High School Success Story
Ontario school celebrates six years of graduating licensed gas fitters
Over the past six years students at College Avenue Secondary School in Woodstock, Ontario have been given the opportunity to write their Gas Certification Level 3 license in their own classroom under the guidance of their teacher, Phil Gagnon. As the only high school in Ontario designated as a training provider by TSSA, dozens of students have achieved their Certificate of Qualification over the years.
Today's Hydronic Classroom
"One of the biggest problems is that there is nowhere to dump heat"
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton has long been known for its training programs in hydronic heating. But like the technology itself, that training is constrantly evolving. The classrooms, labs, teaching and delivery methods look considerably different today than they did just 10 years ago.
NAIT puts a strong emphasis on hands-on work and the labs are continuously being updated with new equipment.
By Simon Blake
A good career choice!
HVACR offers excellent career prospects, challenging
and well-paid jobs.
HVACR offers excellent career prospects, challenging
and well-paid jobs.
No matter what economy, our heat must stay on!
The Canadian HVACR industry's annual sales gross more than $4 billion each year and it employs more than 50,000 workers. The Canadian climate requires that the heat must stay on in both commercial and residential buildings, which means that no matter what the economic state, the expertise of an HVAC professional is always in demand.
More and more, the Canadian economy also depends on effective cooling and refrigeration processes for food and beverage processing and preservation, manufacturing, health care, commercial buildings (offices and retail) as well as Canada's beloved ice rinks.
So what does this mean for today's students?
The HVACR industry offers great opportunities with stable jobs, meaningful income and growth potential. This is not an industry geared solely to the "guy with the tool belt", although service and installation technicians are obviously an integral part.
Other career paths include: CAD (computer animated design) designers, business management, sales, R&D, engineers, marketing and communications, regulatory administration - to name just a few.
As more and more of the current workforce is near retirement, this is an ideal time for today's youth to get started on the education path that will lead them to a role in this innovative and continually evolving industry.
High school teachers and guidance counselors are key players in promoting the benefits of working in this industry.
Guidance Counselors: As some students prefer working with their hands and being out in the field, others are geared more towards a business environment working in an office. The HVACR industry offers career paths for both the college and university graduate. And in today's economic state, this industry is one that is growing and in need of people.
Teachers and School Administrators: Consider adding a Specialist High Skills Major or equivalent vocational programs to your curriculum to allow your students the opportunity to focus on a career in a skilled trade during their high school career. Specialized courses and co-op programs prepare your students for entry into the workforce; give them an advantage when applying to post-secondary school; and can offer them a pathway to a specialized apprenticeship program.
