It was ‘Arcs and Sparks’ at an all female welding class at Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) on Friday, April 24th (2026).
Sixteen young women, most of them Grade 12 students from various secondary schools, attended the welding class.
The overall consensus by the students is that “… the trades offer opportunities, the possibility to travel and to earn a good living.” Jurnee Keeshig of Nawash Unceded First Nation said, “if you have a trade you can work anywhere.” Carly Greig, in her 5th program and with two welding tickets earned in only two weeks said, “I just love welding and hope to get into a union such as the boilermakers.” Zoe Virtue of Kincardine said that after she attended the ‘Build a Dream’ event for secondary school girl students, “i knew I wanted to be a millwright and fix things.”
“The response was so positive with 106 applications, that we had to close the application process,” says Sparks co-founder Rob Stanley. “The high school shop teachers help decide what students to send to the program. Classes are normally held on Wednesday evenings, but with the response, we have had to add an extra Thursday night class.”
“From both the electrical and welding programs, we have 42 students who have jobs in only eight short months,” he added. “In the Regional High School Championships, we have had two students place 1st and 2nd in the Electrical and two in Welding, who will go on to the Provincials in Toronto on May 5th and 6th.
With the increasing talk about the shortage of skilled trades workers in Ontario, the Saugeen Shores Sparks Training Centre initiative has definitely sparked interest in the trades for many considering a new career path. (Read More)
The Intermediate Welding Program is designed for participants who already possess basic welding skills, whether gained through Sparks Training Centre’s Introduction to Welding in the Fall program, or equivalent experience. The Intermediate program builds on foundational techniques and prepares committed learners for more advanced training, including the intensive four‑week Specialized Summer Welding Program, where eligible participants may pursue testing with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).
“We have six instructors in each of the electrical and welding programs,” says Stanley. “These are men who are renowned experts in their fields and the knowledge they are passing on to these young and upcoming trades people is invaluable. It truly is a hands-on education and learning experience that will carry them into the future.”
The Intermediate Welding program is capped at 16 while the Intermediate Electrical program is capped at 24 students. To learn more about the programs, CLICK HERE.
