Mind over Metal Summer Welding Camp
Jul 5, 2018
The Canadian welding industry has many great career opportunities ranging from welder, welding inspector, welding researcher and even a welding engineer. To introduce students from ages 12-15 to the trade, the CWB Welding Foundation hosted a welding summer camp at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The CWB Welding Foundation hosted its first pilot welding camp in the summer of 2014 in Edmonton, Alberta and is now introducing the camps to all provinces across Canada for the months of June, July, and August. This summer the CWB Welding Foundation will be funding over 80 camps in almost every province across Canada.
The Thunder Bay camp was hosted by Lakehead Public Schools. This free camp funded by the CWB Welding Foundation ran July 3rd to July 6th.
“These camps are specifically designed to provide youth with an introduction into the welding profession and the great career options that are available, while being supervised by professionals in a safe environment,” says Deborah Mates, Director of the CWB Welding Foundation.
“This is a unique opportunity for these students. They were engaged in activities that will develop skills which will last a lifetime. The Camp exposed them to an industry that has a wide variety of career options,” said Dan Turk, Chair of Technology at Superior C.V.I.
Welding safety, Gas Metal Arc Welding (G.M.A.W.), introduction to weld symbols, and a brief overview of the impact welding has on our daily lives were part of the camp. Once the theoretical part was completed, the students practiced on the welding simulator and then had fun with real arcs and sparks while they created their very own projects like backpack tags, roses, paper weights, desk organizers and hot dog roasters.
“It’s opened up a lot of possibilities to the students because this is such a unique opportunity. It’s hands-on and fun so when they finish they have great memories and hopefully feel inspired to pursue a career in the welding profession,” said Mates. “We were excited to be able to bring this opportunity to the Provinces and expose youth to something they may never have imagined.”
“The support from industry, parents and the Lakehead Public School Board for allowing us to use their facilities is quite remarkable,” said Mates. “This is just one of many outreach projects throughout the country the Foundation has planned for this year.”
The Foundation’s key mandates are to support public safety awareness, and to address the skilled welding labour shortage in Canada. It will also focus on creating access to educational opportunities for all levels of education from elementary through to post- secondary, as well as aboriginal peoples, women, those with disabilities and visible minorities.
Contact:
Dan Turk
Chair of Technology
Superior C.V.I.
807-621-5571
dan_turk@lakeheadschools.ca
