Skills Ready and the Central Okanagan Public School/BCIT Construction Electrician Foundation class recently hosted a Showcase Event to highlight the electrical students’ work and to connect them with Industry.
Employers were introduced to students in an environment that is familiar and comfortable for the students, allowing them to express themselves more openly and with more self-confidence. Students were given the opportunity to show off the skills they have developed and get some self-gratification for their achievements, enabling them to make informed decisions on their future path.
“The Skills Ready initiative is about creating awareness, exploring and creating opportunities in the trades, as well as connecting high school students with employers. This is exactly what this type of an event achieves,” explained Southern Interior – Skills Ready Career Catalyst Dave Lovisa. “Showcases not only create an environment to build relationships but allow the employers to see what the students are being taught in school and the materials or equipment they have or lack of.”
Showcase Events complement the hard work of shop class teachers and promotes not only their students but the program itself, helping to draw interest from future students, and justify the need for ongoing program funding. For school administration and others that attend the event, the day’s activities showcase how successful and meaningful that program is to their students in preparing them for life after high school.
Organized by Skills Ready – Dave Lovisa, the November 28th Electrical Showcase event was attended by several the electrical industry’s signature companies. Door prizes were provided by Wesco Distribution, Gescan Electric Wholesale Supply, KMS Tools, Houle Electric, Industry Training Authority (ITA), Central Okanagan Dual Credit Program and the Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA).
Skills Ready thanks the following for their attendance at the Showcase: Cameron Electric, CKLM Electric, Coe & Company Electric, Engel Electric, Horizon Electric, Hotwire Electric, Houle Electric, Quantus Electric, 1 & 2 Electric as well as Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA), the Industry Training Authority (ITA), and Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP).
For more information on Skills Ready, please visit www.skillsready.ca, or the Construction Foundation of BC’s website at www.constructionfoundation.ca.
