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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2000-05-17, Page 5News Manufacturers woo high school students with local job opportunities By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor With manufacturers facing concerns they will need to fill 800 jobs in Huron County by. 2001, they are reaching out to arca high schools in a new initiative to develop the county's labour pool. "The manufacturers are trying to address [the ideal you don't ,have to leave Huron County to get a good job," said Glen McGregor, business and - education partnership coordinator with the Avon Maitland District School Board. • "For small manufacturing. Seaforth has its fair share. We're trying to make students aware of the opportunities that are here," said McGregor. To help graduates in Huron County, members of the Manufacturing. Core Group in Huron County have launched a new program that sees manufacturers coming into the classroom to talk about the opportunities available to students in the local manufacturing industry and students taking tours of those industries to learn first- hand about the types of jobs they could he doing. This school initiative is one of the first projects by the _roup after analyzing a detailed study of the manufacturing sector in the county and coming up ith several directions in which they need to work to help strengthen that sector; • The group has - also released a Manufacturing directory, outlining the husinessts drat employ 4.100 people -in the county. "Right now, people don't realize how much manufacturing is being done in Huron ('ounty." said Janmaat owner of first step by the Manufacturing Core Group, Janmaat is hoping it will eventually lead to bigger changes within the education system that could see students learning skills either in the classroom or through technological cooperative education programs. The program he envisions would see students leaving high school with some skills already in place to help them be more productive members of the labour pool, rather than having to leave the area to seek out those skills and possibly never return. Both McGregor and Janmaat said within the county, there have been manufacturers that reported not being able to make certain expansions because there was not a skilled labour force to draw upon. Janmaat recently expanded, needing seven more employees when he added a new mower to his line. While he didn't have difficulty finding qualified staff at this time, he sees the importance of this initiative to help protect the manufacturing sector in the future. "This is a long-term project," said Janmaat, concerned there isn't enough hands-on training available to students in school anymore. He said entry-level employees don't always know how some of the basic tools arc used, something' th'5t used to be taught in schools when there was more of an emphasis on trade. He would like to see a technical teaching facility established. Quoted 'For small • manufacturing, Seaforth has its fair share. We're trying to make students aware of the opportunities that are here,' -- Glen McGregor, business and education coordinator with Avon Maitland school board Progressive Turf, a lawnmower manufacturer in Seaforth that 'currently employs 22 people. He visited last month with a Grade 11 and 12 class at Seaforth District High School and Friday, those students carte w Progressive Turf to ;ec first-hand about the opportunities described by Janmaat. While this is just a small. something he hopes school boards can sec as necessary as the manufacturing , group continues working toward strengthening that sector of Huron County. McGregor and Janmaat hope this first step will lead the manufacturing group on a path toward keeping a greater portion of the area's youth in Huron County, interested in - manufacturing jobs. Notice is hereby given that the Public is invited to the ANNUAL MEETING of Seaforth Community Hospital to be held Monday, June 26, 2000 at 8:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2 of Seaforth Community Hospital for the purpose of receiving the Annual Reports of the Board of Directors and of the officials of the Hospital, for the election of Directors, for the appointment of Auditors. and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The By-laws of Seaforth Community Hospital provide that the Board of Directors shall include trustees to be elected by members of the Hospital Corporation. Membership granting voting privileges may be purchased for two dollars before 4:30 p.m., May 26, 2000. Membership sold after that time will not entitle the purchaser to vote at this Annual Meeting. 