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HWDSB Students Help Build a Landmart Home, and Their Futures

Hamilton, ON – Sept. 18, 2012: HWDSB students will begin building a Stoney Creek home on Wednesday, September 19 thanks to a partnership with Landmart Homes.

Media are invited to meet the students at 11 a.m. Sept. 19, at 14 Penny Lane. (On the south side of Mud Street between 1st Road West and Upper Centennial. Look for the Landmart Community Site Trailer at the west side of the project.)

Students from the Building Careers from the Ground Up Program will arrive on the site being provided by Landmart Homes to frame and build the home as part of their innovative, experiential learning program.

“The partnerships with local businesses like this provide our students with real experience, and we couldn’t do it without them,” said Rich Neufeld, experiential learning consultant at HWDSB.

The students, who have applied to the program and been accepted, are keen to get experience in residential construction with an eye to employment in the sector. At all times, the team of four to eight students will be supervised and taught by a qualified construction technology teacher. Students will frame the house, and work with other sub-trades to rough in services; they will also be learning via ‘in-school day’ and training days, etc.

Alan Harkness, vice-president of construction for Landmart Homes, says he is excited to help today’s youth gain first-hand experience in the construction industry, which is in need of workers.

“Our industry is hungry for young talent,” said Harkness. “We have labour shortages in certain professions, so having these students give it a shot is great for everyone. We’re very proud to play a role in developing this future talent and keep our industry strong.”

The new partnership comes after a history within HWDSB, of co-operating with area home builders and other organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, to create unique learning opportunities for students interested in home building.

Building Careers from the Ground Up is a semester-long, six-credit course that enables students to experience many of the skills and trades available in the home building industry while building a home from the ground up. Students work on the project house, but also participate in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), and work with various local employers to gain Co-op experience. Students in the program are also participants in the Construction Specialist High Skills Major Program (SHSM).