Peterborough, Ontario -- Businesses in Peterborough's automotive aftermarket are coming together to support innovative new automotive programs at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.
The school's once-great automotive trade program generated many of the Peterborough area's highly skilled industry professionals. With so many aftermarket professionals retiring, a group of local businesses are working together to help the school's program inspire the next generation as well.
"It is of immense importance that our younger generations aren’t just made aware of the trade, but given opportunities to experience it as well," says Corey Carlaw, general manager of Carlaw Collision. “If they are never made aware of these career path, how could they ever make the decision to pursue one?”
The program is being designed to align with Ontario high school co-operative education initiatives, which allow Grade 11 and 12 students to gain real-world experience through placements in industries such as automotive repair and paint.
Shop teacher Clinton Butts has witnessed the shortage of people wanting to get into the trade. "I realize that it is even worse on the bodyshop side of things as the students aren’t exposed to that career path at the high school level. I think that with the help of our community partners we can start to teach the specific skills that make a successful service technician or a body technician/ Hopefully soon, we will start to see a growth in the number of employees.”
"We're all big supporters of the program because we know the value of programs like this," says Carlaw. "Canada's automotive aftermarket needs a constant supply of new talent in order remain healthy and profitable. To say it takes a village would be an accurate statement. But without a teacher with the commitment to the success of his students, our best efforts would be dead in the water. Clinton Butts has taken, and will consider to take, a significant commitment to expanding the program, with hopes of a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) for his most advanced students."
To accomplish this, the group is providing essential supplies, hands-on expertise, engaging discussions and their time to enrich TASSS’s automotive program. Russelle Toyota donated a vehicle which will allow students the opportunity to sharpen practical hands-on skills in respect to Collision Repair.
According to Carlaw, collision industry professionals should come together to support similar programs at high schools across Canada.
"Reach out to local high schools and explain the benefits of offering similar programs," he says. "If I invest a few days a month and only get one person involved in the trade, I will feel accomplished. I won’t feel truly fulfilled, however, until I am able to inspire many, many more to join!”
