TRAINING

Plastic Surgery

CARSTAR Canada welcomed its members to the company’s Hamilton, Ontario, headquarters in early February for an exclusive training session with Polyvance. The plastic repair training was conducted by John Wilburn, the head instructor of plastic repair and refinishing at Polyvance. The day began with a classroom learning portion, presented by Bill Davidge of CARSTAR Canada, but after lunch, the students were let loose into the company’s training bay, where a bundle of busted plastic parts awaited their eager hands. Wilburn demonstrated a few repairs, first drilling out a divet for the plastic to fill, before demonstrating proper techniques on a variety of parts for the audience.

TRADES FAST-TRACK

Grade 11 students in Ontario will now be eligible to enroll in full-time skilled apprenticeship programs. With this new decision, students looking to pursue a trades education may now opt to begin a full-time apprenticeship program in Grade 11, and upon earning their Certificate of Apprenticeship, apply to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma as mature students. Along with this move, the Ontario government is also currently in consultations to lower the entry requirements of the 106 recognized trades that call for a Grade 12 education, in the aim of filling seats in the province’s woefully under-attended skilled trades classrooms.

It wasn’t long before Wilburn handed the nitrogen plastic welder to attendees of the training session, which included a fairly even mix of insurance partners and collision repair centre owners and staff. All parties were given a chance to test their skills under Wilburn’s watchful eye.

Earned Return

Are you a Nova Scotian under 30 years of age, who has paid your taxes this year and are working in the trades as an apprentice or a certified journeyperson? If so, you’re in luck as the province is returning up to $50,000 of income tax to people in this specific group. According to a government press release, the More Opportunity for Skilled Trades and Occupations (MOST) Tax Refund aims to attract and retain youth to work in Nova Scotia in industries experiencing labour shortages, with refunds available for the first $50,000 of income tax paid by workers who meet the aforementioned requirements. Auto body and collision technicians, automotive glass technicians, automotive refinish technicians, automotive service technicians and AST-service centre technicians are eligible, among others. Additionally, prospective applicants for the MOST tax refund must have filed their 2022 income tax return with form NS428 and received a 2022 notice of assessment.

Help Wanted

Skilled Trades Ontario is inviting subject matter experts to develop standards and examinations, along with the support of the Standards Industry Advisory Committees to review exam content, skills competencies and learning outcomes. Selected participants will go on to contribute their expertise through in-person or online workshops and online surveys.