Trades College Announces Winners of Inaugural Chair’s Award of Excellence

 June 15, 2017

All winners if the Ontario College of Trades’ first annual Chair’s Award of Excellence “are outstanding examples of how the college, our members and many stakeholders come together to promote and grow the skilled trades in Ontario,” says Pat Blackwood, Chair of the Board of Governors.

“We are so proud to stand up and recognize the hardworking men and women in our apprenticeship system and across the skilled trades through this new award.”

All winners are recognized and honoured for having made a difference in apprenticeships and skilled trades throughout Ontario.

The winners are as follows:

• Algonquin College’s Apprenticeship Program, for their continued support of the inclusion of underrepresented groups in the trades, for encouraging the participation of people with disabilities and for hosting annual women in the trades events.

• James Bodanis, Program Coordinator, Ontario Youth Apprentice Cook and Baker Program – Humber College, for his involvement in promoting and supporting the culinary trades, managing and supporting apprentice cooks and institutional cooks, and supporting students and apprentices in advancing their careers.

• College of Carpenters and Allied Trades, for its commitment to training pre-apprentices and apprentices, and for supporting thousands of men, women and underrepresented groups.

• Vince Kacaba, Director of Training – United Association Local 46, Plumbers, Steamfitters and Welders, for his mentorship and support of apprentices throughout their training, increasing apprenticeship completion rates, and for providing consistent training to a very high standard.

• Roy King, Coordinator, Motorcycle and Powersports Program – Centennial College, for developing and supporting Centennial College’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program, assisting with the Red Seal exam bank and supporting apprentices as they prepare for their Certificate of Qualification exams.

• Katrina McFadden, Vice President, Corporate Administration and Human Resources – ArcelorMittal Dofasco, for her dedication and guidance assisting apprentices with placements, offering support through programs and consistently providing the right tools for apprentices to gain Certificate of Qualification credentials.

• John Norris, Executive Director – Collision Industry Information Assistance, for his commitment to organizing Certificate of Qualification preparation courses and offering free of charge pre-apprenticeship orientations for those interested in becoming auto body and collision damage repairers.

• Gail Smyth, Executive Director – Skills Ontario, for developing programs which elevate apprenticeships and skilled trades careers, including the Skills Ontario competition, Skills Works summer camps and in-school presentations. Gail is also recognized for her development of initiatives geared towards the inclusion of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and young women.

• Stephen Speers, Chair, Trades and Apprenticeship, Motive Power Trades – Conestoga College, for strengthening the motive power program at Conestoga College, establishing the International Technical Education Program and increasing the number of skilled trades recognized in Ontario.

Criteria for the award include:

• demonstrating outstanding support for apprenticeship in Ontario, including promotion, diversity, consistent training, and completion

• delivering innovative training and support for apprentices or demonstrate long-standing success in completion rates and outcomes

• demonstrating outstanding leadership as ambassadors to increase the sustainability and promotion of Ontario’s skilled trades