Apprenticeship Toolkit: Connecting Students to Opportunities in Skilled Trades

Toronto District School Board, 2000, three ring binder format
ISBN 1-55000-570-7

The Apprenticeship Toolkit is a resource for teachers, counsellors and students wishing to learn about apprenticeship in Ontario. Much of the information could also be used by residents of other provinces, as the majority of the trades featured are eligible for the Inter-provincial Red Seal program.

It begins with an overview of apprenticeship, and lists the Compulsory Trades which require a Certificate of Qualification or registration as an apprentice in order to practice, as well as those which are Voluntary Trades. It also mentions the Tools for Trade loan program and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship program which allows a student to begin their apprenticeship while in high school.

The second section is for resource listings of books, web sites and videos with general information about trades or apprenticeship. The next resource is a chart showing the skills trades courses offered by each southern Ontario community college.

The primary content, however, is the monographs for the skilled trades in the auto service, construction, manufacturing and service sectors as well as the Canadian Forces. Each monograph is 2 pages, listing a short work description, the length of apprenticeship, education required, average earnings, desired qualities, work prospects, associations and unions and resources specific to that trade. The Canadian Forces monographs are copies of the National Defense official occupational descriptions.

The only surprise was the omission of Welding as an occupation, as it is one of the Red Seal trades and they list welding courses in the Community College section. However, as noted on each monograph, the binder format allows for additions and revisions (which will be necessary where web sites are referenced), so perhaps this is planned for the future.

To order a copy or for more information please contact:

Apprenticeship Toolkit,
140 Borough Drive, 3rd Floor,
Scarborough, ON. M1P 4N6
(fax) 416-396-5444
email: emil.boychuk@gmail.com