Toronto – The official launch of Skilled Trades and Technology Week 2009 got a big boost as the star of Holmes on Homes, Canada’s most trusted contractor Mike Holmes, along with Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development got behind the event held at Humber College, in an effort to promote skilled trades and high tech jobs as a career path for Canada’s youth.
According to government statistics from the Conference Board of Canada, a shortage of more than a million skilled workers is forecasted by 2020, with an estimated 40 per cent of all new jobs in the skilled trades and technology industries.
Industries that depend on these types of workers contribute more than 50 per cent to Canada’s gross domestic product, said Shaun Thorson, executive director of Skills/Competences Canada, a national not-for-profit organization, based in Gatineau, Que.
Terry Cooke, the national board chairman of Skills/Competences Canada, thinks that a change in perception is warranted in business, education and with parents.
“The perception of skilled trades and technology has remained the same as it was 50 years ago. That it’s a heavy duty, dirty and unpleasant job and that we should push are youth towards careers in law, medicine and finance or other professional jobs instead of trades,” Cooke said.
The reality, however, is that these same people no longer write by hand, they email or text. They no longer stand in line at a bank, but use an ATM or pay bills on the Internet. And they no longer go to the public library to do research when they can use the Web, Cooke said.
“About 60 years ago these same people thought the moon was made of cream cheese. I got news for these people. Drop the 1950s attitude and get with it. These advances have created trades and tech jobs that are cool and sophisticated and deserve the best young people,” Cooke added.
Finley senses of mood change for this country. “There is a new perspective on trades and technology and young people are seeing it as a chance at a great career. Parents are seeing it now too as a viable option for their kids and the help we are giving them in terms of skills development will happen right here at home and in Canada,” she said.
The fact that a million people may leave the workforce in 2020 was an epiphany for the government.
Finley said that the economy needs computer technicians and plumbers only when there is an emergency at hand. The government is investing more than $1.5 billion, which will be given to the provinces and territories, for the development of these skills. “It will help our youth get a job and help our economy build towards a quick recovery and long term health.
Holmes, who finished his first basement at the tender age of 12, also thinks the country is headed in the right direction when it comes to skills development. “We are doing things right because this event used to be called skills day and now it is Skilled Trades and Technology Week. We have a whole week now,” Holmes said.
Holmes talked about the days when skilled trades-people were paid by the hour and there was honour in that. Then the world changed, he said. “Everybody was saying do not be a roofer or do not go into computers. We did not recognize that we lost something and now 50 per cent of all trades-people will retire in the next ten years,” Holmes, who is launching a new show called Holmes Inspection this year.
Holmes added that taking pride in the work a person did turned into a competition for money. “Lots of people said I just want to make money and we lost that passion. We got a bad name in construction,” he said.
Holmes said he is proud to support Skills Canada and he wants to see more women involved in skilled trades and technology.
Humber College, which hosted the event, official opened its Centre for Trades and Technology as part of the Skilled Trades and Technology Week 2009 activities.
The college has invested more that $16 million, including a $7 million contribution from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, in this facility.
Humber turned an old abandoned furniture warehouse into a 95,000 square-foot facility that will offer more than 2,000 students in skilled trade diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs. The facility features state-of-the-art industry simulated settings and two full-sized town homes along with dedicated computer labs.
