Academy Canada

Academy Canada and Insulators Union Launch New Insulator (Heat and Frost) Program

(Date Published: November 10, 2008)

Academy Canada Career College in partnership with the "International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers" Local 137 have launched an exciting new Insulator (Heat and Frost) program to be offered to individuals interested in the Heat and Frost Installation industry.

The purpose of this agreement is to foster a working relationship between Academy Canada and Insulators, Local 137, for their mutual benefits and goal achievement, and to develop a partnership to allow all Academy Canada training sites and Local 137 to secure their place in training and the job market for the Insulator occupation in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Academy Canada will assist in providing the union with well-trained qualified workers and a long-term training service for its members across the province. Local 137 will also help ensure Academy Canada's graduates are placed in Heat and Frost Insulator jobs.

Our 19 week Insulator (Heat and Frost) Program will put students on a path to a Journeyperson status and Interprovincial Red Seal certification as Heat and Frost Insulators. Heat and Frost Insulators specialize in installing and maintaining insulation systems for environment and energy control in buildings, vessels, sound barriers, and fire prevention and protection.

According to Heat and Frost Insulators Canada, almost every large industrial, commercial, residential, and institutional construction program across Newfoundland and Labrador, and even across Canada, will require Heat and Frost Insulators. Their work will also help conserve our precious natural resources, save energy, and reduce pollutants.

Since every construction project, big or small, will require a Heat and Frost Insulator, their skills will almost always be in demand.

To learn more about how you can train for this exciting career where you're skills are almost always in demand, visit the Insulator (Heat and Frost) program page in the Academy Canada website's "Programs and Courses" section at http://www.academycanada.com/programs-and-courses/insulator-heat-and-frost/.

For more information about Heat and Frost Insulators and the many exciting career paths from Heat and Frost Insulator to Project Manager, visit the Heat and Frost Insulators Canada website at http://www.heatandfrostinsulators.ca.

Academy Canada Partners with Gonzaga High School’s STEP Cooperative Education Program

For the third consecutive year, Academy Canada has partnered with the Student Transition to Educational/Employment (STEP) Cooperative Education Program at Gonzaga High School in St. John’s.

STEP Cooperative Programs provide Level III or Grade 12 students with opportunities to participate in programs linked to their personal interest and/or career development plans during their last year of high school.

During the Level III or Grade 12 semester with a cooperative education taking place, students complete their high school programs during the mornings and participate in their cooperative education courses during the afternoon.

Students participating in STEP Cooperative Education will receive college credit upon successful completion of their course at Academy Canada.

Currently two students from the STEP Cooperative Education Program are participating in the Carpenter and Multimedia Graphic Design Programs at Academy Canada.

"New Beginnings Class Tours College"

On November 18, 2008, the Harding Road Campus was proud to act as a host for participants involved with the Stella Burry Community Services “New Beginnings” program.

"New Beginnings" is a fantastic initiative that provides coordinated employment and skills development support for people who have experienced barriers to employment or have had long periods of unemployment.

The College hosted 10 participants and two "New Beginnings" Program Coordinators for a campus tour, information session, and campus tour. Former Academy Canada employee, Ford Hibbs, even presented during the day and shared his experiences working as a Newfoundland-Alberta “migratory oil patch worker”. We ended the day with a much-enjoyed pizza lunch. Everyone agreed that they had a great visit and Coordinator Sarah Mills said “This was a great learning tool and I will definitely bring all future groups to visit the College.”

Stella Burry Community Services provides support and opportunities for renewal and self-discovery through programs that affirm every individuals strengths and abilities, restoring their sense of self-worth and capacity for change.

In addition to residential counseling, the organization focuses on affordable housing creation and programs development that assist people to make sustainable connections with the workforce. Member of the Stella Burry community know that when safe, affordable housing, effective employment programs, and appropriate supports are available, they can transform their lives in extraordinary ways.

Stella Burry Community Services participants at Academy Canada Harding Road Campus.

For more information about Stella Burry Community Services Centre, visit their website at http://www.stellaburry.ca.

Women In Trades

According to the January 30, 2005 CTV Newsnet Article "Shortage of Canadian Skilled Trade Workers", unless appropriate interventions are implemented to stem the chronic skilled trades worker shortage in industrial, construction, and transportation oriented trades, Canada could experience a shortage of at least 1,000,000 skilled tradespeople in 2015.

The reasons for possible chronic shortage of highly skilled tradespeople include mass retirements among existing trades people, insufficient promotion and public awareness campaigns, perceptions among youth that university is a way to go for great paying long term jobs, and lack of knowledge about the wonderful career opportunities and great pay associated with being a skilled tradesperson.

Despite warning signs of a possible skilled tradespeople shortage in Canada, meaning a greater demand for skilled tradespeople than ever before, women are still not well represented in skilled trades. In fact, only 17% of women in Newfoundland and Labrador are presently undergoing apprenticeships or apprenticeship training, mostly in service oriented trades like Baker, Cook, Barber, and Hairstyling. Women in industrial and construction oriented trades are still not well represented.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government has undertaken some measures to increase women's representation including the "Jump Start NL" program offered to high school level students across the province, and the "Gender Equality and Diversity Plan". In the 2006-2007 school year, the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education launched the "Jump Start NL" program to show young women careers in construction and industrial based trades are exciting, challenging, and lucrative, while at the same time, demands creativity, precision, and skill. This program currently has a total of seven trades oriented subjects including at least two courses at level one or Grade 10, with more courses to be added within the next four years.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government also implemented measures to ensure women and other disadvantaged persons have greater involvement in non-traditional trades including a Gender Equality and Diversity Plan in the Hebron Agreement. Through this plan, greater access to training and recruitment will be provided to women, visible minorities, disabled persons, aboriginals, and other under-represented segments.

