Fredericton, New Brunswick — The CWB is delivering the skilled trades experience straight to the front doors of Canadian high schools thanks to the “Welding on Wheels” trailer, which has found it’s new temporary home at Rothesay High School in Fredericton, N.B.
The trailer was completed last summer and accommodates 16 students with eight welding booths, plus a grinding and cutting station, as well as a weld testing area. The $240,000 cost of building the trailer was split equally among the partners, who include the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Ocean Steel & Construction Ltd. and Source Atlantic Ltd.
“New Brunswick’s high school students will play an important part in filling the more than 130,000 job openings that we anticipate having in the next 10 years,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy.
“This trailer helps students explore a career in welding and fabrication, but also gives them the chance to build their skills and gain valuable experience they can carry with them after graduation.”
As one of the most in-demand skilled trades in the country, the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) is giving students the opportunity to try their hand at using welding equipment that they would otherwise not have access to in their regular school facilities.
The trailer, which moves location every semester, spent it’s the beginning of the school year serving the students Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton before making its way to Rothesay
“CWB Welding Foundation is passionate about providing access to welding education to students,” said foundation executive director Susan Crowley. “The mobile welding trailer will provide otherwise non-existent opportunities for youth to engage in hands-on experiential education in welding. Welding on Wheels will serve as a pillar for Atlantic Canada’s youth exploring welding education and provide a gateway to skilled trades.”
As of last Monday, the federal government projected that the country will have 10,032 open welding positions between 2021 and 2025.