13y resolution of the Board of Directors. Andrew Williams, Secretary Scott Hilgendorff photo Students toured Progressive Turf in Seaforth last week to see the local job opportunities in manufacturing Huron County offers. And from a Ministry of Education . perspective. McGregor said getting youth interested in manufacturing jobs is not just a • Huron County problem. The Passport to Prosperity program. initiated by the ministry has been established to help high school students gain more work experience. Experiences outside the classroom have been mandated by the new foul - year curriculum now in place for high school students. Locally, the manufacturing group's involvement may provide a way to help meet those curriculum requirements since they place a high demand on employers for student work placements. McGregor said about 50 per cent of students across the province do not go on to college or university and having the manufacturing sector become more inviting .10 students helps. those students see other opportunities for thein in their own communities. McGregor points to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) as another example of how the Ministry of Education is starting to think the sane way as the local manufacturers. as Janmaat suggested is needed. • "11 parallels. kind of. what the manufacturers are doing" said McGregor. adding some are crying out for apprentices right now. The Huron Business Development Corporation is: now looking at finding some funding through Huron Resources and Development. Canada that will help the manufacturing group expand on initiatives that see them working with Huron County students. "We've just touched the iceberg." said McGregor. Both said it's going to take time before they will see whether or not their efforts are working at keeping youth - employed'in the county. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 17, 2000-5 Game On! Saturday May 20, 2000 at 3:30 pm SOS 9 HOLE GOLF SCRAMBLE $25.00 per person includes golf and barbecue supper Phone Seaforth Golf Course 522-0958 plus SILENT AUCTION of donated items including celebrity memorabilia Bidding for silent auction 1:00 to .7:00 pm open to everyone -golfers and non -golfers welcome SILENT AUCTION ANNOUNCEMENTS AT 7:00 PM SDHS students will be selling car raffle tickets at the SOS Golf Tournament on May 20. $1.00 for each ticket sold will be donated by the Seaforth Business Improvement Association (BIA) to the SOS Fund. Buy a ticket to support Seaforth District High School and for a chance to win a car. To place your fundraising event here please call 527-0240 •Chinet Paper Plates •Plastic Djink Cups lastic Cutlery *Table Skirts 4oloured Napkins •Helium Balloons •Streamers •Coloured Table Covers Bring in this Ad & SAVE 1O% on your party supply orders. Expires May 31/00 PETE'S .PAPER CLIP • 19 MAIN ST. SEAFORTH, 527-1681 Internet... the easy wayl UNLIMITED INTERNET NOW $20x00 FIRST MONTH IS FREE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US TODAY... 482-1212 E-mail: Inlodaod a• .on.ca • Aft• :1 Sod sa• .on.c• 383 RICHMOND ST SUITE 400 LONDON N6A 3C4 **Amy bulled b attend - these area duith ;4 St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St, Seaforth Rev. Robert Hiscox 482-7861 Sunday, May 21 Service of Holy Communion 9:30 a.m. Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship at 11:00 a.m. "Let's be Honest" WED. FAMILY NIGHT 7 PM Pastor:Rev. Doug Corriveau 527-0982 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St., W., Seaforth Worship at 11:15 Sunday School during worship Nursery Available Pastor: Rev. N. Vandermey SEAFORTH COMMUNITY CHURCH 38 Godench St. E. 527-2253 Rev. Bill & Rev. Mavis Hauser Sunday 10:45 Worship Full Gospel with a pentecostal message. WARM WELCOME CAVAN (Winthrop) 9 30 a m & NORTHSIDE (Godench St.. Seatorth) 11 00 a.m. UNITED CHURCHES 527-2635 uccavnsOtccon.ca Rev Sheila Macgregor "When you feel alone and cut off' Sunday School during services, nursery provided. Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm • SI. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday • 9:00 am SI. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Sealorth Father Dino Salvador Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Spnngett • 11 a.m. Worship Sunday School Grades 2 to 8, 10 a.m. Nursery to Grade 1, 11 a.m. Announcement Dr. Dan Rooyakkers will be on holidays from May 22nd to June 4th Dr. Ray Rampashad will be covering my practice, he is an experienced rural hospital doctor. Call on him for all your medical needs in my absence. Seaforth Medical Clinic 28 Centennial Dr., Seaforth 527-1770 Our Annual SALE Continues at BOX FURNITURE bringing you savings in every department eMaytag Appliances ePanasonic Microwaves eZenith TV'S and VCR'S eLay-Z-Boy Chairs eBrentwood & Superstyle Sofa and Loveseats eHunter Douglas Window Fashions ®Simmons Mattresses ®Carpeting and Flooring ®Lamps and so much more BOX 2SC fl Main St. Seaforth FURNITURE 527-0680