The OGCA is very excited about the new collaboration that we have with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and their Specialized Trades Exploration Program (STEP) to ICI Construction Program.
The STEP to ICI Construction Program allows students to gain hands-on experience in ICI construction while earning their high school diploma. This program has been developed to improve school-to-work transition for high-school students by providing them with the essential skills they need to prepare for future construction careers. This program is a link for employers and potential new youth to enter into construction.
This partnership provides safe environments for students to experience an ICI construction job site. The students are able to watch and interact with various trades, have the opportunity to perform tasks, and more importantly, are able to discuss career options with people working in the trades. In short, it gives young people a safe access point to enter into construction and the exposure on a site to assess their personal strengths with the various opportunities available.
The students in the program are prepared by the TDSB and arrive on site armed with the legislated training in:
Working at Heights
WHMIS
4 Step Awareness, and
New Entry to Construction Training.
They are also equipped by the TDSB with the requisite safety boots, hard hats, safety glasses and work clothing. Additionally, each student has their WSIB premiums fully covered by the Ministry of Education. The employer does not need to expend any monies to attract these students, only agree to have one student on a single jobsite and provide a safe learning environment for the student per semester to understand what ICI construction entails.
Any contractors interested in being involved in the STEP to ICI Construction Program, please contact me directly at giovanni@ogca.ca or via phone at 905.671.3969.