The need for skilled workers is bigger than ever.
This week the Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck is in Belleville providing a hands-on look at the skilled trades.
Students will be visiting the truck on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Belleville’s Business Development and Retention Specialist Victoria Watts says a stronger focus on skilled trades was one of the revelations of an 18-month project focused on local industry.
“The need for skilled trades to focus and promote the skilled trades, especially among youth. We’ve had over 60-70 per cent of our industry members who were involved in that project say that this was one of their primary needs in the community.”
Watts says the truck features simulators to provide real experiences.
“So there’s a welding simulator, there’s a cake decorating simulator, there’s an electrician, there’s a mechanic simulator that is set up. It takes about 20 minutes, 25 minutes to tour that and to try some of the trades that are within.”
More than 400 local students will visit the truck over the two days get a hands-on experience.
The Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck will also be open to the public Tuesday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre.
