North American Trade Schools, London Open House

The open house held at North American Trade Schools on March 26^th, 2011 was tremendous success.  Over three hundred people visited between 9 o’clock in the morning and 5 o’clock in the afternoon.  A large number of parents showed up with their children, grandchildren and extended family members to see the ever growing trade school.  They were extremely impressed with the opportunities available to students.  

The preparation took weeks.  The instructors were busy working on projects and displays they could present to visitors long before the event was announced to the public.  On the week on the open house, under the guidance of Joe Rombouts, the Assistant Director of Education, and, Kelly Lundy, the Evening Supervisor, the instructors and the students pulled together as a team to clean, organize and set up the projects and displays.  Joe Rombouts praised the instructors and the students, saying that, “They really came together as team”.  Each department prepared small demonstrations to proudly show off the skills of their trade.  The departments set up demonstration where the visitors, under the careful guidance of the instructors, could even handle some of the tools and materials.

The administrators of the schools were also busy preparing for the event.  They arranged for a week of radio advertisements on three different radio stations.  The admission personnel visited over 30 high schools to make young students be aware of the opportunity to come and see North American Trade Schools.  Two city buses carried signs on both side of the buses advertising the event.  One of the buses parked in front of the school on the day of the event.  In addition, food and drinks were purchased to sell, with all proceeds going toward the Student Ambassador’s Fund.  

 On the day of the Open House, the hard work paid off.  The admission representatives were in demand all day long.  Flocks of enthusiastic guests followed them through the school as they explained the variety of programs available to students.  As Kelly Hartwick, one of the admission representatives, remarked, “It was a great opportunity to show off what we do here.  This open house was long overdue.  We established a positive foothold in the community.”  

The visitors were extremely impressed with the school.  “People who came through had no idea the school was so big and we did so many different things,” Tom Linden, another admission representative, observed.  “People were enthusiastic and asked a lot of questions.  They liked having the chance to speak with both instructors and students”, he added.  The guests enjoyed the displays and demonstrations.  At the end of the day, four people decided to sign up for the school before they left to go home.  Another seventeen promised to return and sign up for the classes starting in May.  Lionel Swales, the head of the admission department concluded that, “Overall, we had a great turnout”.   

Robert Middleton, the director of the school, was very pleased both with the contribution of the employees and the public interest.  In his e-mail to the employees, he thanked everyone for their participation and expressed the overall opinion of all who took part: “Once again, I want to thank everyone that gave that extra effort and demonstrated cooperation to prove to the world that we are, in fact, Canada’s greatest trade school.”

Anyone who is interested in visiting the school does not have to wait for the next Open House.  If interested, you can call North American Trade Schools at 519-963-0680 or send an e-mail to one of the admission representatives to make an appointment.  They will be happy to give you a tour and a complete description of the trades you can be trained in.

When you hear about high demand positions today, you are hearing of the most widely known careers that are obviously being pursued at a higher volume than other high demand careers you hear less about. As these highly advertised careers are publicized, the demand for the positions within the industry will begin to decrease until they too are hard to access. Today’s students should be in pursuit of high demand careers that aren’t so widely publicized in order to ensure the maximum level of opportunity within the industry, such as with electrical technology.  

Choosing an Electrical Technology Program  

When you are examining high-tech organizations and industries, such as manufacturing and process industries, you are looking at industries and organizations that are operating through the use of electrical technologies such as electrical control systems. Choosing an electrical technology program can open access to various fields of many industries including:  

• Manufacturing  
• Process control
• Utility
• Servicing

There are various programs that are offered for electrical technology, allowing you to choose from diploma degrees to MBA degrees that hold the highest level of opportunity you will receive within the field. The further you progress with your education, the higher the opportunities you will be able to access.  

Your Roles and Responsibilities in the Career

Once you have obtained your electrical technology degree, you will take on several roles and responsibilities in the field. You will work with various electrical motors and components, crafting systems, installing systems, and programming controls, as well as many other roles and responsibilities in the field. You will require a solid understanding of applicable telecommunication systems, electrical codes, wiring systems and diagrams, and much more.  

You could take on positions wiring whole housing units, to installing security systems, electrical motors within systems in various components, and programming systems and controls that are used within systems. The work requires a strong electrical understanding, with the ability to determine the appropriate electrical wiring methods.  

Your Salary Possibilities in Canada

There are many opportunities for electrical technologists within Canada in various provinces throughout. You will find that the salary range will be based mainly on the field and position, as well as the level that you choose. The average salary, however, for the electrical technology field is approximately from C$35,706-C$50,533. There are several different fields to choose from including:  

• Electrical Test Equipment
• Military  
• Electrical Engineering Design
• Electronics Manufacturing
• Manufacturing and Processing

The field you actually enter will depict your salary range and possibilities.  

With automation and electrical system use continues to grow and advance, there is high opportunity found within the electrical technology field in Canada towards the future. Technology continues to enhance the field, bringing greater working and wage opportunities, and much greater education requirements and opportunities as well. Financial aid is offered to enable you to access this career if you are interested in reaching into a high level, high potential career that has a great prospect towards the future.  

