Bridging the gap between students and local employers.
During a tour at the Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport, airport manager Neil Pirie, centre, answered questions and pointed out some of the job opportunities and working conditions for local students considering future career paths that might include aviation or manufacturing.
Charlene Peck photo
Local career studies students were invited to view the nuts and bolts behind local aircraft and boat making Tuesday, Oct. 19, during a Manufacturing Doors Open event.
Connor Industries, the Parry Sound Airport and Found Industries, opened their doors to 50 grade 10 students as part of this full-day initiative.
The event was prompted by a business retention and expansion survey of the manufacturing sector in the Parry Sound, indicating that many manufacturing employers were finding it difficult to find employees, yet many PSHS students feel there are no employment opportunities locally.
“This event hopes to assist in bridging that gap between students and local employers, as well as assist with youth retention,” explained Kirsten LeDrew, Area Economic Development Coordinator with the Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee (REDAC).
The Manufacturing Doors Open event was an eye-opener for grade 10 student Tyson Shaw, who is already taking metal, wood and auto shop courses at the high school, but had never considered pursuing a career in local boat or airplane manufacturing. Meeting people already employed in these fields, he said was a great opportunity for him to ask questions.
“I learned how they build airplanes and boats, how long it takes, how much it costs to make them, what it takes to certify them, and how they work,” said Shaw. “This made me wonder about building airplanes.”
Student Sebastian Haufe, also found the tour enlightening. While he determined that he doesn’t want to pursue a career in boat or airplane manufacturing, Haufe discovered that he’d like to learn to fly an airplane.
And employees at Found Aircraft welcomed local students and their questions.
“It just makes good business sense really,” explained Karen Marks, Found’s sales and marketing co-ordinator.
“We want to make students aware of the possibilities for jobs, what’s available here in Parry Sound, as far as what they can train for or look forward to, and to know that there are good-paying jobs in this area.
“Not every kid is going to go off to university, and a lot are going to go into trades,” said Marks, who was one of six Found employees involved with the Open Doors tour. “This gives them an well-rounded idea of what we do here. Plus from an aviation standpoint, we really want to educate kids about aviation and get more pilots out there… It just does us good to get the kids out there knowing that we’re here.”
Manufacturing Doors Open was held by the Labour Market Group (LMG) in partnership with the REDAC and the Near North District School Board, as a joint effort with the Parry Sound airport, Connor Industries and Found Aircraft. The Labour Market Group is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and is part of the Employment Ontario Network.
“This is a great opportunity for our local employers to showcase their industry and the many career opportunities available within the manufacturing sector,” said Andrea Stoppa, LMG executive assistant. “These students are tomorrow’s workforce and this day provides students and employers a chance to connect, dispelling the myths that there are no career opportunities in this local market or that there is not a local labour market talent pool.”