The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program is promoting careers in skilled labour to high school students.
OYAP Coordinator with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario Dan Lortie says the program is a chance to start training as an apprentice during high school. It all starts as a co-op placement in grade 11 or 12 but according to Lortie employers who see potential can register students as an apprentice. This allows all the learning that takes place during their co-op to count towards certification.
Lortie says that every high school has access to OYAP and the primary way of getting involved is through co-op placements. He encourages students to start looking into trades as early as grade 11 and notes they can actually send students to partnering colleges. According to Lortie there are a number of benefits to this, including a tuition free first block and leaving high school as a second year apprentice.
The OYAP initiative is reminding students that trades are a viable option and Lortie says sometimes they’re even the best option because they pay right away. He points out that cars need to keep moving, houses still need to be build and we have to be sure there is a new generation of skilled trade professionals.
Lortie finished by saying the board is always looking for employers to get involved with OYAP. The board’s contact information can be found here.