With the oil and gas boom coming as a result of the Hebron deal numerous mega project across Newfoundland and Labrador, the Vale Inco Hydromet Plant to be built in Long Harbour, and other mega projects slated for Newfoundland and Labrador, skilled industrial and construction trades people from all population segments, including women, are going to be in greater demand giving greater hope for women pursuing this lucrative and rewarding career.

Corner Brook Campus Students Participate in Various Professional Oriented Field Trips

Academy Canada's effort to ensure students gain real world skills not only happens inside the classroom, but also through participation in applied learning related professional shows held across Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and even abroad. These seminars and trade shows also allow our students to learn from their industry and trades oriented leaders, and apply these skills to their chosen career paths.

The Criminology and Law Enforcement Administration students recently participated in COTS and self-defence training as part of their programs. Every two years, the Corner Brook Campus invites Peter Kelly from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary to provide rigourous hands-on self defence training using police batons, pepper spray, hand cuffs, and other self-defence practices and procedures to prepare our Criminology and Law Enforcement Administration students for the rigours of their prospective Law Enforcement and Security based careers.

As well, our Hairstyling students travelled to the Rusk Trade Show held in Gander to gain stronger hands-on knowledge of the Rusk Technique and Rusk hair care products. The Rusk Technique is used widely throughout the Corner Brook area, and our Hairstyling students attended the Rusk Trade Show this semester where they saw the Rusk Technique in action.

Froude Avenue Community Centre Participants Visit Our Harding Road Campus

Froude Avenue Community Centre participants recently spent some time shadowing our trades related programs provided at the Harding Road campus.

The program shadowing aim is to guide Froude Avenue tenants to pursue trades related career based training either at Academy Canada or other career colleges throughout the St. John's area. Another focus is to help them get interested in a trades oriented career.

Skilled trades professionals are expected to be in great demand over the next 10 years due to increasing needs and demands for major industrial, commericial, and residential construction projects, coupled with expected mass retirements from existing tradespeople and small number of individuals presently pursuing a career in trades oriented professions.

Skilled trades professionals are expected to be in great demand over the next 10 years due to increasing needs and demands for major industrial, commericial, and residential construction projects, coupled with expected mass retirements from existing tradespeople.

Froude Avenue Community Centre provides recreation, education, social, skills training, and employment service oriented programs for Froude Avenue residents in an effort to create a positive atmosphere, community spirit, and cooperation, and to encourage greater community involvement from Froude Avenue housing project residents.

Froude Avenue Community Centre program shadowing participants at the Academy Canada Harding Road Campus

For more information about the Froude Avenue Community Centre, visit their website at http://www.froude.ca/site/

St. John's International Women's Film Festival shoots a film at Kenmount Road Campus

During the recent "19th Annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival in St. John's", the festival visited the Kenmount Road Campus to tape a film starring Newfoundland and Labrador's own Mary Walsh.

Mary Walsh is best known for her starring comedic roles on CODCO, Dooley Gardens, and "This Hour Has 22 Minutes", including the famous Marg Delahunty and "Marg, Princess Warrior" skits used to mock past and present politicians.

She also appeared and produced numerous movies and televison shows including Sophie, "Hatching, Matching, and Dispatching", Mambo Italiano, "The Boys of St. Vincent", "The Wind and The Willows", "Rain, Drizzle, and Fog", "The Divine Ryan's" and "New Waterford Girl".

The St. John's International Women's Film Festival was created in 1989 to celebrate films and filmmakers, and to promote feminine international talent. Since its creation, the festival has screen over 580 films with a total of 316 hours screening time.

Below are some pictures from Mary Walsh's visit at the Kenmount Road Campus during the St. John's International Women's Film Festival.

For more information about the St. John's International Women's Film Festival, visit their website at http://www.womensfilmfestival.com.

Academy Canada Harding Road Campus Recently Featured on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador's "Living Newfoundland and Labrador"

Many of us might be familiar with a CBC television program Living Newfoundland and Labrador, a high energy, local lifestyle program profiling exciting things and events happening across the province.

Each episode showcases a number of segments dealing with local interest topics, but uses a specific location as their "home base" for the show. The most recent episode, which aired on October 24th, was taped at Academy Canada's Harding Road Campus in St. John's. Producers for "Living Newfoundland and Labrador" show shot footages of our Carpentry, Cooking, Automotive, Steamfitting, and Welding programs. They also filmed an in-depth segment interview with our own Cooking Instructor, Todd Smith.

To watch this episode, please go to http://www.cbc.ca/livingnl/. Enjoy!

Academy Canada Career College Proudly Presents "Confederation Cup 2009 High School Hockey Tournament"

Academy Canada Career College is proud to announce we'll be sponsoring the Confederation Cup 2009 High School Hockey Tournament taking place from February 3-8, 2009 in the St. John's, Kelligrews, Goulds, Conception Bay South, and Mobile areas.

High School Hockey Teams from across Newfoundland and Labrador, along with teams from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, are expected to participate in one of Newfoundland and Labrador's largest High School sporting events.

To learn more about Confederation Cup 2009, please feel free to view the Confederation Cup 2009 pages located in the Community and "News and Events" sections of our webpage.