In November 2010, a London family was able to receive the keys to a new home and a new hope, thanks to the help of a London partnership with several organizations. This marked the completion of a second Home at Last project within London, giving homes to families that are in need. Providing affordable home ownership is a great step in reviving the London community and helping the world establish a more favorable condition within great constraints in the economy.  

So, how did North American Trade Schools pitch in?  

North American Trade Schools were acknowledged for their contribution in the project and in finding a home for the London family that is now able to appreciate and enjoy great comfort that wasn’t possible before. The North American Trade Schools made it possible for the home to be constructed within the time frame established, providing supervision over the construction of the home and volunteering from the beginning to the end of the project. This labor was highly valued as the Moss family awaited their new home.  

The home was designed to be more energy efficient and to require less maintenance, offering a more affordable type of housing for the Moss family and offering a more eco-friendly home for the family to enjoy. This reduces energy costs for heating and cooling the home, giving the Moss family, and other families that are participating in the program, an opportunity to have the comforts of a good home without great costs they cannot afford. One of the highest costs of home ownership can be attributed to outdated electrical systems and appliances that bring energy costs way up causing great difficulty in affording to heat and cool the home year round.  

With the help of several organizations and the labor of North American Trade Schools, the Moss’s were able to get a new home, a new beginning, and an affordable way of life.  

August 18, 2010

London, ON – Call it a win-win situation.

After more than two years of losing – over $100,000 to a shady contractor who took their money but never completed a modest addition to their home north of London – Bev and Don Bartlett needed a miracle to help them finish their project and realize their dream of starting a family.

They found that miracle in North American Trade Schools (NATS).

Throughout this summer, students from London-based NATS have been working with their instructors to right an all-too-common wrong in the construction industry. On a volunteer basis, crews are building the Bartletts’ dream addition, picking up valuable real world training in the process.

“It’s frustrating and unfortunate that unscrupulous contractors continue to prey on honest customers,” says NATS Campus Director Robert Middleton. “When we heard the story, we definitely wanted to help. The situation benefits both sides – the homeowners finally get the renovations they wanted, and our students get a chance to work for real clients on a real job site. Ultimately, we enjoy helping community members in need, especially if our students can benefit from the experience.”

The Bartletts’ odyssey started in the fall of 2008. They wanted to add a bedroom and bathroom to their house, and interviewed several contractors about the job. Eventually they chose a contractor who convinced them to buy and install a modular addition, with the work to be completed by Christmas. Satisfied with their decision and confident in their contractor, they paid the first installment and work began. Unfortunately, trouble began soon after.  

An early winter stopped construction in the fall, which meant the addition would not be ready by Christmas, as originally planned. Then in December, the subcontractor who poured the foundation called to say that he hadn’t been paid, even though the Bartletts had paid the contractor. Over the next few months, the contractor dodged paying the concrete subcontractor, who eventually put a lien on the property. The Bartletts also found out that the contractor hadn’t secured the proper building permits, adding to their legal troubles. They are still in legal proceedings over the issue more than a year later. The contractor has disappeared. 

While all of that was happening, Don was permanently laid off from his job as a truck driver, which left him scrambling for work in a rough economy, and left Bev working four restaurant jobs to pay the bills. The couple managed to hold on until Don was hired as a school bus driver and Bev landed a teaching job in St. Thomas. Don was also considering entering a mechanic or construction trades program with help from provincial Second Career funding.  

That’s when Bev saw the NATS sign on Highbury Avenue, advertising spots available in various trades programs at the private career college.  

“I called up NATS and scheduled an appointment,” Bev remembers. “My husband just loved everything about it. The thought of being done his program in a year and ready to start as an apprentice was ideal, and employers look for  people right out of trade school, so there was a great chance that he could get hired right away. We were very excited about it.”

While Don was writing a pre-application evaluation, Bev told NATS administrators about their construction problems. To her complete surprise, the NATS team encouraged her to write her story down for them, because they might be able to “help out.” A short time later, NATS offered to finish the addition, provided the Bartletts could cover the cost of materials. Stunned, the Bartletts accepted the offer, and work began this summer.

Bev is thrilled with the results so far.  

“I love NATS,” she says. “When that first wall went up I was overjoyed. I was crying. It was the most beautiful wall I’ve ever seen in my life. It meant that our nightmare is going to be over. There’s going to be an addition to be proud of instead of coming home in tears thinking about all of our money being gone. We’re not getting the money back, but at least there’s going to be a house.”

The addition should be finished early this fall – good timing, since Bev is expecting the couple’s first child.

“We are very happy to be able to help the Bartletts get through this difficult situation,” Campus Director Middleton says. “When we do projects like this, including building Habitat For Humanity homes, we are teaching our students not only how to serve real clients on real jobs, but how to serve the community. We want them to put those values to work at NATS and beyond.”

Located at 847 Highbury Avenue, North American Trade Schools offers practical, hands-on training in programs including Home Renovation Technician, Electrical Technology, HVAC Technology, and Welding Technology. Programs run between 40 and 50 weeks, with frequent student intakes, allowing students flexible start times and schedules. NATS graduates enjoy exceptional employment and apprenticeship placement rates, backed by a recognized college diploma.

For more information on this story or on NATS, please contact:

Robert Middleton

London Campus Director
North American Trade Schools
519.963.0680

rmiddleton@natradeschools.ca