Career Planning
Women, homeless youth dig horticulture programIn many ways, two new horticulture pre-apprenticeship training programs represent the seeds of hope. LINDA WHITE -- Special to the Toronto Sun |
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HUMBER COLLEGE
The first program is offered by Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in partnership with Landscape Ontario and MicroSkills and is funded by the Ontario Women's Directorate. "It's absolutely designed to encourage women to get into the skilled trades," says Terrie Greco, program co-ordinator for Humber's pre-apprenticeship horticulture program.
"This program empowers women by opening the door to a trade that's traditionally dominated by men. They have an opportunity to explore diverse career opportunities and earn a great living. Horticulture is a booming industry and wages have gone up considerably because of the shortage of workers."
The Toronto college is delivering the curriculum, MicroSkills provides pre-employment preparation and Landscape Ontario is helping design and implement work placement. The program is part of a $1.5-million investment announced this spring from Women In Skilled Trades designed to help address a growing skilled trades shortage.
The 32-week program began in April. The first three weeks included life skills, health and safety, and computer training. Students will complete 15 weeks of apprenticeship training, one week of dedicated equipment training, one week in the college's arboretum and 12 weeks of paid co-op.
"Our goal is to get students signed up as apprentices with their co-op placement, where they will work for a year before returning to Humber for the advanced level of training," Greco says.
"There are many opportunities within the industry, such as construction, nursery or greenhouse work, maintenance professionals, designers and the turf industry," she says. "There are many niche markets and spin-offs within this industry. There's a market in the winter, including snow and ice removal, doing seasonal urns and selling Christmas trees. There's more equality in the field than say 20 years ago. The more these students can learn, the more choices they will have."
The second program is run by the Second Base Youth Shelter in Scarborough with partners Humber College -- the training delivery agent for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities --Operation Springboard, Toronto Botanical Gardens and Landscape Ontario.
"We have had good response to the program," says Marcella Crowe, co-ordinator of the program at the shelter. "Many of our youth have had prior experience in horticulture and are enthusiastic about working outdoors in a field that promotes ecology and sustainability ... The program provides them with college training so they can take their enthusiasm to the next level."
PAID WORK PLACEMENT
Second Base is a 56-bed emergency shelter with a drop-in resource centre. Many of the youth accepted into the program are completing their Grade 12 equivalency. They will begin training at the Toronto Botanical Gardens in early June after completing life skills training and field trips and will be placed in a paid work placement at the end of the summer.
"Already, we're seeing a transformation in these students," Crowe says. "Just to complete their Grade 12 equivalency is an incredible feat. This particular program is very special for marginalized youth ... who, for many reasons have barriers to employment."
linda.white@rogers.com
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