Sixty students from grades 8 to 11 had the opportunity to try their hand at welding by visiting the Ironworkers Union Hall in Metcalfe. For one week in May, the hall opened its doors to groups of students, offering stations with demonstrations and hands-on activities.
The sessions began with an introduction of what it means to be an ironworker and what to expect from an apprenticeship program. Then, students got to tour the many types of jobs that ironworkers and welders can do – including working on buildings, towers, bridges, stadiums, and more.
Students explored the tools of the trades: they put together work belts, checked out tower cranes, and learned about the beams and bolts that hold structures together. Then, they learned and practiced five ways of tying together rebar with wire – an important skill that requires superior hand-eye coordination.
This program gave students a chance to try out a career in the trades while getting an inside look at how Ottawa’s infrastructure is built. Check out this video to hear what students had to say about the experience: