Automotive program at Toronto school aims to help close the skilled trades gap

A new program within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is aiming at closing the skilled trades gap in Ontario.

The province is projecting an estimated shortfall of 100,000 skilled trade workers over the next decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how crucial these jobs are.

This new program would allow students to become educated in automotive technology and get hands-on experience to help them consider a career in the industry after high school.

Programs like these, industry experts say, are crucial to keeping the economy moving.

While many school boards have scrapped transportation technology programs, the TCDSB said it has committed to providing schools with resources to not only provide hands-on training but also erase the stigma associated with going to college and pursuing the trades.

Co-owner of “Master Mechanic High Park,” Josie Candito agrees there is a huge crisis in the trades right now in Ontario.

“[Automotive workers] are essential to keep the essential workers going, to keep the economy, everything we need going,” said Candito. [The economy] relies on transportation. It relies on it to keep going so COVID was a reminder of how important it is to keep this industry going and get people interested in it again.”

Local businesses like Master Mechanic have partnered with Bishop Marrocco-Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, which gives them access to new employees. The initiative also offers opportunities for people of all backgrounds the chance to pursue a career that in the past has been dominated by only men.

President of the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers, Diane Freeman, said the challenge with the automotive industry is trying to get the stigma away from skilled trades.

“A lot of people don’t realize that we’re a $21 billion industry. Automotive employs more than 490,000 Canadians, and there are more than 23 million vehicles on the roads today,” said Freeman. “And we have to start with the parents, educators, and young people who need to hear about how the skilled trades are transforming. There are many opportunities from executives to sales and marketing, to support staff to shop owners and technicians to collision repair. There’s a wide variety that the young people can enter into the trades with the newer vehicles.”

Briana Caetano, a Grade 11 student in the program, said while it’s rare to see, there have been a lot more women getting into the industry.

“What I think about women in the automotive industry, I think it’s really good to see equality in the shops and men and women working together in something they are passionate about,” said Caetano.

She added she’s always been interested in cars and was excited to take the course.

“I felt like it would really enhance my skills being able to join a program that would give me more knowledge and more hands-on training with the automotive industry working with people in a real environment, it’s really enjoyable.”

Candito said if the industry becomes more diverse, it will help fill that gap of workers more quickly. “I myself am a female shop owner. I have two female service advisors. I’ve mentored many co-op kids,” she admitted.

“I’ve been in programs with associations to mentor women in the trade and I’ve definitely seen a huge shift. We need people being inclusive to everyone.”

Despite the estimated shortfall of skilled trade workers, the province estimates one in every five jobs will be in the trades by 2025.