For Immediate Release: December 2, 2013

Middle school students from across Manitoba will get a firsthand look at the manufacturing industry this week, while taking part in a day-long expo aimed at encouraging teens to begin thinking about their post-secondary and career options.

“It’s key that we connect with young people about the skills and expertise they can acquire at RRC that can lead to many promising careers in the manufacturing industry,” said David Rew, Interim President & CEO, Red River College.“ This Expo really works to help youth to make meaningful and informed choices for the future and we’re pleased to be hosting it this year.”

The third annual Youth in Manufacturing expo, taking place Tue. Dec. 2, 2014, at Red River College’s Notre Dame Campus, will give Grade 9 and 10 students from local schools a chance to explore the impact of the manufacturing sector on Manitoba’s economy. It’ll also provide them with a range of industry-related educational options to consider as they begin planning for life after high school.

“The world of manufacturing may have changed, but one thing has remained constant — the need for highly skilled workers,” says Maria Pacella, Executive Director at Skills Manitoba. “Computers, advanced technologies and processes are redefining the way products are designed and produced. Innovation, improvement and increased productivity are no longer the future — they’re the norm.”

Youth in Manufacturing was launched through a partnership between Red River College, Skills Canada, and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, to give students a better understanding of how products go from design stage to assembly to market.

During the morning, students will take part in one of four offsite industry tours (at JRS Manufacturing, Carte International, Conviron, and MacDon), where they’ll learn about the innovative processes and practices that allow local manufacturers to compete in the global marketplace.

They’ll spend the afternoon back at the College touring an industry trade show aimed at raising their awareness of the many career options available in manufacturing — Manitoba’s largest business sector, with approximately 2,000 employers and 70,000 employees. They’ll also tour lab and workspaces devoted to such industry-related training programs as Welding, Carpentry, Computer Aided Drafting, and Pharmaceutical Technology.

“With a career in manufacturing, students have the opportunity to work with advanced equipment and innovative technologies, and to compete in the workforce armed with highly-sought-after skills,” says Debbie Leiter, Human Resource Champion at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. “It’s good for them to start hearing about their options early, so they can make informed choices when selecting their courses.”

The Youth in Manufacturing event is timely, given both Red River College and the provincial government have strengthened their support for trades training in recent years, by pledging to build a new Skilled Trades & Technology Centre to house the College’s carpentry, electrical and plumbing programs.

Skills Canada Manitoba is a not-for-profit charitable organization that works with employers, educators and governments to educate youth on the benefits of working in the skilled trades and technology sectors.

Red River College is Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning, with 200+ full-time, part-time, distance and degree options, and more than 30,000 enrolments annually.

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Download a copy of the release here.

Download a copy of the day’s agenda, here.