What’s happening in Rainbow Schools?
Lasalle and Lively receive new high-tech machine equipment
Lasalle Secondary School and Lively District Secondary School are among 40 high schools in Ontario to receive new high-tech machine equipment from the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA) and Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE).
Close to $162,000 in equipment has been delivered to the schools, an impressive contribution. Each school has also received tool kits and cutting tools.
“The trades offer exceptional career opportunities for students,” says Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District school Board. “We are grateful to the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association and Ontario Council for Technology Education for giving our students and teachers access to modern equipment to learn skills and gain competencies that are in high demand.”
New desktop CNC machines, plasma tables and a milling machine have been added to the trades classrooms at Lasalle Secondary School. “This equipment will enable greater collaboration between the multiple trades programs and will allow students to continue their post-secondary education or enter the workforce with knowledge and understanding of the technology being used in today’s working environment,” says Lasalle Secondary School Principal Kristina Rivard Gobbo.
She adds: “The new tools will allow the drafting students to work alongside the machining and millwright students to produce parts for the manufacturing, automotive, robotics and carpentry students. This contribution brings our growing programs into the 21st century.”
Lively District Secondary School has received desktop CNC machines and a milling machine that will enable the school to provide relevant precision metal working experiences to students. “With this generous contribution, our students are gaining hands-on opportunities to explore exciting career opportunities in the machining industry,” says Lively District Secondary School Principal Leslie Mantle.
She adds: “This upgraded equipment will enable students to have workplace ready skills that teachers can leverage to obtain meaningful and authentic Co-operative Education placements in the manufacturing sector. Our students are so excited to have access to new equipment.”
“Our goal is to expose high school students to technology at an earlier age to engage their interest for a career within our industry,” said Robert Cattle, CTMA Executive Director. “Not only does this expose students to newer technology at an earlier age, but also gives teachers up-to-date equipment to implement in their classrooms.”
“This exciting partnership is providing much-needed support for our manufacturing technology high school programs and will go a long way in reducing the skilled trades gap in this important industry,” said Dave Lewis, OCTE Past Chair.
The new equipment is part of the Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Another component of the program will provide experiential work placements for high school co-op students, with a focus in the precision metal cutting sector. Participants will work alongside experienced tradespeople, skilled workers and other professionals who will provide them with an opportunity to gain real world skills and knowledge.
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Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217