Guidance Teacher-Counsellors Explore the Trades

The Ministry of Education is funding Experiential Learning for Guidance Teacher-Counsellors in the 2023-2024 school year to provide professional learning opportunities for all Guidance Teacher-Counsellors to develop an enhanced understanding of the skilled trades and apprenticeship pathway, as well as the benefits of the skilled trades as a career.

It is the expectation that all guidance staff in schools become knowledgeable about the skilled trades and the apprenticeship pathway so that they can be better informed and positioned to promote this pathway as viable and valuable to all students.

Through this funding, Guidance Teacher-Counsellors participated in a Habitat for Humanity build day at a housing site in Oshawa on Tuesday, March 19. Educators worked with staff to insulate newly constructed homes. Habitat for Humanity volunteers, including a red seal carpenter, spoke with educators about the apprenticeship pathway.

Guidance Teacher-Counsellors also participated in a Support Ontario Youth (SOY) Apprenticeship day on Monday, April 29. Educators participated in a hands-on electrical workshop and learned about the apprenticeship pathway from local Journeypersons working in the skilled trades (i.e., plumber, automotive service technician).