HUMBOLDT — Carlton Trail College has entered into a partnership to offer a welding applied certificate for free to 36 individuals in specific underrepresented groups in an effort to combat industry recruitment problems.
The partnership with Conestoga College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives each college 12 seats available for the program, with Carlton Trail College’s class taking place at its Humboldt campus this August.
The list of under-represented groups comes from Conestoga College and includes women, Indigenous peoples, newcomers to Canada and persons with disabilities.
Deanna Gaetz, business and skills training with Carlton Trail College, said their goal is to attract groups that otherwise wouldn’t go into the welding industry.
“There is a high demand for welders in this region and also in the province. It’s growing right now, especially with some of the new developments that are going to be happening over the next couple years, and I know the industry had trouble recruiting,” Gaetz said.
“If they can attract people from other groups they aren’t usually able to hire from, it definitely increases their labour pool and that’s what our mandate is: to provide education and training to meet the needs of the employers in our region.”
The welding applied certificate is a 20-week program, with an additional five weeks of career skills training and an eight-week work placement. Students build their knowledge and skills in operating welding equipment and performing basic welding operations.
Students will study in operating welding equipment and perform basic welding operations, including general shop practice and shop safety, oxy/acetylene fusion welding, cutting processes, gas metal arc welding and shielded metal arc welding.
Individuals can apply online at carltontrailcollege.com.
If the seats aren’t filled by representatives from the selected underrepresented groups, they will be open to others.
Acceptance into the free welding applied certificate is based on a combination of student assessment results and a personal interview. Applicants are encouraged to attend an information session in advance and must have their Grade 10 to apply.
There will be an assessment and interview process for all applicants.
