September 14, 2007

ONTARIO MASONRY TRAINING CENTRE

Ontario Masonry Training Centre students have participated at a variety of build sites for Habitat for Humanity, honing their apprenticeship skills while helping out the greater community.

Apprenticeship

Ontario Masonry Training Centre learn by giving back to the community

VINCE VERSACE

STAFF WRITER

TORONTO

Masonry apprentices get to give back to the community and pick up valuable experience through community projects while at the Ontario Masonry Training Centre.

“The community projects are a great opportunity,” says Tim Maxson, OMTC instructor. “They provide apprentices the ability to do something on a real job site.”

The OMTC has had its apprentices participate in over 50 community projects across the province.

Apprentices of all levels of experience can be incorporated in the work. Projects are selected and begin when they fit in best with programming at the OMTC.

“If apprentices have a project they want to do, they approach us,” says Maxson. “Generally speaking, they are all community projects which benefit the community and the public.”

When apprentices worked on the Toronto Food Bank community project, it helped those learning from the basic to intermediate levels. The project required a lot of block wall work.

One of the largest projects with intense logistical planning was Camp Maple Leaf on Jacob’s Island in Peterborough. The project started in May 2005 and was completed by December 2006.

“Our apprentices had to live and work up there, staying two weeks at a time,” recalls Maxson.

“Almost 60 apprentices worked on that project in the end. It was at projects like that one where apprentices realize they are doing something for kids and the community and it will help.”

Since 1997, Habitat for Humanity projects in cities like Uxbridge, Toronto and Kitchener have had OMTC apprentices ply their trade and learn. Apprentices have been able to practice their skills in brick and block construction, decorative masonry and working in cold weather. In doing so, they end up building homes for families in need.

“Sometimes you have the occasional apprentice grumble about being volunteered to do work but by the time they get at it, they enjoy it instead of being in a shop environment.” explains Maxson. “Also, they sometimes see the people they are helping and understand the benefit of the project.”

Masonry apprentices worked on The Rose Cherry Home from November 2003 to March 2005.

The work on the home, now called the Darling Home for Kids, required brick, block, stone and stone carving. The home provides pediatric hospice care and respite services to families with children with life-limiting or life-threatening illness.

An initial challenge was installing foundations while excavations were still happening, causing the ground to vibrate, as it was built on bedrock.

Later challenges involved building stone panels, weighing 10,000 pounds, at the OMTC shop in Mississauga and shipping and installing them on site. These panels had to be craned into position.

ONTARIO MASONRY TRAINING CENTRE

Laying foundations while excavations were still happening posed unique challenges for students working on The Rose Cherry Home, now known as the Darling Home for Kids.

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