MANITOBA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BUILD A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION
More than 1,200 Manitoba high school students and supervisors descended on the Red River Exhibition Grounds for the second-annual Manitoba Construction Career Expo on May 11.
The expo, which took up virtually every square inch both inside and outside of the brand new 35,000 square-foot Red River Exhibition Place, featured more than 30 interactive exhibits for students to try their hand at the various skilled trade career opportunities available in construction. The Expo also showcased the best in construction equipment with displays inside and out.
Marlies Soltys, the Career Development and Explorations Coordinator for both Minnedosa and Erickson Collegiates, called the event an absolute must for students unsure of their future after high school.
“Our students had a fantastic time, they loved all the hands-on learning and exposure,” Soltys enthused. “We even had a parent contact one of our supervising staff to thank her for giving her son ‘the best school day he's ever had.’
“From the moment we pulled up to the Exhibition Grounds, to the moment we left, everything ran so smooth and we felt very welcome and appreciated,” Soltys added. “We will definitely book a bigger bus for next year!”
The Expo provided complimentary lunch for students and teachers alike, reimbursement for busing to and from the event, including the cost of substitute teachers, and a chance to win great prizes, including DeWalt power tools and two iPod Touches.
Mikey Harper, a Grade 10 student at Chief Peguis Junior High, had nothing but high praise for the day-long event.
“It was 1,000 times better than a normal school day,” Harper said. “I really liked the roofing area because it reminded me a lot of when I would always watch my dad work when I was little.”
Elise Badiou of Wawanesa School agreed.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Badiou stressed. “The Manitoba Hydro [station] is my favourite because you got to actually ride up in the bucket.”
Upon entering the interactive area, students could tour a construction mock-up of a reinforced concrete vehicle bridge deck-forming system thanks to the the MERIT Contractors Association of Manitoba, help the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association build a shed, learn from Winnipeg Technical College’s team of electrical apprentices on how to wire three-way light switches, take part in a drilling competition at the PCL Constructors Canada Inc. booth, learn how to paint with help from NuWest Decorating and Valour Decorating, steel stud, tape and drywall in one of four sectioned rooms with the Manitoba Wall & Ceiling Association, and mix and finish concrete with the Manitoba Ready Mix Concrete Association.
“The electrical wiring station was cool because [the exhibitors] show you exactly how light switches work, and it shows how we take electricians’ work for granted,” Darryl McQuade of West Kildonan Collegiate said.
Other exhibits inside gave students the chance to get a step-by-step guide on how to shingle with the Manitoba Shingling Contractors Association, take part in a nailing contest against friends at the Red River College booth, build a tin man by bending and cutting sheet metal with help from the Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba, test their digging skills on one of two excavator simulators at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Manitoba exhibit, or act the part of bricklayer with the Manitoba Masonry Association.
“Bricklaying [was my favourite] because it was very hands on and I had never done anything like it before,” said Nathan Cooper of Minnedosa Collegiate.
Students could also watch demonstrations in the importance of fall safety courtesy of Capital Safety, get their hearing tested at the Protec Hearing booth, build their own keepsake box to take home thanks to the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada, and learn hands-on construction techniques from professionals at Bird Construction Company.
Outside at the Manitoba Hydro station, students could take a ride in an aerial bucket lift and handle a hotstick to open and close a disconnect on a hydro pole. Other outdoor exhibits gave students the chance to operate Di-Tech International's robotic breaker with a remote control, pick up and drop cones while behind the wheel of a mini excavator from United Rentals, watch torch down roofing application as demonstrated by the Roofing Contractors Association of Manitoba, and try their hand at welding with help from the Manitoba Steel Fabricators Association.
Thank you to the following participating sponsor organizations and associations that helped make the 2010 Manitoba Construction Career Expo a success
Winnipeg Construction Association
Manitoba Construction Sector Council
Construction Safety Association of Manitoba
Manitoba Masonry Institute / Manitoba Masonry Contractors Association
Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba
Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada
Manitoba Wall & Ceiling Association
Manitoba Ready Mix Concrete Association
Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba
Winnipeg Technical College
Manitoba Heavy Construction Association
Manitoba Home Builders’ Association
DeWalt Tools
Capital Safety Group Canada Ltd.
Di-Tech International
Valour Decorating
NuWest Decorating
Manitoba Hydro
Workplace Safety & Health, Manitoba Division
Concord Projects Ltd.
PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
Manitoba Shingling Contractors Association
Roofing Contractors Association of Manitoba
Bird Construction Company
Manitoba Steel Fabricators Association / Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
Battlefield Equipment Rentals
United Rentals
Red River College
Maple Leaf Construction Ltd.
Ram Mechanical Marketing Manitoba
Operating Engineers Training Institute of Manitoba
BUILD A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION 
Other exhibits inside gave students the chance to get a step-by-step guide on how to shingle with the Manitoba Shingling Contractors Association, take part in a nailing contest against friends at the Red River College booth, build a tin man by bending and cutting sheet metal with help from the Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba, test their digging skills on one of two excavator simulators at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Manitoba exhibit, or act the part of bricklayer with the Manitoba Masonry Association.