Education/training
Drywalling is where it's atToronto School of Drywall (TSD) has created a new program in which students get actual job-site experience while giving the community a valuable service. |
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 [ 2002-09-18 ] |
"We will do the work for free," says Sean Gobeil, president and founder of the school. "It's not second-rate quality either -- the students are supervised and made to start over and over again until it's done right. The final product is of high quality."
TSD was born of a government-funded program. To satisfy the severe demand for trained drywallers, TSD offers training where it is almost impossible to get, providing access to high-paying jobs.
On the third day of TSD's first class, which graduated Aug. 28, a major drywall contractor spoke to the students and promised all of them jobs upon successfully completing the program. At graduation, all students had job offers. That's an impressive 100% placement rate.
The Free Drywall Finishing Program was created to complement TSD's training program and to provide a valuable community service, for free. It's a win for all involved.
According to Gobeil, TSD's training model is what so inspires the potential employers: "Eighty per cent of the training is carried out on actual job sites, and employers know that this is a vastly superior way to learn than in-class simulation techniques. They are also interested in the fact that students get experience with the automatic drywall tools systems, which makes them potential high-production employees."
So if you've been thinking about finishing that basement or renovating the house and were just waiting for the money -- think again. TSD's requirements are minimal:
First, the drywall has to be already hung, unfinished, unpainted and bare. TSD does not hang the board with its students -- they only do the trickiest part of the whole affair: tape and finish it.
Second, the project has to be large enough: approximately 1,500 sq. ft. of floor. If your project is too small to qualify, consider getting a few neighbours together to run simultaneous projects so that combined the requirements are still met within a few doors from each other. The bigger the project, the better.
Third, the rooms must be empty and the floors unfinished or protected.
TSD offers students an eight-week, full-time training program that will see graduates attaining incomes of $65,000 a year, short term.
Gobeil, a seasoned trainer in the drywall trade who has trained crews on three continents including Europe and Africa, founded TSD because the demand for drywallers is significant.
"There are many jobs available for both men and women with the training -- and they're good paying jobs," Gobiel says.
Classes are composed of 10 students and each session is eight weeks full-time. TSD will begin training its second class on Oct. 15, and is accepting limited applications. The course has an introductory cost of $3,995 (regular cost is $6,000).
For more information on the Toronto School of Drywall, contact Sean Gobeil at 905-270-0443, e-mail sgobeil@torontoschoolofdrywall.com or visit their Web site at www.torontoschoolofdrywall.com.
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Four students who have just completed the Mechanical Engineering Technology -- Robotics and Automation program at Conestoga College have each received $100 in recognition of their excellent project work in the final year of study, thanks to the generosity of Michael Lindert, owner and president of Cambridge-based Lindert Tool and Die.
The students were in the three-year co-op program completed at the end of August. Of the more than 60 students in the class, the four winners of the Lindert Awards were recognized for the most outstanding project work, based on criteria of completeness and originality.
Honoured were Sylvain Gravel, Paul Kotsamanes, Robin McMurray and Laura Podhorny. Gravel, originally from Chapleau, now resides in Waterloo, where he works for SNA Automation Inc. He completed studies through the Open Door program in 1999 before entering Conestoga.
Kotsamanes is a 1999 graduate of Galt Collegiate Institute and now resides in Cambridge.
McMurray resides in Kitchener. Originally from Glencoe, she is a graduate of Glencoe District High School and the Theatre Arts program of Niagara College.
Podhorny, a graduate of Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational Institute, is a Kitchener resident.
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