Partnerships will minimize barriers to auto body skills training
Financial and partnership support for the Tropicana Pre-apprenticeship Training Program for Auto Body Collision and Damage Repair was announced on April 3 at a kick off event for the 2017 class.
Toronto District School Board, Essential Skills Upgrading Program Coordinator, Carol Visser and Program Officer, Susan Lefebvre, announced that their program is launching a second auto body collision and damage pre-apprenticeship repair program for youth without a high school diploma or equivalency.
“I would potentially be hiring these trainees for the body shop division,” said Danielle Goldberg, HR Manager, Auto World Imports Network (AWIN). “If they have a great attitude, if they’re hardworking, dedicated, loyal, responsible individuals, we will groom them.”
Goldberg said that AWIN has recruited one graduate so far, and that 2017 is the first year that AWIN’s body shops are acting as a sponsor for the Government of Ontario-sponsored program, providing funds for education, equipment and materials to the 20 participants. “I want to recruit as many grads as possible — it depends on which dealerships have the most need,” she explained.
Several announcements concerning supports and enhancements to the program were made during the event by Nimo Abdulkadir, Director of Tropicana Employment Centre, Marc Tremblay, Program Coordinator and Jack Martino of Martino Brothers Inc. and Parkdale Community Food Bank, among other program partners, including:
• The establishment of a $9,400 community capital fund, “Ontario 150”, provided by the Government of Ontario and administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help Tropicana repair the roof at its Centre of Excellence and replace two safety access ladders;
• Tropicana has raised more than $20,000 from alumni so that students can have daily breakfast, lunch once a week, and other supports as needed;
• Tropicana has partnered with Parkdale Food Banks to provide groceries for the students throughout the training program (19 weeks);
• I-CAR scholarships for five students who win “student of the month”;
• 2017 Sponsorship Partners also include: 427 Collision, Eugene Collision, CARSTAR Canada, 3M Canada, Auto World Imports, Collision Industry Information Assistance, CSN Brimell Paint and Collision, Key Colour, Auto Max; and
• Paint certification courses from PPG.
Ontario’s Minister of Education, Mitzie Hunter, addressed students, staff and program sponsorship representatives at the kickoff event held at the Tropicana Employment Centre, encouraging them towards success by following through on their commitments.
