TROPICANA COMMUNITY SERVICES CELEBRATES GRADUATING PRE-APPRENTICESHIP CLASS
BY ALLISON ROGERS
Tropicana Employment Services hosted its long-anticipated Collision Repair and Auto Body pre-apprenticeship graduation, where the not-for-profit honoured three classes of now-working apprentices.
The celebration honoured three graduating classes—the classes of 2020 and 2021 had their originally scheduled ceremonies cancelled due to the pandemic—and was held at Centennial College’s event centre.
The night kicked off with a cocktail reception overlooking the sunset over the Toronto skyline. Graduates, families and industry delegates were treated to a first-class dinner spread, catered by the students of Centennial College’s culinary program.
Scarborough Ontario-Guildwood MPP, Mitzie Hunter, and many other community representatives showed their support at the event.
“Graduates, this is only the beginning of your journey,” said Hunter during her address. “There will be hard work ahead and the advanced technologies and repair procedures on today’s vehicles do not always come easy but this is what makes a trade qualification so valuable,” advised Alan McClelland, dean of Centennial College’s School of Transportation. “As a Red Seal technician myself, I can say with confidence that over my 40-year career, I have found the work extremely rewarding and have never been without employment.
“I wish the very same for you. Celebrate this moment with your family, friends and classmates; and then catch your breath because your journey has just begun!”
Tropicana also honoured its industry partners I-CAR Canada, 3M Canada, LKQ Toronto East, AkzoNobel Coatings, CARSTAR, the Toronto District School Board, Centennial College, Assured Automotive and CSN 427 Auto Collision. Tropicana’s classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022, who completed their pre-apprenticeship training through Tropicana’s partnership with Centennial College, have all embarked on Level 1 apprenticeship training and are placed at facilities across the Greater Toronto Area. Some students have even begun their Level 2 training.
“The advanced technologies and repair procedures on today’s vehicles do not always come easy, but this is what makes a trade qualification so valuable.”
— ALAN MCCLELLAND, dean of Centennial College School of Transportation
