By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
CAYUGA—Cayuga Secondary School (CSS) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to commemorate the implementation of new welding tools and equipment and an expanded program, purchased with a grant provided by Stelco through the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).
The $182,000 donation, first announced in 2017 and split between three regional schools, has seen Cayuga’s tech program flourish and grow under the watchful eye of CSS teacher Rob Battle.
Principal Amber Mitchell called the donation “invaluable” to the school and student body.
“We have seen a growth in the number of students entering the trades, specifically for us in our welding courses,” she added.
She praised Battle for using the investment to build and enhance an already strong program, noting, “It is changing student’s lives each and every day here…. Our skilled trades play such an important role not only in our economy but in our society…. Tradespeople built, operate, and maintain the Canadian infrastructure. We depend on the highly specialized expertise of our tradespeople and this is where it starts.”
CWB Designate for the Chair Tom Waldschmidt called the expanded program an investment in the future.
He said, “The upgrades in technological and education spaces here at Cayuga Secondary and at other education institutions will have a lasting impact, not only on student engagement and achievement, but also on our local communities for generations to come.”
He continued, “Having the opportunity to learn the skills of the trades using industry-grade machinery and tools will open many doors for our students. They will have access to career paths they might not have explored otherwise. With the critical thinking, teamwork, and practical problem solving they gain through their course work here, they will be a benefit to everybody.”
Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) superintendent Kevin Graham said that staying competitive in the field can be challenging without the proper training.
“The trades are a quickly evolving field. Having up-to-date tools and equipment in our facilities means our learners can develop the hands-on skills and critical knowledge to take their next steps into a bright future,” said Graham.
“Whether that’s an apprenticeship, a vocational program, or other post-secondary training, the practical skills and real world knowledge gained here means students will have an industry-ready edge when they enter the workforce,” he added.
Cayuga Secondary School students Lorne Johnstone, Sierra Meadows, and Sadie Snyder shared their enthusiastic thoughts on the new tools and equipment they can use in the classroom.
“All the equipment and everything we have back there really helped me decide that welding was something I wanted to go in to,” said Snyder.
“Not many of my friends in other schools get these opportunities,” continued Snyder on the unique opportunity. “All the stuff that would take so much longer and more money, this school and program can help not just me, but all my classmates too with anything they need to fix.”
Meadows shared from her experience, “If it wasn’t for the classes we have and the shop options and opportunities, I wouldn’t be in my career choice. I get to start Mohawk for welding in the fall. I wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for Mr. Battle and the great tech advancements.”
Johnstone praised the versatility that students now have at their fingertips.
“With our amazing shops, I can work on my own projects. I’ve always built what I want in the shops. I can talk to Mr. Battle and he’ll work with us. If you don’t have any money you can use scrap materials and make it work,” explained Johnstone.
He added, “I can work on my own car in the auto shop and weld up whatever I need in the metal shop…. It’s amazing that we get all these opportunities through our tech department.”
GEDSB representative Dave Eelkema said the project includes new welding stations for students with upgraded, industry-standard tools in each station, in addition to new equipment on the shop floor, like a CNC and an articulated boom.
“This has been turned into a fantastic multipurpose room,” said Eelkema.
“With the open space, we also have a number of programs to build custom trailers, things like that,” he noted. “It creates the opportunity for real world experience. Instead of just welding in the booths, they can actually build trailers and do all sorts of different things.”
He said that the improvements have also drawn attention from students who might not normally have an interest in the trades, noting the possibilities for creating art that the new equipment provides.
“When you go to craft fairs and you see metal sculptures, this has provided students the ability to do that,” said Eelkema. “Students who traditionally would have never taken a tech class or a tech program are now seeing the connections between tech and the arts and are utilizing those skill sets in many different ways.”
With the upgrades being utilized both during the school day and into the evenings, with after-school programming proving popular as well, it’s clear that CSS students will benefit from this investment for a long time to come.
