By Erin McLaughlin
Toronto, Ontario — July 11, 2017 — John Norris, Executive Director of CIIA, received the 2017 inaugural Ontario College of Trades Award of Excellence. This prize acknowledges both the work he has done with Collision Industry Information and Assistance (CIIA), and CIIA’s efforts to both enhance apprenticeship completion and help working techicians pass the OCOT licensing exam through the association’s regular prep courses.
The classes CIIA offers help unlicensed techs successfully complete Ontario’s provincial trades license exam. This program has raised exam completion substantially.
“It’s nice to be recognized for the work CIIA does,” says Norris. “We have many success stories that should be shared. CIIA and others have worked hard to provide new apprentice logbooks: a new training standard and curriculum for schooling with newer technologies being added. As well, grants, incentives and a two-thirds course cost rebate have been used by many shops to reduce their costs and improve their staff competency and skills.” A continuing effort by CIIA is to ensure that as many apprentices as possible are attending their apprentice training classes.
Norris says CIIA’s goals are rooted in improving the industry through training. “The CIIA’s goal is to have the most competent, skilled and competent workforce possible,” he says.
For more information about CIIA, please visit: ciia.com
