HAAC Honour Roll 2004

From school to career: Making apprenticeship work

General Carpentry Apprentice Allison Podealuk on the job. Allison discovered the skilled trades in high school, thanks to Co-operative education and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. She now works full-time at James Legace Construction in Milton. Click for bigger

Allison Podealuk is 18 years old and, when she graduates from Notre Dame Secondary School in Burlington in a few short weeks, she has a full time job waiting for her. Allison’s situation is not a common one. As many young people search for potential career paths, Allison has already decided what she wants to do. She found an occupation that is both rewarding and enjoyable, one that will allow her to build on and improve her skills towards even greater ends. In June, Allison starts work as a General Carpentry Apprentice at James Legace Construction, building houses and other construction projects.

For Allison, the journey towards the skilled trades started early. “I loved Lego,” she laughs. “I would build houses like crazy.” As she got older, this passion for construction continued, and she took up woodworking as a hobby. When she entered Notre Dame, she enrolled in a construction program taught by Michael Sydor.

But it wasn’t until a high school business class that Allison began to consider going into the skilled trades. “My guidance counselor came in one day and told us that there was an opportunity to build houses,” she says. “And since I always loved woodworking, I decided to try it.”

Allison got involved in the Home Builders Program, a joint venture between the Halton Catholic District School Board, the Halton District School Board and industry, which allows students to build a house from the ground up. Students have the opportunity to work with people in the field, including Contractors, Carpenters, Electricians and Stone Masons.

The opportunity came through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and the Co-operative Education program offered at high schools across the Halton Region. “It was really good,” she says of the experience. “It let me try different things and see what I liked.”

Her journey then took her to M.M. Robinson High School where Allison became involved in the OYAP Carpentry Program. Her experience with the program gave her valuable skills and allowed her to earn an exemption from the first level of trade school. She then returned to Notre Dame to earn her French Immersion certificate and complete her Ontario Secondary School Diploma in June 2005.

Of OYAP, Allison says, “It pretty much showed me what I wanted to do with my life.”

Flanked by James Legace and Ministry of Training Colleges and University Training Consultant Angie Tracz, Notre Dame Secondary School Student Allison Podealuk, centre, signs a contract certifying her as a General Carpentry Apprentice.

Her commitment to the job was confirmed this past week when, on May 19, 2005, Allison officially signed a contract certifying her as a General Carpentry Apprentice with James Legace Construction in Milton, where Allison has worked past summers. The signing took place as a special presentation at the Halton Apprenticeship Advisory Council’s annual Honour Roll event, where companies are honoured for their support of the skilled trades in Halton. “It was a great feeling,” she says of the presentation. “Really, really nice.”

While there are not a great number of women in the skilled trades – particularly in the construction sector – Allison did not see this as a negative. “There is tons of opportunity,” she says. “I was pretty much guaranteed a job.” Allison’s experiences on the jobsite itself were very positive, as she was given the instruction and training necessary to excel in her tasks.

In the future, Allison has plans to delve further into the skilled trades. “I’d love to become certified as an electrician and a plumber,” she says. “And maybe one day become a supervisor.” Allison’s involvement with experiential learning programs in Halton put her on the pathway towards a rewarding career. Her success on this pathway is testament to the value of Co-operative education and other experiential learning programs that run in secondary schools across the region – programs that rely on support from teachers, parents, business and industry. The experiences can provide insight, exposure and – best of all – they can lead to employment.

“I don’t know where I’d be without it,” she concludes. “It was a great experience.”

Those interested in the skilled trades or apprenticeship are encouraged to visit www.schooltocareer.ca for further details on OYAP and other experiential learning programs.