offered a 12-week placement with TTC. Once graduates receive their Level 1 through their placements, their future employers can sponsor them for Level 2 onwards. Graduation was held on Sept. 27th at the college.
