Minds over Metal Summer Welding Camp
Jun 28, 2017
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 Canadian Welding Association Foundation (CWA Foundation) will be hosting a welding summer camp at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
The CWA 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 CWA Foundation will be funding over 35 camps in almost every province across Canada.
The Thunder Bay camp will be hosted by Lakehead Public Schools. This free camp funded by the CWA Foundation will run June 26 to June 29.
“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 CWA Foundation.
“This is a unique opportunity for these students. They will be engaged in activities that will develop skills which will last a lifetime. The Camp will expose them to an industry that has a wide variety of career options,” says Dan Turk, Chair of Technology at Superior C.V.I.
Welding safety, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), introduction to weld symbols, and a brief overview of the impact welding has on our daily lives will be part of the camp. Once the theoretical part is completed, the students will practice on the welding simulator and then have fun with real arcs and sparks while they create their very own projects like roses, cell phone holders and hot dog roasters.
“It’s going to open up a lot of possibilities to the students because this is such a unique opportunity. It’s going to be hands-on and fun so when they finish they’ll have great memories and hopefully feel inspired to pursue a career in the welding profession,” said Mates. “We are 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:
Deborah Mates, CWA Foundation Executive Director
Telephone: 800.844.6790 Ext. 241
Email: Deborah.mates@cwa-foundation.org
