Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) students can now access welding certification through I.E. Weldon Secondary School (IEWSS) after the school was recently named a Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) certified testing centre.
The process of becoming certified has been a project the school’s manufacturing technology teachers have been working towards for the past three years. The certification not only enabled the school to enhance their current spaces, including upgraded ventilation and safety equipment, as well as purchase 10 new multi-process welding machines; but it provides students the opportunity to explore a future career in welding.
The certification is free to current manufacturing and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students, and allows them to get started on collecting the tickets required to become red seal certified. The school is also going through the process of eventually being able to open the centre to the community.
“This is part of our larger plan to extend authentic learning opportunities for our students,” said IEWSS Transportation Technology teacher. “We hope that building capacity in our spaces will translate into enhanced skill development and quality education in all our SHSM programs and technology based classes.”
This initiative was supported through the CWB Foundation Grant and the Canadian Tooling and Machining Association. It was also possible with the support and funding from TLDSB.
