Professional Development Day Supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
Belleville, Ontario, May 23, 2013 – Loyalist College will welcome more than 100 secondary school teachers, administrators, and Board trustees on Friday, May 24th for a Skilled Trades & Technology Conference in the Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre. For attendees from the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB), the interactive initiative is part of a scheduled Professional Development (PD) Day and is supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
“Teachers are influential advisors for secondary school students,” said Loyalist President Maureen Piercy. “So together with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation we are hosting this day-long event to build teachers’ awareness of Skilled Trades and the possibilities for their students to pursue related post-secondary programs and apprenticeships. With teachers’ encouragement, this will be a great opportunity for students to learn about Skilled Trades jobs as rewarding and lucrative careers. We commend The W. Garfield Weston Foundation for bringing focus to Skilled Trades education and training, helping to close the growing labour gap.”
The May 24th event is designed to prepare teachers to educate students on the wide range of career options in Skilled Trades. Through hands-on workshops led by industry-expert professors, teachers will experience the advanced skills and precision required to operate state-of-the-art technology and equipment used in the field. The participating teachers will represent St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School, St. Paul Catholic Secondary School, and Nicholson Catholic College, as well as Loyola School of Adult and Continuing Education.
“Loyalist College is a natural fit in working together to shape this innovative program,” said Eliza Mitchell, Chair of the Education Committee with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. “The College is very committed to enhancing opportunities for individuals interested in careers in Skilled Trades. We are impressed with the College’s wonderful facilities and we know that growing demands for training of a highly skilled workforce will be met by programs such as those taught in the new Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre.”
The W. Garfield Weston Fellowship Program at Loyalist College
To create a framework for student success, Loyalist and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation have also introduced a three-year pilot project, which will provide financial support to help 60 students train for and succeed in the growing Skilled Trades labour market. The W. Garfield Weston Fellowship Program will provide 30 post-secondary students and 30 apprentices with tuition credits from the College, and bursary funding from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to complete their education at Loyalist over the next three years. Beginning in the fall of 2013 with a total commitment of $240,000 from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, the Program at Loyalist will be one that leads other colleges forward in building a stronger workforce.
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation, established in the 1950s by Willard Garfield Weston and his wife Reta. In 1924 Garfield inherited his father’s company and during his life established bakeries and other successful enterprises throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. Today, these businesses include the George Weston Limited and Loblaw Companies Limited, companies in food retailing, processing and distribution. The founders believed that as the funds are generated through the hard work and success of these Canadian companies, grants should be given in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has maintained a family tradition of supporting charitable organizations across Canada. Today the Foundation directs the majority of its funds to projects in the fields of land conservation, education, and science in Canada’s North.
Loyalist College
Loyalist College prepares students for a rewarding career by combining rigorous academic standards with hands-on training from industry experts. Programs range from apprenticeships and certificates to diplomas and post-graduate studies. Loyalist offers more than 60 full-time programs and 77 university transfer agreements around the world. A testament to the College’s value is from Key Performance Indicators (KPI) released on April 17, indicating that 87% of Loyalist College graduates found employment within six months of graduation, compared to the average provincial rate of 83.6% for Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Loyalist is committed to helping students find great jobs, as well as supporting and enhancing the economic and social development of all individuals in its communities.
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Media Contacts: Dianne Spencer, Executive Director, College Advancement & External Relations, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2235, dspencer@loyalistc.on.ca.
Kerry Lorimer, Manager, Corporate Communications & Media Relations, Loyalist College, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca