Education

8 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT • SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2020 EDUCATION GUIDE By Jennifer McFee The trades are the way of the future, and Manitoba is well- poised to meet demand through a new multi-trades training facility and exhibition hall for post-secondary students. M anitoba Building Trades is planning for a late fall opening of its new 70,000-square- foot facility at 225 McPhillips Ave., at the corner of Pacific Avenue. Training and safety manager Dana Johnson said the work-ready area will be geared more towards adult learners while the trades ex- hibition space will focus more on high school students. "Manitoba Building Trades is an umbrella organization and we rep- resent a number of skilled trades unions and associations in our province. We'll be working to rep- resent all of the perspectives and backgrounds," she said. "We're looking to bring in a number of collaborative partners, whether it's educators, our union locals or any other larger training programs under one roof, so we'll be a one-stop shop. Through shar- ing space and synergies, we can work together in a more collabora- tive fashion." The state-of-the-art Manitoba Building Trades Institute will be a hub that will bolster a growing in- terest in the trades. "Many people may never have considered a career in the trades, but a skilled trade is often a key piece on the path to prosperity," Johnson said. "We want people to consider the trades. With the exhibition hall, we're going to have a lot of virtual simulation so it will provide that important opportunity for stu- dents and others to expand their horizons and see what the trades have to offer." Within the exhibition space, 13 affiliated union trades will provide interactive experiences. "Students will come in, receive an orientation, apply their per- sonal protective equipment and go in small groups to each differ- ent booth to try something really exciting with each trade," Johnson said. "They'll get to hear what each trade has to offer. It's going to be an amazing space and we're excit- ed about it." The trades provide an opportuni- ty to find meaningful work in an ev- er-expanding workforce, she added. "When we're looking towards things like climate change, the need for skilled trades in making our buildings more efficient is go- ing to continue to be a sector for growth within the industry. The trades can be part of the solution for the larger problems in our soci- ety that our province and country are going to be facing, so we need to build that workforce," she said. "We're looking to represent that opportunity to enhance trades training in the province. For years, employers and builders have relied on our members to get their jobs done as safely and pro- ductively as possible. Now we are bringing that expertise forward in order to help train the next gen- eration of skilled trades." Due to the pandemic, protocols will be in place to ensure the safe- ty of everyone who walks through the doors. "Our industry and association has been at the forefront of pro- tecting our internal workforce. Even before the provincial gov- ernment had set standards for our sector, we worked with a wide va- riety of groups to set an industry- wide standard to keep our workers safe," Johnson said. "We expect to continue to ap- ply that standard as we prepare to open in the fall." Building on a rich history, the future looks bright for the trades in Manitoba. "Manitoba Building Trades has a long history of playing a pivotal role in the community right from the 1919 General Strike where we were the first to call for changes to labour standards. Now those stan- dards are entrenched in our work on projects. I think we've done an incredible job building our prov- ince," Johnson said. "We're also incredibly excited for the opportunity to work with the community to expand access to skilled trades training. We're really optimistic we can help grow the sector as well." For more information, visit mbtrades.ca/mbti MANITOBA BUILDING TRADES INSTITUTE Try the trades MANITOBA BUILDING TRADES PHOTOS Manitoba Building Trades is planning for a late fall opening of its 70,000-square-foot facility at 225 McPhillips Ave. The facility will be geared to both adult learners and high school students. " We're looking to represent that opportunity to enhance trades training in the province. — Dana Johnson, Manitoba Building Trades training & safety manager

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