Ensuring Equity

FAIRNESS AND INCLUSION THROUGHOUT OUR BOARD

Trades, Entrepreneurship & Further Programming

Through programming such as Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), Co-Operative Education (Coop), Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program (AYEP), Dual Credit, and Advanced Placement Programs, our students have amazing opportunities at their disposal. Conferences and programming aimed towards women and Indigenous students are becoming recurrent, with positive role models and entrepreneurs inspiring them to get involved in the career of trades. Growing partnerships with sector specific employers provide students with the opportunity to build trade specific skills and knowledge. This allows students to develop a direct connection between dual credit courses and their placement as a viable career pathway. Additionally, it allows students to experience post secondary education, while earning secondary school credit and college credit. We have 12 SHSM programs successfully running. These programs have seen an increase in student enrollment along with an increase in SHSM completion rates, providing opportunities to participate in sector specific experiential learning, reach ahead and industry applicable certification and training. Students graduating with a SHSM red seal on their diploma, transitioned to a post secondary pathway with applicable skills, training, education and experience. Strengthening our partnerships with post secondary institutions has provided students with the opportunity for guided tours of various institutions, classrooms, and shops; along with presentations and workshops have been provided to students at both high schools and alternative education programs.