IBEW, ECAO and Klein Tools Local 120 Donate Tools for Schools

May 14, 2018

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 120, and the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO) in London, Ontario are partnering with Klein Tools to donate 45 complete sets of top quality electrical tools to three local high schools.

High schools in Ontario have been feeling financial pressure in the past few decades, and as a result many programs are being gutted or eliminated entirely. Unfortunately that means young people often miss out on a learning opportunity, especially when it comes to hands-on classes like shop.

“I wanted to make sure that our students here in London have the proper tools to help them learn and work safely,” says John Gibson, Business Manager of Local 120.
The three high schools have electrical programs for Grades 10, 11 and 12. Back in the spring of 2017, Gibson was being given a tour of one school’s workshops. The shop was set up with different project booths in which students had to do a wiring project, usually with lights and switches.

“I noticed some of the wire was really in bad shape, really kinked,” says Gibson. “It turns out that the Grade 12s get brand new wire, but because of lack of funding, the Grade 11s have to use the Grade 12s’ old wire, and the Grade 10s have to use really old wire from the Grade 11s. I thought that was really a shame, so I approached Mike Tilson (owner of Tilco Electric) and Gillivan, a wholesaler I know in the area, and purchased some new wire.”

But the school’s financial situation meant that even the tools were in bad shape.

“The instructor showed me some of the tools the students were working with, and I said they looked really old. It turns out they were — they were from back when the school was originally built in the 1960s.”

The tools were so old that insulation was worn off, and edges on cutters and wirestrippers were dull.

When he shared his story with Wayne Crockett, Manager of ECA London, Crockett agreed to help.

Gibson continued to hunt down supporters for his new program. “I reached out to Kyle Williams at Klein Canada, and said I was starting a tools donation program with one of our contractors, and did they want to help out too. They said yes.”

Gibson has plans to expand the program to other towns in the London area, specifically Woodstock, St. Thomas, and Strathroy. “But there’s no reason this program can’t go right across Canada,” he says.

Presentation image courtesy of John Gibson.